Dani - woah, glad everything turned out ok (somewhat).... I was curious about specifics when it came to problems because of skin color. Did someone say anything specifically?
I think the worst thing that happened was delayed payment from the farm, and also a lot of money being docked, but I would do it all over again, since I had some good times. Of course, I remember organizing a strike, to which everyone agreed (with the help of others who chimed in) but it rained a few hours later, so we couldn't work anyway, so I wonder..
But towards the end, many of us took extra days off, and wouldn't work. The way I looked at it was "Ok, I got ripped off, so let me use this accommodation to recoup a tad."
And people were terrified when they saw me and a few girls sleeping in a park - I didn't sleep great, but it was very interesting, and we had fun. Once me and my friend Robert went and found a food van (never paid for food again) and brought it back for everyone. Inside, I thought of "primitive" life. There was a guy (in our village, lol) and the girls gave me a few looks. Later they thought he was weird, but he actually shared a room with a guy we met at the farm, 3-4 hours by train.. He had a joint too.. After he left, my friend Robert said "He was ok" and I thought the rest of us probably had that reaction because it was a stranger and we didn't want any authorities coming to tell us we couldn't sleep there. During the day, we'd leave our stuff in a locker for a dollar, and we didn't lay out a tent.
Couchsurfing
I did get injured in the first month in Australia.. I've had chronic lower back problems, and this was the second time it was so bad that I had to lay in bed during New Year's Eve, weeks after..
It's nice reuniting with friends from the farm, and meeting new ones (via Couchsurfing)
More Couchsurfing... We stayed with a guy who lived a hundred yards from the ocean.
Now, come to think of it, the sad thing is the loss of friendship. Sometimes it happens naturally, and then sometimes while I'm looking through pictures, I realize someone unfriended me off Facebook, and I wonder why... It does hurt a little more when you think "This person is unlike the others" and then actions speak louder than words... But, the alternative would have been to stay home, and probably having less to show for it.
I hope you all kept journals -- I actually found someone I hadn't contacted since the airport, and after seeing her picture, I realized how we met. I guess I'm the type who would love to see how everyone is doing, but I know some people who are too self-conscious, and won't.
Reply to Topic
