Backpacking Trip 2010

I have no idea where to start, or what to say, because so much has happened the last five days and I don’t know where to start. Well, I’ve been at the ranch for five days now and it feels like an eternity already! I have already gotten into a daily routine and it feels like I have been doing it my whole life! I absolutely love the work I have been doing! The first two in a half days were working on the farm, in the garden (“gardening” makes it sound so glamorous!). I have planted carrots, transplanted cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, I tore down a plot of cherry tomatoes that got infected (this took about 8 hours to do), and have tilled land to get ready for planting. Then, the last three days have been working with the pigs! Oh, how I love these pigs! We have pigs ranging from 500-600 pounds down to little piglets, some only 14 days old (who are the most adorable little babies EVER). It is all very hard work from first thing in the morning to the end of the day. On my first day working with the pigs, I introduced myself to them by telling them my name, telling them I am their new friend who will be feeding them and taking care of them. I scratched the momma pigs behind their ears and whispered sweet nothings into their ears. I have devoted more time than the necessary 6 daily hours; I’ve worked about 7-9 hours every day. I collect the ingredients for their diet (which includes going out onto the farm and cutting down sugar cane, going to collect the other two plants we put in their food), then cutting the sugar cane with a machete [this is soooo hard to do, by the way], cutting up the other ingredients and mixing them together. I clean their pens, put the pigs out into their play area, then clean them off when they get back and put into their pens, just to name the primary tasks. I also tend to the chickens, mix their feed, feed them, water them, put them out, wrangle them back in at the end of the work day, and collect their eggs. I work with the pigs and chickens throughout the whole day and take one 15 minute break for lunch. I haven’t done too much else other than work! I was originally told I would be working behind the bar, but after speaking with the director of operations, I was placed in the gardens, farm & with the animals. I was ecstatic to be told this! Once I got here and toured the ranch, I made up my mind that was what I wanted to do. I am one big bruise, scratch, scrape, gash, insect bite and every thing else from head-to-toe! I’ve cut myself up every day, in some way or another. Today was a 4 inch long gash down my calf from jumping a fence and then slipping on the way down. I am filthy, my clothes stink, I stink, I can’t seem to get completely clean, I’m exhausted, I’m cut, I’m sore, I itch from every surface of my body, and I am the happiest I’ve been in my entire life. I have never worked this physically hard yet I have never felt so complete and fulfilled in my whole life. I bet people who don’t keep up with me and what I’m up to think I’m on vacation, living it up and relaxing! If they only knew! Haha! I have grown immensely as a human being already. I am completely independent! All of the employees here are terrific and I enjoy every minute of my day, from start to finish! Like I said, I haven’t done very much other than work yet, because I work so harrd, by the time I’m done, I’m exhausted! But, I have gone to yoga twice, gone swimming in the hot pool once, gone swimming in the pond once, gone into Castillo for pizza and beer, and learn to dance at night with the employees! This entire facility works together, we are all in it together, we work as a team and it is all cohesive to the mantra here. We all sleep in the same quarters, we work together, eat together, dance together. We are truly each others’ family. The employees here speak Spanish, only a few of them can converse in English, and then a few more of them speak and understand a little English. So, naturally, I’ve been learning Spanish and speaking and understanding more by the day! The energy here is amazing. I haven’t gotten to spend very much time with Katie, our schedules have been different since day one, but we do get to see each other every day and get to talk and hug and we’ve had some drinks and gotten to eat together. We both feel the same way: like we have landed in the most magical place in the world and have already grown as human beings and we couldn’t have it any better than we do. I work hard every day and earn my food and shelter. It feels so rewarding to my soul. I breathe happiness and I exude happiness from every pore! I have worked in down-pouring rain, with wet socks and shoes, I have been covered in mud, poop, pig & chicken feed, I have hurt myself and been exhausted, but I love it here, I love every part of it, every second. I feel like I am repeating myself! Haha. But, it’s true, all of it. I do miss my family and friends (hello, out there!!!!!!) very much. I think about them when I’m working and when I’m laying in bed at night, listening to the thunder and volcano rumble (did I mention that Volcan Arenal is right around the corner?!). I love Costa Rica. We haven’t been to any other country yet, but I can’t imagine any place better than here. I love the way I feel. I love the way this place makes me feel. I love my gorgeous surroundings. I feel like this is what I have been wanting and waiting for, my whole life. I feel like I have a symbiotic relationship with myself and the earth and the plants and creatures on this earth. I am at a loss for more words at the moment! I just don’t know what else to say! It hasn’t even been a week working on the ranch yet and I can’t believe how much I have grown and the person I have grown into since working here. As I am writing this, I am completely disgusting, my feet, socks and shoes are soaked, I am covered in everything from my work day. But, you get used to it, you get used to feeling like that! Haha! And it feels good! Well, I’m done with non-profound sentences and repeated ramblings for now. There is no phone here for volunteers and the computer access is limited (and when I can get on it, the connection drops constantly).  But, I hope to update again sooner that way I can write better and better explain what I’ve been doing! I miss you all very much (hello out there!!!!!!)!!!! I’m sending hugs and love to you all!!!!!

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at 6:39 pm and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.