Jefe (#2)

...In the afternoons, we were given various jobs to do. We removed salvageable bricks from a wall for reuse, broke down a wall with a hammer and extracted a tub


,


dug soil from the ground and transported it to make a garden, and turned and weeded another one. By the end of the week, we had truly gotten our first experience on a farm.
Apart from Alec, I was given a task to do with another employee named Soan (a sweet, patient, puppeteer "titeretero" from France who had traveled around South America for 2 and 1/2 performing).


Over the coarse of our stay, some of the sheep had gotten sick from contaminated water. With Soan, we fed those sheep vitamins. Soan was amazing. She cared so deeply for those sheep, and showed them affection that I never saw with any other on either farms.

One of these sheep was extremely ill. Her and I carried her to the sunlight and laid her in the grass. We attempted to hand feed her, but she refused to eat. We left her and returned throughout the day to check on her progress. By night, I walked outside with my headlamp to find that she had died.

It became Soan and I`s job to burn her. After Hector carried her a couple hundred feet away from the barns, Soan and I collected wood and piled it on her and burned her. We did not completely cremate her. I learned that the reason we were doing so was for the dogs. If we left the sheep to decay on its own, the dogs would eat it, and relate the smell of wool to food. If it was burned, they could then eat the cooked meat and associate that smell with food.

But through it all, Alec and I worked closely with Soan and Hector. Here and there we saw Augustine during the 6 days after the asado.


He dropped by to check on the farm and give tours to people of the land. WE became part of the tour. People would watch us work and observe us milking the sheep. It was strange.

We had some issues with our living space...no hot water for showering (the weather outside was cold and their water was freezing as it came from the well below) and the gas on the stove ran out for cooking. We addressed the issues to Augustine when we saw him...it took 5 days for hot water (you can imagine how smelly we were), and the gas was never filled. He did in fact provide us with good food to eat fresh from the farm.


It took a couple of days, but we slowly did notice a divide between the two farms. Almost a class divide. His personal farm, living space, and hostel was beautiful; the conditions of our farm where his employees and volunteers resided, was the opposite. It saddened me to see this. I understand that there are economic crisis everywhere, but maintaining the space and relationship with those helping you to stay afloat is imperative.

Everything we were experiencing was bearable, especially since Alec and I have each other. It was the lack of appreciation and acknowledgment that we did not receive that led us to leave the farm so much more prematurely than we had expected.


Which brings me back to my first point..."it´s all about the jefe." If you are a boss, please appreciate your employees and volunteers! It can seriously affect their performance, the environment of the job, and whether or not they stick around. And if you are an employee, and your boss doesn`t appreciate you, it may be worth it took look for another place to work (if you can afford to do so).

But as I sit here and ponder my thoughts, I realize that it isn´t just the jefe that needs to appreciate, it is all of us. We need to appreciate everyone around us. And most importantly, let them know.

Alec and I appreciate all of you reading about the thoughts and experiences that we have every day. Knowing others are sharing in these experiences we are having here makes this blog worth writing. We appreciate all of our family and friends. We appreciate all the wonderful people we have met along this adventure. We appreciate all the beautiful nature and animals that we see and come in contact with. We appreciate all the experiences we have every day and that are yet to come:)!!!



...Thank you...

Jefe (#1)

It`s all about the Jefe

How many of you like your boss??? It makes a world of difference if you respect your Jefe!!! I am beginning to realize that half the battle in liking your job is being compatible with your boss...or better yet, just being your own boss:)

So this brings me to our next adventure...the farm in Colonia del Valdense. We arrived at the bus stop around 6pm


and were picked up by a man named Augustine. He drove us through the town, showing us around, chit chatting about his experiences living in America, and politely speaking Spanish slowly to help us to learn.

After about 30 minutes in the car, we arrived at what would be our new home for an amount of time we had not yet decided. It was beautiful. A huge plot of land with sheep and cows grazing, a couple of barns, and our favorite part, Panda (mama dog) and Manoush (puppy girl) - our new best friends.


Panda and Manoush greeted us, tails wagging, jumping with excitement, as if they had been waiting patiently for our arrival.


Augustine showed us where we would be staying. A brick building with dirt floors, a separate kitchen, and a bathroom with shower.


Alec and I decided we preferred to pitch our tent and sleep under the stars, and thanked Augustine for his hospitality.


Augustine invited us to an asado (bbq) about 2km from our farm, where he lived with his family, the following day.
Upon Augustine's departure, we began to figure out where to pitch our tent, as the sun was quickly setting.The house was within a closed fence where three cows grazed. On the opposite side of the fence grazed 40 sheep. We agreed to camp with the cows who turned out to be quite curious as to who their new tenants were.


As I had mentioned before, one of the things that always makes me uneasy is the sounds when you are camping in a new place. You can only imagine the sounds we heard that night. Sheep, cows, birds, dogs, and me frantically awaking Alec when the largest shadow of a cow spread across the side of our tent. You see, our tent is amazing, but (for me) it has one flaw. It has no windows to see outside. You have no idea what is out there...except if it is largest shadow of a baca (cow) you have ever seen.
So after surviving yet another crazy night in the tent:), we awoke Sunday morning to the sunshine above, and to Panda and Manoush greeting us with tons of love.


We relaxed and got to know are surroundings, and by mid-day we were on our bikes riding to Augustine's house.
For me, this bbq was a big deal. This day happened to be Eid - the celebration at the end of Ramadan (month of fasting) for Muslims. I grew up celebrating this holiday, and it was nice to feel as though there was a party of some sort about to happen.


We pedaled to his farm, and were extremely amazed by the beauty. We took a look at the house that he had built,


the hostel that he was running (70 dollars per person/per night, i meant "dollars"),


and his amazing farm with donkeys, sheep, horses, and roosters!!! One donkey was especially happy!!!


We returned to our farm, made some matte, and noticed that the baca (cow) took an interest in our tent. It was then and there that we decided we would get along better with the sheep (obejas) on the other side of the fence and took the appropriate action.
At 6:40am our alarm rang. It had been a long time since that occurred for Alec, and forever for myself. We hit the snooze button several times as usual, and were out of the tent by 7:20.Ten minutes to make matte, brush teeth, and make it over to the barn by 7:30. It was our first day of milking sheep.
There were 40. Instructed by one of Augustine`s employees, Hector (23 year old local who has never left his hometown), we herded them around back, prepared the inside of the barn for their entry 15 at a time,


and were ill prepared for the most mierda (you can look that one up on your own) that we had ever seen in our lives. These sheep were terrified of us, running in all directions as they entered the barn. We had to yank, pull, and push them as they kicked at us desperately trying to avoid having their necks secured in preparation for milking.

After they were all lined up, we had to squeeze each tit until milk was extracted, and then place the pumps. We thought that getting them inside was a challenge, this was another story. They avoided us with all of their might. Kicking, leaning, pushing, peeing, pooping, anything possible to avoid those "sucking claws." But to know avail, it was our job, and we were going to get it done!

Alec took to it pretty quick. Myself, I had some troubles. I never seemed to completely extract all of the milk from the sheep. Hector always had to finish them off. I don´t know, I think I was concerned that the pumps were hurting their nipples. After all, they were purple after the second round of pumping was completed. Over the days, I created a song that I sang to the sheep as I milked them. It calmed myself, and seemed to have a positive affect on them as well. Although it doesn´t make the most sense it goes something like this - "Tu eres chaquita, tu eres bonita, tu eres chaquiiiiiiitaaaaaaaaaaaa...tu eres bonita, tu eres chaquita, obeeeeeeeeeejaaaaaaaaaas."

But the best was yet to come...after milking 40 obejas came the cleaning. We had to empty and measure the milk (25 liters on average - this is the amount of milk from 40 obejas, equivalent to 1 baca), bag the milk and put it in the freezer for preparation for cheese (Hector pretty much did this), sweep and hose down all the mierda on the inside of the barn, and then sweep, hose down, shovel, and toss over the fence all the mierda on the outside of the barn where all the obejas had lined up.


The entire process took 3 hours. This was our morning task for the week that we stayed at this farm. We got pretty good at it, but just when we started to feel comfortable, those 40 sheep turned into 80!


-- Expanding Experience through every Step...

Man (and Woman's) best friend

So here I lay beside Alec in the tent in Carmelo, Uruguay. The rain is falling pretty hard and our rain fly is doing really well. I am all bundled up, typing away on my iPod.
We arrived yesterday around 6:30pm on a boat ride, The Cacciola, that traveled from Buenos Aires to Carmelo.


Upon arrival, we easily went through customs, which i have found to be so much more pleasant outside of the U.S.
We walked a little over a mile from the port carrying our 40+ pound packs to a campsite.


Along the way we saw horses and carts, many stray dogs, lots of joggers (as if there were some olympics in training for the people of Uruguay), and many people on mopeds. We found a campground/yacht club along the river with not one inhabitant except for the camp guard and his dog.
We spoke what Spanish we knew and secured a place to sleep for the night with promise to pay in the morning. We headed down the river to pick a spot, escorted by the campgrounds keeper, the dog. He stayed with us as we set up camp, made some dinner, and drank mate...warming up for what we could tell was going to be a cold night. Before bed, we stood along the beach and enjoyed an incredible view.
I have always loved camping! The one thing that has always made me feel uneasy though, are the many foreign sounds around you while you sleep. Last night i heard several. Ducks quacking (with an Uruguaian accent:)...seriously), dogs barking at the ducks (universal dog
sounds:)), street lights buzzing, mopeds wizzing by (we are at the end
of the road, by the doc, which seems to be lovers lane), the flapping of the rain fly (sounded like our new dog scratching its flees), and a couple of boats running along the river...not the most quiet of
campsites.
The best part were the sounds we awoke to. Literally, 30 feet from our heads, construction workers began digging a trench at what must
have been 7am. I kept hearing them run back and forth past our tent to the river. Alec awoke before I and went outside and instantaneously befriended them.


I was impressed at how well he communicated and talked of our travels. We discovered that the workers were not only digging, but also fishing at the same time...running past our tent to the river whenever there was movement on their pole. Catfish was the special of the day; tiny ones at that. With much more grace...just across the river we saw 3 different birds swoop down and catch huge fish on the first try. It was incredible!!!
After breakfast, having been assured by the honest workers that our belongings would be safe in their care, we walked into town. Along the way, we unintentionally befriended two more dogs that walked with us all the way to the city center; barking at pedestrians and other
dogs, running alongside cars and mopeds, paciently waiting for us as
we stopped for any reason...we both had some anxiety over the situation feeling a responsibility to stop them from following us and bothering people on the street; as if they were our own. It wasn't until we came out of the bus terminal where we inquired about our next trip to Colonia de Sacremento (tomorrows trip), where we found our new guardians had found another couple to take care of:)
Which brings us back to now, in the tent (which was still here when we
got back), with the rain harder than ever. The forth strike of lightning has just informed us that the storm has moved from 14 miles to 3 miles overhead. Wow...that was insane. For us both, we just experienced the craziest wind that blew our tent inwards. Its size was
reduced from its already 2 person tininess in half. We survived...well
at least if this blog is posted, we made it through the night:)





-Amani & Alec

Buenos Aires part 1 (9/10/09)

Having been here for a week now we are becoming anxious to get into the country; to see the nature, the country people, and sleep under the stars.
I am just getting over a cold that kept me resting for the last couple of days. We have been very fortunate to have an entire apartment to ourselves on the top floor of a building with a great view.


I say fortunate instead of lucky because we were reminded by one of Manuela's friends that luck is chance and fortune is what comes back to you. Through Jesse, a friend of Amani's, we have come to meet Maneula our host.


She speaks perfect English (lived in CA)
but is still very patient with our continued attempts in Spanish . With Manu we have shared our first Argentinian steak (lomo), wine (Malbec/Shiraz), Matte


(traditional tea served in a gourd and shared in a circle),and a Disco (17 and up smoking like chimneys) to name a few of our experiences. She is great.
As I write we are on a bus headed to La Chosa, a farm that Manuela's cousin Cala suggested we see and perhaps volunteer with. Cala is a waldorf student (as was I) and has recently returned from an International Youth Conference in Dornach, Switzerland, where 500 Waldorf students from all over the world gathered to meet and discuss various current topics. It is continually suprising to meet other people with similar alternative upbringings. There is even a Biodynamic farm (I grew up on a Biodynamic farm in NY) in Patagonia that we have come to learn about and will surely volunteer at. It seems people all over the World are searching for a way of living in balance with the Earth; an alternative to the path of the "Mainstream" "Takers."
The direction toward a lifestyle of excess that continues to consume our realities (especially in USA) has led to this place in time where we are already running out of water, among many other essential resources. When our watersheds become chemically-soaked cespools contaminating the Total Water Cycle, we are a plague on the earth; our source of existence. As much as this might sound pessimistically apocalyptical (like the "Matrix"), I belive the fact that more people (4million) on this earth die from contaminated water than all of the illnesses and wars combined is just one more sign of the total pollution of our environment. Until recently I have failed to see and understand these facts all
around us. I have only just begun my search to better understand these worlds within worldsworld's, and their collective Zeitgeist. Finding ways to live without a destructive, polluting footprint is one of our goals as well, and the reason for volunteering on Eco-minded farms.
The debilitating effects of humans on this earth have set a disasterous trajectory that together with focused intention we can counteract with a holistic, sustainable network of local measures. Taking steps ranging from Organic/Biodynamic Farming to using energy efficient fixtures or irrigating with graywater, we can have a positive effect---a Conscious-Movement starting in the Mind that gives purpose to the hand to recreate the land. A mind that comes to understand its' body's place in the Global Community, feeling the tension of the web connecting everything to this Earth and eachother.
Like the vibrations of a fly's wings In a spider web, our thoughts ripple through tense tendrils of maluable Life.
Through all of these jumbled words that I use to try and understand my thoughts, the most important thing to me is to make a positive impact. To be wherever I am and remain positive in action and attitude is something that I will strive for. Perhaps with others actions those small vibrations can help create something tangible, or at least strengthen the waves as they grow.

Alec & Amani

-- Expanding Experience through every Step...

To Your Health!! 9/10/09

So much talk of sickness...the swine flu!!!

It was right there in our faces when we had a layover in Mexico city and we arrived in Buenos Aires. As we approached landing in Argentina, we were given masks to wear in the airport.


They sprayed down the plane with some deoderizer. It was strange...we had been in a plane in close proximity to so many people without worries. I know that an airport has many more germs, but doesn't an enclosed plane???
Anyway, we landed and I noticed only a few people were wearing them. Mostly the elderly. None of the babies, which I think I would be a bit more cautious about. I did not see one airport employee wearing one.
What was really interesting was getting back on the plane after our layover in Mexico City. They have these body scanners...almost like infrared...that check your temperature before you enter the terminal. I guess if you have a temperature they don't let you on the plane?!?!


I also noticed that there were several airport employees in wheelchairs. It made me think about the U.S. I never see handicap workers. Does that mean that the U.S. provides disabled individuals with money for disability which doesn't allow for the opportunity to work? Is this negative? A cycle where people become dependent? Isn't it better to provide opportunity to allow persons to feel self sufficient? Lack of work for the handicap seems to be a way of saying "you are incapable." Please comment if you have any information to educate me:) Please always feel free to comment!!!

Change in topic...Alec and I hung out at a really nice local guys place last night, Simon (the Magician),


and watched the futball match - Argentina vs Paraguay. Argentina did not win. Argentinians not happy:( On Sunday, I hope we will go with Simon to a futball match! Simon is from the country and showed us a map of all these amazing places he has gone in Patagonia, and that he encourages us to go to. He is very nice:)
I am realizing that the longer I stay in the city, I want to go to the country. Buenos Aires is nice, but it is just another City.


One thing I can say for sure about this city is the people are wonderful!!!!!!!


Today, Alec and I are going to check out a farm about an hour west of Buenos Aires. I believe it may be Waldorf influenced. I hope there is some opportunity with children there. If it works out, it will be our next adventure:)



Amani & Alec

-- Expanding Experience through every Step...

Beginnings...

It has only been 4 days, and Alec and I have been overwhelmed with the most positive people and experiences. People who we have met for only a matter of moments have befriended us, invited us to stay in their homes, walked us completely out of their way to bus stops, given us keys to their apartments, shared their bombilla (straw for mate), spoken for hours on topics of poitics and life.
Alec and I strive to be concious. We are awake and prepared to learn and open our eyes and ears to everyone and everything around us. We have been and plan to speak our truths, listen to others, and most importantly, educate ourselves.


Movement...to dance, drum, paint, move through the earth open-heartedly, honestly, and to use our voice, mind, and body.


On our 10 hour layover in mexico city, Alec and I went out and about. We saw farmers protesting for their land which had been "reclaimed" by the government,


we met a young artist named Gabriel who educated us on the immigrants movement and gave us an art sketchbook to pass along on our travels,


and we listened and watched a group of people in the streets performing a traditinal Aztec dance (the exact one I saw with amalia in the u.s. only a few days before our departure-foreshadowing?)


So through these experiences, I have been reminded that there is love and community in this world. But i have also been reminded that their is injustice. I see it in the 3, 4, and 5 year old children that run on and off of the trains begging for money. I saw it when an 80 year old woman got onto a packed train and not one person stood up to give her a seat. I turned to Alec and asked him "is it our responsibility to speak for those who do not speak for themselves?" We never did speak. She stood there swaying back and for as the subway stopped and started. A man stood up by me and exited the train, i shifted my body in front of the seat and asked Alec to get the woman's attention. He did. Gratefully, she extended her hand to him as he helped her along. Another man, not even 20, entered the train and tried to squeeze by me to sit in the empty seat. "no no no" I said. I gestured to the elderly woman. The man glared at Alec and I, Alec stating "una problema?" We were both astonished. It was at that moment we realized that it is our responsibility to speak for those who do not and cannot speak for themselves.
This trip is a time for Alec and I to be concious outside our daily routine. But our ultimate goal is to learn to open our eyes and use our words always. To be aware through constant listening, learning, writing, reading, dancing, drumming, educating, loving, and living.
Amani y Alec


-- Expanding Experience through every Step...