So, one of the "traditions" at this farm is that each WWOOFer cooks a meal for the family while they are here. Elly cooked the last night shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhe was here, so I got to have some as well- it was ravioli (I helped make each little ravioli "pouch"), and it was ridiculously good; they were filled with either mushrooms and cheese or broccoli and cheeshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifand they had a white cream sauce.
I cooked last night; I decided to make the lentil daal that I had made at the first farm (but this time with the experience of the first time, which made a significant difference). I used this recipe but tried to add extra garlic, ginger, and spices. I also made raita (recipe) two nights earlier to go along with it, as well as naan (recipe).
Verdict: success. Everyone seemed to like it, and everyone ate a lot (even the kids! Well, they didn't eat a lot, but they finished what they had on their plates, which they don't always do) which is the real test of how good a dish is. I have to say, I was also really pleased. The daal was nicely spiced; the raita was tasty and went well with the daal, and the naan was not only super simple to make, but honestly really good! The daal seemed to me like it lacked a bit of sweetness; next time I might try to caramalize the onions a bit more. I think adding a bit more tomato paste (based on how much I made, I don't think I added enough) as well as even more ginger and garlic (really, can you ever have enough?) and it will even more delicious. Cooking is fun! Who knew!
I leave in 4 days to meet up with my parents; so glad I'm coming back afterwards, or else I would start to be sad. I also bought my ticket to go to London (leaving from this farm on June 2nd), and switched my plane ticket to July 6 from Paris (still Business Class, yes!) Should probably start looking at farms in the UK (and figuring out the best way to get around). I'm torn between wanting to go to Ireland, and wanting to stay in England or Scotland due to relative ease of transportation. But... Guinness! We will see.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
More about the farm
Still super happy here. So much so, that I am indeed coming back for about 10 days after I see my parents for a week. As I explained earlier, I only had about that much time between seeing my parents and heading over to the UK; it didn't really seem like enough time to go to a new farm (as soon as I would start feeling really settled in, it would be time to leave) so I am very pleased it has worked out so well here.
So, some more about the farm. Their main product is actually sheep- they raise lambs and sell them for meat at the end of the summer. But I haven't really done anything with the sheep; apparently I got here a few days after Elly helped clip all their hooves (which involved picking up each of them), move them to the hillside, and clean out their barn. But I get to help move them to a new grazing area tomorrow, which should be fun, and is apparently in an even more beautiful area. I also helped with the shearing yesterday- didn't too too much, just picked up the sheared wool and put it into sacks. But the wool was a lot softer and less scratchy than I had imagined it would be based on my experience with wool sweaters; it was also pretty cool to be holding wool that was so "fresh" it was still warm from the sheep that it had previously been attached to.
Véronique and Viencent also produce some fruit (apples and apple juice, raspberries, strawberries), and their own honey. Of these, I have had jams made from the fruits, the apple juice, and lots and lots of honey. Véronique also makes bread every few days, which is the main constituent of the breakfasts- that, and honey.
I spend most of my time with Vincent; it seems like he does more of the farm work, while Véronique does more of the house work (as well as some farm work, of course; she also has her own garden that she is in charge of). He loves to talk about his life. Which is OK, because a) he's pretty funny and b) his life has been kind of crazy. He grew up in Belgium, but was always, as he describes it, kind of a "rock and roll rebel"; he has spent most of his life traveling around France being a shepherd (he spent many years, and met Véronique, while herding sheep up and down the mountains in the Alps). (He's also got a tattoo on his arm of "Native American style" feathers dangling from a small circle- with an Anarchist A in it). He talks a lot about solitude, and how he misses that life sometimes. Apparently he also has a bit of a reputation in this area, since he is apparently pretty blunt with people when they do things that displease him. I guess people are actually kind of afraid of him, which I find pretty amusing; he seems really nice and friendly to me, but I can see that he's the kind of guy you don't want to mess with.
I spent the day on Thursday in the city of Puy-en-Velay, as Vincent had some stuff to do so that he could get subsidy money for the farm. It's got a lot of religious monuments that are up on these giant fingers of basalt (one is a huge statue of the Virgin Mary with baby/ toddler Jesus, another is a small chapel dedicated to Saint Michael). I actually spent about an hour in the chapel; there was nice monk-chanting music on, and it was almost empty most of the time I was there (usually just one or 2 others) so it was really nice to sit quietly, and also to take a bunch of pictures as the lighting and the columns were pretty cool.
Last night the three of us shared the bottle of Verveine liqueur that I had bought in Puy-en-Velay (it's a city/ region specialty). It was fun drinking and chatting with them; as usual, Vincent dominated the conversation (which is fine, because as I said, he's quite a character).
So, some more about the farm. Their main product is actually sheep- they raise lambs and sell them for meat at the end of the summer. But I haven't really done anything with the sheep; apparently I got here a few days after Elly helped clip all their hooves (which involved picking up each of them), move them to the hillside, and clean out their barn. But I get to help move them to a new grazing area tomorrow, which should be fun, and is apparently in an even more beautiful area. I also helped with the shearing yesterday- didn't too too much, just picked up the sheared wool and put it into sacks. But the wool was a lot softer and less scratchy than I had imagined it would be based on my experience with wool sweaters; it was also pretty cool to be holding wool that was so "fresh" it was still warm from the sheep that it had previously been attached to.
Véronique and Viencent also produce some fruit (apples and apple juice, raspberries, strawberries), and their own honey. Of these, I have had jams made from the fruits, the apple juice, and lots and lots of honey. Véronique also makes bread every few days, which is the main constituent of the breakfasts- that, and honey.
I spend most of my time with Vincent; it seems like he does more of the farm work, while Véronique does more of the house work (as well as some farm work, of course; she also has her own garden that she is in charge of). He loves to talk about his life. Which is OK, because a) he's pretty funny and b) his life has been kind of crazy. He grew up in Belgium, but was always, as he describes it, kind of a "rock and roll rebel"; he has spent most of his life traveling around France being a shepherd (he spent many years, and met Véronique, while herding sheep up and down the mountains in the Alps). (He's also got a tattoo on his arm of "Native American style" feathers dangling from a small circle- with an Anarchist A in it). He talks a lot about solitude, and how he misses that life sometimes. Apparently he also has a bit of a reputation in this area, since he is apparently pretty blunt with people when they do things that displease him. I guess people are actually kind of afraid of him, which I find pretty amusing; he seems really nice and friendly to me, but I can see that he's the kind of guy you don't want to mess with.
I spent the day on Thursday in the city of Puy-en-Velay, as Vincent had some stuff to do so that he could get subsidy money for the farm. It's got a lot of religious monuments that are up on these giant fingers of basalt (one is a huge statue of the Virgin Mary with baby/ toddler Jesus, another is a small chapel dedicated to Saint Michael). I actually spent about an hour in the chapel; there was nice monk-chanting music on, and it was almost empty most of the time I was there (usually just one or 2 others) so it was really nice to sit quietly, and also to take a bunch of pictures as the lighting and the columns were pretty cool.
Last night the three of us shared the bottle of Verveine liqueur that I had bought in Puy-en-Velay (it's a city/ region specialty). It was fun drinking and chatting with them; as usual, Vincent dominated the conversation (which is fine, because as I said, he's quite a character).
Sunday, May 1, 2011
La Combe des Saveurs
Oh new farm, how do I love you? Let me list the ways...
The family. They are amazing. I felt comfortable chatting with Véronique (the mother) before we had even made it to the farm from the train station. On the way back, we picked up her kids, Leo and Tom, as well as 2 of their friends, Rémy and Yanis. The four of them (plus Rémy's brother Loic) hung out at the house a lot for the past few days (they're all on vacation; Loic and Rémy left yesterday). But the kids are fun to hang out with, joke around with, and play some Frisbee with (yes, I've been spreading the Ultimate gospel in France). Vincent, the father, is always joking around (such that I have to pay extra close attention when he's talking to figure out if I should be smiling). But Véronique and Vincent are just so relaxed about everything! They get work done, they have things to worry about, but I just feel really comfortable here. Also, for the first 3 days, another WWOOFer (an American named Elly) was here; it was nice to a) be able to talk to her about how things worked around here, and b) she was cool and friendly and fun to work with/ chat with.
The location. This place is just unbelievably beautiful. The farm is technically in a little "village" at the bend of a road, just over a small bridge with a stream/ river flowing by it (the village is made up of about 4 houses, plus a bunch of buildings belonging to the farm. But it's got it's own little signs that say Combeuil, so it's an officially designated... something). It's basically nestled in a tiny valley, foothills all around (the Massif Central is a mountainous region). And the water in the tiny river is so clear! Also, the hike I went on today was to find the ruins of an old castle; not much left, but enough walls (and a full room with an arched doorway) that you could still feel that yes, someone built this and lived in it.
The food. While I was pleased that I had to do some cooking at the first farm in terms of life experience, it did kind of stress me out- I was always worried that I would ruin the food, and then a) I would have wasted food and b) there wouldn't be anything to eat for dinner. But here, not only do Véronique and Vincent do all the cooking, but they cook delicious things- and not just for the major meals! But once in the morning, and once in the afternoon, we take breaks from the work; about half the time, Vincent or Véronique will cook something- so far, we have had crêpes (that rival those you buy in Paris) and gaufres (those sugary waffles that you can get on the slopes at ski resorts). And not just one, but really as much as you can eat! And they encourage me to keep eating, so I don't even feel bad for eating so much! Also, they have their own water source (from a spring on one of the mountains), and it's possible the best water I've ever tasted. Sorry, New York City!
The pets. Specifically, one of their 2 dogs, named Gaia. She's ridiculously full of energy (she went with me on a hike today, and was always running ahead, then stopping for a second to look back at me before continuing). Apparently I'm the first WWOOFer she's gone on a hike with, so I guess she likes me too!
As for the work, it's perhaps a little more taxing than at the first farm (mowing, weed-whacking, lifting/ moving large amounts of logs), but nothing I can't handle. Shoulder is holding up OK (hurts some during the day before it gets warmed up, hurts a bit at night) but I'm hopeful it will continue to improve. And the schedule is good- work, then a break, then work, then lunch, then work, then a break/ dinner. So I feel like I do my share, but we take breaks often enough that it doesn't feel like a lot of work.
The family. They are amazing. I felt comfortable chatting with Véronique (the mother) before we had even made it to the farm from the train station. On the way back, we picked up her kids, Leo and Tom, as well as 2 of their friends, Rémy and Yanis. The four of them (plus Rémy's brother Loic) hung out at the house a lot for the past few days (they're all on vacation; Loic and Rémy left yesterday). But the kids are fun to hang out with, joke around with, and play some Frisbee with (yes, I've been spreading the Ultimate gospel in France). Vincent, the father, is always joking around (such that I have to pay extra close attention when he's talking to figure out if I should be smiling). But Véronique and Vincent are just so relaxed about everything! They get work done, they have things to worry about, but I just feel really comfortable here. Also, for the first 3 days, another WWOOFer (an American named Elly) was here; it was nice to a) be able to talk to her about how things worked around here, and b) she was cool and friendly and fun to work with/ chat with.
The location. This place is just unbelievably beautiful. The farm is technically in a little "village" at the bend of a road, just over a small bridge with a stream/ river flowing by it (the village is made up of about 4 houses, plus a bunch of buildings belonging to the farm. But it's got it's own little signs that say Combeuil, so it's an officially designated... something). It's basically nestled in a tiny valley, foothills all around (the Massif Central is a mountainous region). And the water in the tiny river is so clear! Also, the hike I went on today was to find the ruins of an old castle; not much left, but enough walls (and a full room with an arched doorway) that you could still feel that yes, someone built this and lived in it.
The food. While I was pleased that I had to do some cooking at the first farm in terms of life experience, it did kind of stress me out- I was always worried that I would ruin the food, and then a) I would have wasted food and b) there wouldn't be anything to eat for dinner. But here, not only do Véronique and Vincent do all the cooking, but they cook delicious things- and not just for the major meals! But once in the morning, and once in the afternoon, we take breaks from the work; about half the time, Vincent or Véronique will cook something- so far, we have had crêpes (that rival those you buy in Paris) and gaufres (those sugary waffles that you can get on the slopes at ski resorts). And not just one, but really as much as you can eat! And they encourage me to keep eating, so I don't even feel bad for eating so much! Also, they have their own water source (from a spring on one of the mountains), and it's possible the best water I've ever tasted. Sorry, New York City!
The pets. Specifically, one of their 2 dogs, named Gaia. She's ridiculously full of energy (she went with me on a hike today, and was always running ahead, then stopping for a second to look back at me before continuing). Apparently I'm the first WWOOFer she's gone on a hike with, so I guess she likes me too!
As for the work, it's perhaps a little more taxing than at the first farm (mowing, weed-whacking, lifting/ moving large amounts of logs), but nothing I can't handle. Shoulder is holding up OK (hurts some during the day before it gets warmed up, hurts a bit at night) but I'm hopeful it will continue to improve. And the schedule is good- work, then a break, then work, then lunch, then work, then a break/ dinner. So I feel like I do my share, but we take breaks often enough that it doesn't feel like a lot of work.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Paganello- Short Version
I'm going to write the update for Paganello (the beach Ultimate tourney in Italy) in two parts: a shorter one for those who want just a few highlights, and a longer, more detailed one.
Short version:
Highlights:
-Party the first night. Huge amount of people out on the beach, getting plate after plate of free spaghetti and eating freshly-roasted sardine-like fish as well (not to mention the endless free wine). Great atmosphere, everyone was clearly excited to be there, and I ran in to Tom Cave, a friend from Buck's Rock who lives in England!
-Being able to lay out. The sand on the beaches in Rimini is super soft and laying out, as Alejo (one of the captains put it) is "paradise." Don't think I got any lay-out D's, but I definitely had quite a few for catches and scores.
Short version:
Highlights:
-Party the first night. Huge amount of people out on the beach, getting plate after plate of free spaghetti and eating freshly-roasted sardine-like fish as well (not to mention the endless free wine). Great atmosphere, everyone was clearly excited to be there, and I ran in to Tom Cave, a friend from Buck's Rock who lives in England!
-Being able to lay out. The sand on the beaches in Rimini is super soft and laying out, as Alejo (one of the captains put it) is "paradise." Don't think I got any lay-out D's, but I definitely had quite a few for catches and scores.
Paganello- Long Version
So, the long version is indeed going to be quite long, because right now we are leaving Paganello/ Rimini (the town where Paganello is), and this is my first chyance to post about it.
First, for those that are unaware: Paganello is a Beach Ultimate tournament. Beach Ultimate is like Ultimate Frisbee, except on a slightly smaller field and with fewer players (5 vs 5, in this case, though the tournement I've played at in Wildwood, NJ is 4 v 4). Most people (including me) play barefoot, though some wear specifically-designed "sand socks" (neoprene socks with a thin rubber sole) to make running a bit easier.
Anyway: the first night was amazing. Outdoor party with endless free spaghetti, fresh-roasted sardines, free wine, and just generally good sentiment all around; everyone was clearly excited to be there. The night was really nice, and there was even a fantastic fireworks display. I was sure, with that many Ultimate players around, that I would find someone I knew; I turned out to be correct, as I came across Tom Cave, a friend from Buck's Rock Camp (he had been a counselor there when I was a camper, as well as when I was a counselor). We later found out that we're also staying in the same hotel; he's playing for a mixed team (our team is open, which means 99% men and the occasional super-good girl), so that means I've been able to go see some of his matches, and he's been able to come see some of mine.
First, for those that are unaware: Paganello is a Beach Ultimate tournament. Beach Ultimate is like Ultimate Frisbee, except on a slightly smaller field and with fewer players (5 vs 5, in this case, though the tournement I've played at in Wildwood, NJ is 4 v 4). Most people (including me) play barefoot, though some wear specifically-designed "sand socks" (neoprene socks with a thin rubber sole) to make running a bit easier.
Anyway: the first night was amazing. Outdoor party with endless free spaghetti, fresh-roasted sardines, free wine, and just generally good sentiment all around; everyone was clearly excited to be there. The night was really nice, and there was even a fantastic fireworks display. I was sure, with that many Ultimate players around, that I would find someone I knew; I turned out to be correct, as I came across Tom Cave, a friend from Buck's Rock Camp (he had been a counselor there when I was a camper, as well as when I was a counselor). We later found out that we're also staying in the same hotel; he's playing for a mixed team (our team is open, which means 99% men and the occasional super-good girl), so that means I've been able to go see some of his matches, and he's been able to come see some of mine.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Berlin to Paris to Milan (to Rimini!)
The week in Berlin wrapped up nicely, though too quickly- I'm already planning on heading back at the end of my Europe travels (hopefully for 10 days this time). And it looks like I'll have to give up the Business Class ticket I scored for my return flight from Paris if I want to fly directly from Berlin- a sacrifice that seems to be worth it.
Spent the last 2 nights in Paris, crashing at the apartment of a friend from the team I played with when I studied there (and the team I'm playing with at Paganello). The first night, I went directly from the airport to practice; discovered that while I am dreadfully out of shape, I can indeed still play Ultimate. Also, my shoulder continues to be holding up, fortunately.
My only full day in Paris this stopover (yesterday), I was wandering around the Marais (hoping to get some fresh-baked matzo, a goal that did not succeed), when I heard my name called out from someone nearby. And who should I look up to see but Jake Reibel, my classmate from Amherst, fellow Senior Week-er, and cousin of Aaron Reibel, someone I became good friends with on my Birthright trip! He's been teaching English in Dijon, but was up in Paris on vacation with his parents. We chatted, then parted ways (they had freshly-bought falafel that I didn't want to keep them from). Then, an hour later (having at least found a sheep's-milk cheese filled matzo pastry), I ran in to them again- and they told me that about a minute after they had seen me, they had run in to Sam Schiavone (whom I stayed with in Vendôme at the beginning of my trip, and was also on our Senior Week trip)! He was also in Paris with his parents; his teaching job has just finished up. So (after some phone issues) I ended up meeting up with Sam and his parents; we went to the Musée Carnavalet in the Marais (free museum about the history of Paris!) and then got some delicious gelato. Later that evening, Sam and I met up at the apartment they were staying at (only a few metro stops from where I was staying) and walked from Père Lachaise to Hôtel de Ville (a fairly lengthy walk) and then met up with Jake again. We decided to go to Rue Mouffetard (the favorite hangout spot for the people I mostly hung out with when I was studying in Paris). Unfortunately, the bar we usually frequented had changed ownership (but not the red velvet decor), so we mostly wandered around the street, got a drink at a bar, then called it a night.
So that brings us to today. Made it to the Orly Airport in Paris; met up with my teammates for this tourney, and made it to Milan relatively smoothly. We had a few hours to kill when we got there, so we walked to this amazingly ornate cathedral (can't look up the name while writing this, as I don't have internet access), then waited a long time for pizza at a nearby restaurant, got some gelato, and then walked (again, quite far) to the train station. And now I am on the train to Rimini! However, there are some unfortunate things: my computer power adapter does not work with the outlets on the train; hopefully this will not also be the case at the hotel. Also, my phone refuses to connect to any of the Italian cell networks; since I don't have internet, I can't verify that Italy is one of the countries that it works in. So I am feeling relatively cut off at the moment, though I imagine that I will be able to get internet access when we are in Rimini, even if I have to pay for it.
Should be excited about the tournament, but right now a bit preoccupied with the aforementioned issues; however, once we're in and settled, I imagine the excitement will kick in and the worries will melt away (as is so often the case with me).
Addendum: So, when I bought the ticket for the train, the site informed me that all I needed was the confirmation code, which could be verified on board. Though I was a bit dubious, I figured that it wouldn't lie to me. The conductor just came by for the ticket; I showed her the code, she checked my seat number and punched something into what looks like a smartphone, then said "Grazie" (sp?) and moved on to the next person. I am impressed.
Spent the last 2 nights in Paris, crashing at the apartment of a friend from the team I played with when I studied there (and the team I'm playing with at Paganello). The first night, I went directly from the airport to practice; discovered that while I am dreadfully out of shape, I can indeed still play Ultimate. Also, my shoulder continues to be holding up, fortunately.
My only full day in Paris this stopover (yesterday), I was wandering around the Marais (hoping to get some fresh-baked matzo, a goal that did not succeed), when I heard my name called out from someone nearby. And who should I look up to see but Jake Reibel, my classmate from Amherst, fellow Senior Week-er, and cousin of Aaron Reibel, someone I became good friends with on my Birthright trip! He's been teaching English in Dijon, but was up in Paris on vacation with his parents. We chatted, then parted ways (they had freshly-bought falafel that I didn't want to keep them from). Then, an hour later (having at least found a sheep's-milk cheese filled matzo pastry), I ran in to them again- and they told me that about a minute after they had seen me, they had run in to Sam Schiavone (whom I stayed with in Vendôme at the beginning of my trip, and was also on our Senior Week trip)! He was also in Paris with his parents; his teaching job has just finished up. So (after some phone issues) I ended up meeting up with Sam and his parents; we went to the Musée Carnavalet in the Marais (free museum about the history of Paris!) and then got some delicious gelato. Later that evening, Sam and I met up at the apartment they were staying at (only a few metro stops from where I was staying) and walked from Père Lachaise to Hôtel de Ville (a fairly lengthy walk) and then met up with Jake again. We decided to go to Rue Mouffetard (the favorite hangout spot for the people I mostly hung out with when I was studying in Paris). Unfortunately, the bar we usually frequented had changed ownership (but not the red velvet decor), so we mostly wandered around the street, got a drink at a bar, then called it a night.
So that brings us to today. Made it to the Orly Airport in Paris; met up with my teammates for this tourney, and made it to Milan relatively smoothly. We had a few hours to kill when we got there, so we walked to this amazingly ornate cathedral (can't look up the name while writing this, as I don't have internet access), then waited a long time for pizza at a nearby restaurant, got some gelato, and then walked (again, quite far) to the train station. And now I am on the train to Rimini! However, there are some unfortunate things: my computer power adapter does not work with the outlets on the train; hopefully this will not also be the case at the hotel. Also, my phone refuses to connect to any of the Italian cell networks; since I don't have internet, I can't verify that Italy is one of the countries that it works in. So I am feeling relatively cut off at the moment, though I imagine that I will be able to get internet access when we are in Rimini, even if I have to pay for it.
Should be excited about the tournament, but right now a bit preoccupied with the aforementioned issues; however, once we're in and settled, I imagine the excitement will kick in and the worries will melt away (as is so often the case with me).
Addendum: So, when I bought the ticket for the train, the site informed me that all I needed was the confirmation code, which could be verified on board. Though I was a bit dubious, I figured that it wouldn't lie to me. The conductor just came by for the ticket; I showed her the code, she checked my seat number and punched something into what looks like a smartphone, then said "Grazie" (sp?) and moved on to the next person. I am impressed.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Berlin
I like Berlin. A lot.
One of the first things that struck me about this city was how empty it seems. But empty in a good way, as in, not over-crowded, as Paris and New York (the two other major cities I am most familiar with) often feel. Apparently, this has a variety of reasons, but a large part of it has to do with the fact that it simply has a larger geographic size and smaller population than Paris. But it is still clearly full of people, culture, and food; it's uncrowded-ness (plus the general attitude of Germans) makes it feel like a really laid-back place, again, unlike Paris or NYC (a lot of the time).
I've also been pretty much hungry/ eating the entire time I've been here. I suspect this is due to spending several weeks on a farm with food that is relatively simple and relatively low in fat and sugar. Here, there are pastry shops on every street. And damn, has the food been GOOD. Again, this perception is likely in part due to the fact that on the farm, there wasn't food constantly available (at least, I felt that I couldn't constantly be eating, because it wasn't "my" food). But here, I can rarely resist the urge to buy a pastry/ cookie/ falafel when the opportunity presents itself. So far, my favorite thing has been the jelly-filled donut (these are a bit different than those in the US; they are glazed, not powdered, and the jelly is actual jelly, with real fruit, instead of that gelatinous pectin-y stuff that you get in the states). I may need to get some exercise before this beach Ultimate tourney next week...
Another difference to be remarked on in this city is the lack of open-container laws. From about 5 pm on, every 4th or 5th person you pass has a bottle of beer in hand; this proportion increases as the evening progresses (especially on weekends). Walking down the street, on the subway, on the bus, wherever. And it adds to the generally relaxed atmosphere in this city.
So far, most of my activities have consisted of food, bars, clubs, watching 'Archer' (a TV show) and of course lying in bed until (at least) noon. Planning to visit the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial tomorrow (already my last full day here!) Mwanzaa's host family is as friendly and laid-back as he had claimed; within 15 minutes of arriving, I was giving a piggy-back ride to the youngest child. Unfortunately, I haven't actually seen much of them, due to our schedule of getting up around 1 pm and then heading out after breakfast. But when I do encounter the parents, they are full of smiles and greetings (fortunately, they, like most Germans, speak very good English). Mwanzaa's friends on the program are also generally delightful; we've spent the most time with Carlie, who is from Buffalo but goes to Pomona. She, like Mwanzaa, has a particular attitude and sense of humor that consists of sarcasm/ feigned judgement of others; it's clear to me why they're friends, and also why I had no trouble befriending her as well. (She is also always ready to buy a snack or some food, which makes me feel less guilty about wanting to do so as well).
Also, the Germans are crazy about recycling. They have six- six!- different bins for recycling things, including compost and electronics! Amazing.
One of the first things that struck me about this city was how empty it seems. But empty in a good way, as in, not over-crowded, as Paris and New York (the two other major cities I am most familiar with) often feel. Apparently, this has a variety of reasons, but a large part of it has to do with the fact that it simply has a larger geographic size and smaller population than Paris. But it is still clearly full of people, culture, and food; it's uncrowded-ness (plus the general attitude of Germans) makes it feel like a really laid-back place, again, unlike Paris or NYC (a lot of the time).
I've also been pretty much hungry/ eating the entire time I've been here. I suspect this is due to spending several weeks on a farm with food that is relatively simple and relatively low in fat and sugar. Here, there are pastry shops on every street. And damn, has the food been GOOD. Again, this perception is likely in part due to the fact that on the farm, there wasn't food constantly available (at least, I felt that I couldn't constantly be eating, because it wasn't "my" food). But here, I can rarely resist the urge to buy a pastry/ cookie/ falafel when the opportunity presents itself. So far, my favorite thing has been the jelly-filled donut (these are a bit different than those in the US; they are glazed, not powdered, and the jelly is actual jelly, with real fruit, instead of that gelatinous pectin-y stuff that you get in the states). I may need to get some exercise before this beach Ultimate tourney next week...
Another difference to be remarked on in this city is the lack of open-container laws. From about 5 pm on, every 4th or 5th person you pass has a bottle of beer in hand; this proportion increases as the evening progresses (especially on weekends). Walking down the street, on the subway, on the bus, wherever. And it adds to the generally relaxed atmosphere in this city.
So far, most of my activities have consisted of food, bars, clubs, watching 'Archer' (a TV show) and of course lying in bed until (at least) noon. Planning to visit the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial tomorrow (already my last full day here!) Mwanzaa's host family is as friendly and laid-back as he had claimed; within 15 minutes of arriving, I was giving a piggy-back ride to the youngest child. Unfortunately, I haven't actually seen much of them, due to our schedule of getting up around 1 pm and then heading out after breakfast. But when I do encounter the parents, they are full of smiles and greetings (fortunately, they, like most Germans, speak very good English). Mwanzaa's friends on the program are also generally delightful; we've spent the most time with Carlie, who is from Buffalo but goes to Pomona. She, like Mwanzaa, has a particular attitude and sense of humor that consists of sarcasm/ feigned judgement of others; it's clear to me why they're friends, and also why I had no trouble befriending her as well. (She is also always ready to buy a snack or some food, which makes me feel less guilty about wanting to do so as well).
Also, the Germans are crazy about recycling. They have six- six!- different bins for recycling things, including compost and electronics! Amazing.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hostels
While we're on the topic of shared spaces, hostels are another intriguing example. You're sharing a (small) sleeping area with (in my case) 3 people you've never met before, with whom you might or might not have a language in common.
So far, I've met 2 of my 3 "roommates." The first is a super-friendly Canadian from Montreal, with whom I chatted a bit (in French) soon after I arrived. The second roommate demonstrated the effects of body language and tone; I encountered him as I was coming out of the bathroom, and though we both said "Bonjour" it was clear he was not really interested in having more of a conversation than that. So it goes (I heard him speaking on the phone when I went back to the room a moment ago; I think it was Russian, but possibly another Slavic language).
So during my time in Paris so far, I wandered to the Sacré Coeur (quite close to the hostel), bought a sandwich and watched the sun setting over Paris. Nice. Then I wandered around for another hour or so (buying a Nutella crêpe along the way, which, to be honest, was a large part of the reason I decided to spend a night in Paris. It was a little disappointing, cause I got it near the super-touristy area around Sacré Coeur, but really, it's pretty hard to have a "bad" Nutella crêpe).
Tomorrow check-out is by 11 am, but my flight isn't until 3 pm; because of the bags I'll have, I will likely just find a park and eat a sandwich and a pastry. Mmm... Paris, que tu es delicieux!
So far, I've met 2 of my 3 "roommates." The first is a super-friendly Canadian from Montreal, with whom I chatted a bit (in French) soon after I arrived. The second roommate demonstrated the effects of body language and tone; I encountered him as I was coming out of the bathroom, and though we both said "Bonjour" it was clear he was not really interested in having more of a conversation than that. So it goes (I heard him speaking on the phone when I went back to the room a moment ago; I think it was Russian, but possibly another Slavic language).
So during my time in Paris so far, I wandered to the Sacré Coeur (quite close to the hostel), bought a sandwich and watched the sun setting over Paris. Nice. Then I wandered around for another hour or so (buying a Nutella crêpe along the way, which, to be honest, was a large part of the reason I decided to spend a night in Paris. It was a little disappointing, cause I got it near the super-touristy area around Sacré Coeur, but really, it's pretty hard to have a "bad" Nutella crêpe).
Tomorrow check-out is by 11 am, but my flight isn't until 3 pm; because of the bags I'll have, I will likely just find a park and eat a sandwich and a pastry. Mmm... Paris, que tu es delicieux!
Reflections
If you think about it (which I have been doing), WWOOFing is pretty incredible. You are presented with this list of hundreds (maybe even 1-2 thousand) of descriptions of farms, most of which are just households. And based on these, you choose one or several, and eventually end up in someone's home, a part of their daily life from morning to evening. But the crazy thing is that each description represents a totally different experience from another, yet they are all just lined up on the website, one after the other, in the same font and format.
I don't really know what my point is here. But I came to this line of thought as I left La Lombarde Ouest today. I am very happy that I ended up there, and it's been an experience that will certainly affect how I look at the world as well as my future. And yet I know that if I had clicked on a different region of France to search for farms, and chosen a different one, I would have had new and different experiences there as well.
In any case, Ingrid was happy to have me there; yesterday she invited me to come back next summer, telling me I was the first WWOOFer that she trusted to help her with clearing out an area in terms of recognizing which types of trees to cut down (and which to spare) as well as appearing to truly enjoy that work. And (to indeed toot my own horn- people should embrace doing so instead of denying it) she told me today that I was one of the best WWOOFers they had had, because, basically, I was relatively responsible and she didn't need to make sure I had closed doors, cleaned up after myself, etc. You'd think others my age would learn to do these things too... I guess it's a bit of a rarety.
At the moment, I'm on a train to Paris, where I'll spend the night, and then tomorrow I fly to Berlin to see Mwanzaa for a week! I am excited both to see Mwanzaa (as I haven't done so since mid-February(!)) and to spend time in Berlin, which I hear is a pretty awesome place.
I emailed the farm I want to WWOOF at next a couple of days ago, and got a great response from them, so I'll be in the Haute-Loire (haven't looked up exactly where this is yet) from April 27-May 13. To choose farms, I basically go through the descriptions, and the ones that seem truly excited about having a WWOOFer there, or use warm/ inviting language are the ones I choose. (I avoid vineyards, because the work there, I think, is pretty repetitive and tedious). This farm is a family, parents plus 2 young kids (not sure of their ages), apparently on the edge of a conservation area (that I should also probably look up). Looking forward to that, certainly, but more focused on Mwanzaa and Berlin at the moment.
I don't really know what my point is here. But I came to this line of thought as I left La Lombarde Ouest today. I am very happy that I ended up there, and it's been an experience that will certainly affect how I look at the world as well as my future. And yet I know that if I had clicked on a different region of France to search for farms, and chosen a different one, I would have had new and different experiences there as well.
In any case, Ingrid was happy to have me there; yesterday she invited me to come back next summer, telling me I was the first WWOOFer that she trusted to help her with clearing out an area in terms of recognizing which types of trees to cut down (and which to spare) as well as appearing to truly enjoy that work. And (to indeed toot my own horn- people should embrace doing so instead of denying it) she told me today that I was one of the best WWOOFers they had had, because, basically, I was relatively responsible and she didn't need to make sure I had closed doors, cleaned up after myself, etc. You'd think others my age would learn to do these things too... I guess it's a bit of a rarety.
At the moment, I'm on a train to Paris, where I'll spend the night, and then tomorrow I fly to Berlin to see Mwanzaa for a week! I am excited both to see Mwanzaa (as I haven't done so since mid-February(!)) and to spend time in Berlin, which I hear is a pretty awesome place.
I emailed the farm I want to WWOOF at next a couple of days ago, and got a great response from them, so I'll be in the Haute-Loire (haven't looked up exactly where this is yet) from April 27-May 13. To choose farms, I basically go through the descriptions, and the ones that seem truly excited about having a WWOOFer there, or use warm/ inviting language are the ones I choose. (I avoid vineyards, because the work there, I think, is pretty repetitive and tedious). This farm is a family, parents plus 2 young kids (not sure of their ages), apparently on the edge of a conservation area (that I should also probably look up). Looking forward to that, certainly, but more focused on Mwanzaa and Berlin at the moment.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Schedule
Hard to believe I only have one day of work left (tomorrow is Saturday, thus day off/ market day; work Sunday, then leave Monday!).
I realized I never gave a full schedule of my work here:
Non-days off (i.e., not Saturday or Wednesday):
Wake up ~8:15 am; eat some breakfast
Start work ~9 am; work until ~12.
Lunch is the main meal of the day; one person cooks (we switch off each day) and the other does the salad.
After lunch, usually have a chat with Ingrid about something, then a siesta until 3 pm.
Work 3 pm- 6 pm or so; shower, then dinner, then various evening activities (usually watch the sun set and go online).
Saturdays are fun; we go to the market about 25 minutes away; the past 2 times Ingrid or Wolfgang has treated me to a pastry from their go-to chef and then we go to a cafe.
Also, I want to note that I made risotto today, and it was damn good (under-spiced, but otherwise a good texture, which I imagine is the hard part). I am pleased with myself (clearly).
I realized I never gave a full schedule of my work here:
Non-days off (i.e., not Saturday or Wednesday):
Wake up ~8:15 am; eat some breakfast
Start work ~9 am; work until ~12.
Lunch is the main meal of the day; one person cooks (we switch off each day) and the other does the salad.
After lunch, usually have a chat with Ingrid about something, then a siesta until 3 pm.
Work 3 pm- 6 pm or so; shower, then dinner, then various evening activities (usually watch the sun set and go online).
Saturdays are fun; we go to the market about 25 minutes away; the past 2 times Ingrid or Wolfgang has treated me to a pastry from their go-to chef and then we go to a cafe.
Also, I want to note that I made risotto today, and it was damn good (under-spiced, but otherwise a good texture, which I imagine is the hard part). I am pleased with myself (clearly).
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