So Stanthorne is a really small town, with like one main road. Everything closes by 5:30 except for the Woolworth's supermarket...which is the highlight of all the working backpackers' days. Pruning trees really isn't all that bad, we have air powered snippers which makes it easier to cut the branches. The really thick branches are harder to cut, but normally my muscles don't hurt too badly. Friday I had to go to the factory and pack apples for 8 and a half hours instead of pruning, and my back kills and my hand is enflamed and sore. I'm going to try to get out of that duty this coming week and onwards because it's too painful for me. I'd rather be pruning. Let me tell you about the silly workforce in Australia farms. Workers smoke DURING work...right beside the trees...which by the way, if you've seen any news coverage, ARE capable of catching on fire, nimrod....as well as in the factory by CARDBOARD trays....also flammable. They also frequently use the F word in common sentences and are therefore allowed to swear at the trees and pruners all they want, and no one turns a head. One man in particular, we call toothless Alan, for obvious reasons...he has about 3 visible teeth in his mouth...possibly some hidden molars. He is an all-round hick.. he's had 2 live in commonlaw wives in his life. He was telling Trish and I that he has 3 kids from the first, and they are all in foster care, and a baby from the second, who is with the mom. When they were living together they ended up having to live in separate housing just to keep the kid...that was a bit shady...he said he's not allowed to leave the country either. So I'm thinking he's a felon. I've got a great imagination, so I think he's probably a fugitive. haha. Anyways, he's the nimrod to whom I was referring earlier. He also likes to take 30 breaks during the work day. Another thing about pruning trees is there's no bathroom...so you pee behind whatever rock or bush you can find. Lovely. I'm going to learn to appreciate life more when I go back to Canada. After months of living out of a bag, travelling from bed to bed, sometimes with horrible pillows (pillows need to be just right for me or I won't sleep properly), and no toilet at work....I love my mom and my home. haha.
SO....As long as the weather is nice we prune 4 or 5 days a week. I made $510 in four days, and technically I made more than that because the taxes were taken away. That made it all seem worth it, but honestly I would rather it be a bit warmer. I'm going to lose the wonderful tan I started in Cairns. I miss Cairns...mostly the weather, and the people. I miss Bon Bon and Amber, and my 3 boys. The fab 5. But we're all writing our own adventures. I just hope the paths cross again. They are all currently looking for work so I suppose I should be thankful that I have a job. It's just not a wonderful place to be when I know all about the other beautiful spots in Australia which are warmer and more glorious. But this job is a means to an ends -- money for travelling, so it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. And to be honest, I have met some of the best people through this experience. Being separated from Ashley for 5 days was really difficult, but I learned a lot about myself and about this journey because of it, so I know it happened for a reason, just like everything does. I'm learning a lot of life lessons, finally. That's what this trip was all about for me. It sounds cliche to say "soul searching", but I guess thats sort of what I'm doing. I'm learning to have faith in humanity again. Some people do a really great job at being wonderful, loving people. So it's opened my eyes because while my truth is right for me, I have to accept that not everyone else out in the world are messed up, not all of them have bad intentions (I did know that on a small scale because I have some amazing friends), and not everyone treats other people like crap. Within the backpacker world there is a lot of helping others going on, even strangers who I've never met before will offer a helping hand. In backpackers world we look out for our own. It's like a family. But it's my third family. I have my family (&friends included) at home, and then my second family is my 6 - Ashley gets to be in two categories here....Ash, Dean, Nic, Glen, BonBon, and Amber are my second family, and then finally my third, backpackers in general. Everywhere you go, you meet new people, most with similar stories to yours. I love it.
Well that's enough for this chapter.... bis spater (see ya later, in german.)
xoxo Michelle
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