whaaaaa???

HI
surprise internet session - in town buying supplies but may have to leave any minute so excuse the hurridness. .

well the farm is a beautiful fucking mess. seriously. gorgeous, but has been closed down for 4 months so there´s termite and bat shit, weeds up to my shoulders, and the water´s out cause an elbow joint int he pvc lines got trampled by cows.

someone stole the propane so we´re cooking on the wood stove in 80 plus degree heat, and i have 4 large red flybites on my arm.

on the upside: i learned to harvest bananas yesterday!
also i can see h ow the farm can and will turn into a marvelous place, once we´ve worked (much) more and once more peolpe arrive to help (2, tomorow). .

and: i met the tico neighbors, and they are grade A people, absolutely excellent. i have an invitation to stay at their house on the weekends, and will get to check out the process of turning sugar cane into tapa dulce and molasses. the mother, luz, makes cheese and might be able to teach me to make the farmer´s cheeses they eat here that i love so much. she is going to find a kitten for the farm very soon as well.


upon arriving to the farm, part of me considered backing out, taking off, leaving early, because of the disorder, disfunction, etc. . . but i figure that´s just about the shittiest way to start the new year - abandoning commitments when the going gets rough. i considered carefully through the day, and have decided to stick it out. i am excited to see what we are going to turn this place into; also i think the experience of kickstarting a farm from somewhere near scratch will eventually be very valuable.


not sure what else.
ah, my boss here really does not speak much spanish, which surprised me. she´s made friends with the neighbors, and can communicate, but not insentences; i had expected someone at my level or beyond but apparently, no. .
i have been acting as unofficial translator, which i do not mind in the least. one local will be hired soon to work with us - carlos who has worked for them before, and according to the farmbook (memories of past volunteers - very interesting read) he is 'awesome' and 'amazing'. . so i should learn a lot working with him, and be able to practice and improve my spanish. looking forward to becoming pro with the machete. .



things i forgot from last week:
took a trip to the mall and bought 2 small paperback cookbooks - one of batidas/frozen blended drinks and refrescos, and the other of desserts that all involve CHEESE - a disgusting word but favorite food. . hilarious and awesome.

in the bookstore was playing a modern soft rock version of the irish folk tune 'wild mountain thyme' which cracked me up.
joyce recommended that i read isabel allende's 'house of spirits' while down ehre, and whil i did't get it before leaveing i have checked every bookstore i´ve found here with no luck. lame. .
however the farmhouse has some interesting reads - one by deepak chopra (sp?) and lots of survival skill/ farmy things and herbal medicine.


i am wishing a very happy birthday to my most excellent brother lars who is already 19 and a day in japan, and very newly 19 almost everywhere else. way to go, kiddo.


well happy new year to everyone, while i won't be writing much (maybe ever) until i come back, i definitely would not object to a full inbox of tidbits from you all. .
love
mak