Things have been really strained on the farm the last couple of weeks. Tim has turned out to be a not so nice of a guy, with regular excursions into passive-agressiveville. He's a hard man to please it turns out. Despite continuing to work hard and enthusiastically he had a talk with me a couple of weeks ago saying he had some concerns about my speed and efficiency. This is in spite of me getting all of my tasks done.....and, the fact that I'm not actually getting paid. Aside from that I've been anxious because he asked the couple that was staying here to leave. Then, before he went out of town a little while ago (after asking me to take him to the airport and take his car to the repair shop while I was in town) he wanted to discuss my plans for staying. He essentially told me that he'd been talking to some other people and they would "love to have me through mid-October but then we should discuss a transition." Which, if I'm up on my bullshit, means you can stay until we find someone we like better, but then you gotta go. So, that's the story. I have been asked to leave the farm, which is a really weird feeling. I'm trying not to take it personally since he clearly has a pattern and some kind of unknown set of expectations. Also, if you recall, I was waiting to hear if I got into that farming program. I emailed them an inquiry, and it turns out they never received my application. It must have gotten lost in the mail.
So, basically, I've been trying to work out what next. I've decided that, though I have gained some important personal lessons from these experiences, I am not going to attempt to go to a third farm. The point was to come here and have this new experience, and I feel like I have done that and am eager to try something new. My really loose plan for now is, stay until mid-October (swallowing my pride in the process, working for someone who doesn't want me here because I'll save so much in rent and food over the next three weeks), then I am moving to Honolulu on Oahu for ~6 months so that I can be here for the two big Hawaii tournaments, Hopu and Kaimana. On Oahu, I'm looking into working at a natural foods co-op, while continuing my self-education on the exploding field of sustainability. After that, I'm thinking back to Atlanta for the summer, then I want to apply to various internships. The one I'm really hoping to get into is at the Solar Living Center where there are a million opportunities to take the workshops for free. I figure, armed with all of that knowledge and practical experience I might have the ability to go into any number of directions.
But, that's all for the future. Right now, still farming 'til mid-October. I should say, though, that on this farm I have been learning a lot about organic farming practices, which was the point of WWOOFing. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed that this experience didn't shape up to be all that I had hoped for, but I am really glad that I did it. I had planned to come out here and find a field of Biology (what my degree is in) that I could be passionate about and pursue, but I ended up meeting a few key people that introduced me to so many new and wonderful things that I have been set on this completely unexpected path; a path that I think I can really find fulfillment and passion in following.
For anyone interested, here are some assorted links to various fields that are emerging in the sustainability boom (there are many, many more):
Also, how about some pictures from some nice beaches and the Hindu monastery that I visited recently. : )
Larsens Beach
Moloa'a Bay (where Gilligan's Island was filmed)
my team for Raucous Caucus, the Sippin' Salleys
Entrance to Hindu temple grounds
only all-granite hindu temple in the country (still under construction)
