It's funny how busy we've been for having so much free time. We spend about 4 hours each morning picking the flowers and grading the flowers. Every few days, we box them up and send them off to Japan. Boxing is very intense- everyone is counting and has to work in silence. I figured that counting wouldn't be my jam, so I was appointed the lid putter on-er, the taper-uper, and the official counter of how many boxes of which type of flowers go out. My tape gun and pallet making skills have come in very useful. I may put it on my resume. In total we've packed a little less than 300 boxes. We've had a quiet time of it, actually- the flower crop wasn't very good this year and so we've had only two longer days of picking to finish off all the flowers. A few years ago they packed up 1000 boxes. Apparently they worked 10 hours each day. We've been lucky to have such a relaxing time, though it's sad that the flowers didn't bloom the way they should. When we emailed John and Julie to ask some questions about staying, we were told that "ambiance varies between a rest home and a slave camp", so we're definitely glad to have gotten the rest home end of that stick!
Duvauchelle continues to be literal paradise. We have made really good friends with all our fellow WWOOFers. Noemie and Martin are going to spend New Years with us in Oamaru, visiting Blue Penguins and Yellow-Eyed Penguins! It's been a real pleasure talking with everyone about their lives (and learning a few words of French and Cantonese). We discuss politics a lot (which I like- Kara likes it a little less, haha!) and I'm finally starting to see some of the major differences between the States and the rest of the world, particularly New Zealand. New Zealand is very similar to the US in a LOT of ways, but I think its position in the geography of the world gives New Zealanders a very different take on world events. There are a lot of cultural forces that Kara and I are working off of that don't exist here- and vice versa. The conversations about politics are mostly grim, as we are mostly all in agreement that the world is doomed, but at least they're interesting. Kara says: We also have lots of lovely conversations about our lives, native birds, this and that.
I do need to remember to slow down my speech and also talk more quietly- Grandma, you've got a lots of international supporters now!
Since last I updated, we've done a lot. We got to go out and strip leaves off of grape trees, in order to get more sun on the berries and let John spray. It was actually pretty tough work- we were really hunched over- and now I'm much more uncertain about working in a winery!
Kara says: Christchurch is still not recovered from the 2010/2011 earthquakes. Many buildings are still in ruins and much of the CBD (Central Business District, or downtown) is behind chain link fences. However, there are many efforts to beautify the rubble: public art is everywhere. Below you can see the old cathedral, still in pieces. But on the walls in front of it as well as in the square, public art abounds and creates a unique atmosphere.
Back to work though- here we are stripping the leaves off of Harry Chitticks, which are the most beautiful!
Also, make SURE to read Noemie's blog about her time in New Zealand! It's in French but I think google will translate it for you. She is an angel.
We'll leave you with this last photo- possibly the best picture of us ever taken.