Monday, November 20, 2006
CHERRIES!
I`m officially in Neuquen and begin work tomorrow. I am at the packinghouse right now, it is very resemblant of home with lots of water, computers and stainless steel. I have a single room with a t.v. and bathroom. It`s quite convient. There is one other emlployee that speaks english here, I have a feeling my spanish is about to get much better. The climate is hot and dry with lots of wind. There are giant trees to shield all the trees but apparently there is still much damage. I haven`t eaten much today and am hungry and tired with a feeling that tomorrow is going to be very long. Chau.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Spanglish movies, beautiful mountains, and free lodging!
Hola chicos y chicas ,
I`m at Susan and Rossano`s (the wonderful people who have allowed me to stay with them for a while) and am spending my days learning spanish..or at least attempting. It`s acutally really fun! I`m watching movies with english subtitles and using coursebooks with lots of verbs and useful phrases to practice.
I spent a few days in a few different buses in order to get all the way down here. I was in Salta (2 nights, one of which was spent partying with the NZ national rugby team..I KIDD YOU NOT!) then Cordoba(1 night) then Menzoda (2 nights) and from there I took a 20 hr ride to Bariloche. Argentina is beautiful, especially the Lake District around Bariloche (and here) with glaciers and lakes everywhere.
The house is in the middle of the most beautiful nowhere. They have about 3 acres and a huge garden. Susan makes delicious salad, it`s truly is amazing. And she cooks only really healthy stuff, it makes me feel so healthy, and strong, like Popeye. There`s hot water, electricity and internet so I guess it`s not too boonie.
I am going to be working on an orchard starting in about 10 days, being from a farm in Canada makes me somewhat of a celebrity, I´m still trying to figure that one out. I guess it`s because I have experience (that and all the most recent varieties of cherries are coming out of my little Summerland). Rossano is actually one of the top cherry guys in the world..knowledge wise that is. For example he knew that SPC 103 was to be named Sentinnial before anyone else..even Frank Kappel (well maybe not Frank) ,the man is very well informed. Basically, he`s very well respected, meaning I`m going to get stellar treatment when I work. They`re busy looking for a place for me to stay while I work so that I don`t have sleep in a tent (even though I assured Susan that would be fine). I`m going to Neuquen first (look it up on a map of Argentina! Find : Mendoza..it`s by Santiago, Chile…then go way south on Hwy 40 to Zapla….then go East.) When I`m there I will be working in a laboratory…doing some sort of very important job that is reserved for smart, experienced, Spanish speaking people. It looks like I`m in trouble!
Right now I`m halfway between El Bolson and Esquel. Tomorrow we are going to Esquel and I will meet Derek and Natasha, Susan`s children. There is a `rodeo`on Sunday and Natasha`s boyfriend is part of it so I will go have a local experience ( and there might be a few hot cowboys;)) Yesterday I made a headband and embroidered it with the most amazing sewing machine I`ve ever seen. You can scan a picture to the computer, edit it, and embroider it onto anything you want all within minutes. It`s very impressive.
I must get back to my Spanish studying as it`s very important for me to not look like a complete fool when I get to Neuquen. Oh yah, it`s about 25 degrees in a climate very similar to the Okanagan, and the sun doesn’t set until 8:30 pm. Enjoy the snow!
I`m at Susan and Rossano`s (the wonderful people who have allowed me to stay with them for a while) and am spending my days learning spanish..or at least attempting. It`s acutally really fun! I`m watching movies with english subtitles and using coursebooks with lots of verbs and useful phrases to practice.
I spent a few days in a few different buses in order to get all the way down here. I was in Salta (2 nights, one of which was spent partying with the NZ national rugby team..I KIDD YOU NOT!) then Cordoba(1 night) then Menzoda (2 nights) and from there I took a 20 hr ride to Bariloche. Argentina is beautiful, especially the Lake District around Bariloche (and here) with glaciers and lakes everywhere.
The house is in the middle of the most beautiful nowhere. They have about 3 acres and a huge garden. Susan makes delicious salad, it`s truly is amazing. And she cooks only really healthy stuff, it makes me feel so healthy, and strong, like Popeye. There`s hot water, electricity and internet so I guess it`s not too boonie.
I am going to be working on an orchard starting in about 10 days, being from a farm in Canada makes me somewhat of a celebrity, I´m still trying to figure that one out. I guess it`s because I have experience (that and all the most recent varieties of cherries are coming out of my little Summerland). Rossano is actually one of the top cherry guys in the world..knowledge wise that is. For example he knew that SPC 103 was to be named Sentinnial before anyone else..even Frank Kappel (well maybe not Frank) ,the man is very well informed. Basically, he`s very well respected, meaning I`m going to get stellar treatment when I work. They`re busy looking for a place for me to stay while I work so that I don`t have sleep in a tent (even though I assured Susan that would be fine). I`m going to Neuquen first (look it up on a map of Argentina! Find : Mendoza..it`s by Santiago, Chile…then go way south on Hwy 40 to Zapla….then go East.) When I`m there I will be working in a laboratory…doing some sort of very important job that is reserved for smart, experienced, Spanish speaking people. It looks like I`m in trouble!
Right now I`m halfway between El Bolson and Esquel. Tomorrow we are going to Esquel and I will meet Derek and Natasha, Susan`s children. There is a `rodeo`on Sunday and Natasha`s boyfriend is part of it so I will go have a local experience ( and there might be a few hot cowboys;)) Yesterday I made a headband and embroidered it with the most amazing sewing machine I`ve ever seen. You can scan a picture to the computer, edit it, and embroider it onto anything you want all within minutes. It`s very impressive.
I must get back to my Spanish studying as it`s very important for me to not look like a complete fool when I get to Neuquen. Oh yah, it`s about 25 degrees in a climate very similar to the Okanagan, and the sun doesn’t set until 8:30 pm. Enjoy the snow!
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