The Beginning of Work-Trade

Ah, paradise had to come to an end at some point. Yesterday I began my volunteering. It actually isn't too bad. Only 2 1/2 hours a day compared to the 5 hour day in New Zealand last year. I had an orientation meeting yesterday with Mojo (the owner) and Christian (whom I once referred to as Christine) about the work I will be doing. It should be cool. Over the time I am here I will be working on various projects from like painting to writing stuff for their website to just plain landscaping. Today and yesterday was landscaping.



It reminded me a lot of "Level 1" in New Zealand for those of you who helped with that. I just slip on my headphones, put on some Animal Collective and get to it. It's kind of calming except for the mosquitoes. I swear I have like 20 bites. Some even on my face which especially suck. Yesterday was a bit easier than today though because I had a helper.


Her name is Saffron. She is very cute. She was helping me pick up rocks from the soil I was weeding out. I picked the big ones and she picked the little ones. She has this habit of always asking, "Why?" after anything you tell her. It's kind of funny because around here people will ask it for her when she is around. I try to entertain her every time with some sort of answer, but like to trip her up by asking her "Why?" sometimes. I came back from working today all sweaty and itchy and found this villain chilling beside the barn. I couldn't help but click a picture.


But now that I have the time let me speak about the people I have been hanging out with during my stay here. They all have such interesting personalities and add so much to my trip here.

There's Danny:

As you can see, he's this like big football player kind of guy (he actually was captain of the team in high school and now he works as a firefighter), but he has this like boyish smile to him. He and his girlfriend Jess are from Vancouver. There is really a lot more to him than what you see. He is really well-read and he loves just going on about different books he has read on like geo-politics and what not. He gets so excited when he talks about the music he likes or films he thinks I have to see. Surprisingly, I think I have bonded with him the most in the past few days. He just has this crazy insight into people as well. Like when I describe my life back at home he really knows how to put it into perspective and what not.

His girlfriend is Jess:


She is kind of soft spoken and almost the total opposite of Danny. She's super interesting though and like head of some agricultural resource department for British Columbia. I am not sure if that's exactly right but I know she does some pretty intense stuff. She made me oatmeal the first morning I was here which was nice. Danny and her met in high school and I think they fit really well together.

They both have been really nice to have around. They also have a rental car which makes it easier to get around.

Then there is Shannon and Darcy:














Shannon is from Kansas City. She arrived the same day as me and that night we had the most wonderful conversation just about her travels and why we were there that day. She seems a bit aloof sometimes and now she has left to be with some guy she met on another island. I think she will be back sometime soon though.

I've spoken a bit about Darcy. He is from Australia and left last night to go back home. Since April 2nd of last year he has been traveling. I wish I had taken a picture of the map he highlighted. He went like all around North America. It was pretty cool to see. At one point he even had dreads which was especially weird to imagine.

There are plenty of people here at Hedonisia though, but those were the ones I got to really know recently. 2 out of the 4 have left so I am hoping to get to know the others here and perhaps see new people arrive. Anyways, I think Danny and Jess just got back from the market with perhaps some food for me so until next time!