So today was easily the hardest day I've had since being on this farm. We spent around 7 hours today working on the cistern. I was the guy at the top of the hole pulling the rocks up with a pulley system (doesn't work that great when you're pulling at a 90 degree angle, no weight distribution), then I took the bucket of rocks and dumped them into a trailer. We actually did load the trailer twice though which was great, although every part of me hurts now. You ever have those moments when your muscles just want to give out? Well I had that except I couldn't do anything about it because I didn't want to drop a bucket of rocks on the Germans, understandable. I am very proud of the work we did today though but never again am I being the rock-puller for the whole day.
The job would've been a lot easier with 4 guys though, we only had 3. You may ask yourself, but wasn't there 4 before? And the answer, sadly, is "yes." However, Sammy the Frenchman decided to leave the farm today. He had a pretty big argument with Daher about "not being appreciated" and "not feeling like he's accomplishing anything" on this farm. I don't think he understands either Arab culture or the fact that nothing seems accomplished on a farm until a few months have passed. Either way, he told me he didn't feel at peace here so he had to go, we'll miss him, he was a cool guy and had a lot of great stories. Samuel's 30 years old, never went to college, but for the past decade, has traveled and worked - snow board lessons or volunteering - around the world (to over 40 countries) only visiting Nice, France (his hometown) for a couple weeks or a month at a time every once in a while. I'm bummed I won't see him around but he is planning on opening a home in the Alps for impoverished children and travlers to stay and visit so if I don't see him before he heads back to France, hopefully I'll stop by there when I do a Euro trip or something. Sammy was the first foreigner I met here and we had a lot to talk about and a lot to learn from one another - peace Sammy, hopefully see you soon.
Luke, Sorry to hear about Sammy. That's the thing about farming - you can't expect to plant a seed today and pick the fruit tomorrow. It takes a long, long time. I hope you get to see him again, and I'm so proud of you for hanging in there!!! I bet you are really getting buff! Love you! Mum
ReplyDeleteLuke, I literally just had a flashback to working on the dig in Israel. Because I was the "Iowa farmgirl," they thought I should be able to carry heavier buckets, etc. I remember both standing at the top of a tunnel, pulling 5-gallon buckets of "dirt" up via rope (no pulley) and being the one at the bottom of the tunnel, with the dirt raining down on me. I'd go back to the kibbutz literally CAKED in mud. But the thing I remember the most is waking up on my first shabbat and literally unable to move, my muscles were so stiff. But there is really nothing like physical labor to make you feel like you're contributing and accomplishing something real. It's all downhill from there. :-) Keep up the GOOD work.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth