Such is life on the 5th of November
I work in two farms now. Here’s the itinerary:
4 am: Wake up to get ready and for breakfast
5am: Drive up to hilltop to water Gesha plants
6:30am: Drive to UCC
7am: Pick cherries
3:30pm: Clock Out
4pm: Water Gesha plants
5:30pm: Drive down to Basecamp
This was a 12 hour shift. I am exhausted. My feet don't know what flat land is anymore. The Gesha trees are placed on steep terrain, and the area where I picked had a slanted platform. I know that I have to build my endurance and build this routine as a habit, but yes it is tiring. Today, I learned how maintaining healthy trees can directly affect the pickers’ job to take ripe cherries off the tree. I also feel like being a Filipino helps with being easily acquainted with the pickers. The pickers were Japanese, Korean, Filipino and the field manager was from El Salvador. On this second day of picking, I was told to pick those ombre red-orange ones as well. Maria told me that if I’m in doubt, press the cherry to see if it is soft enough to take. Going to the next area for picking was such a beautiful sight to see. There were clumps of red, the bunches were just high enough for my arms when reaching up, and there were only 4 branches. The trees were so kind to me and the pickers. Maria told me that it was the first year that it had fruit since they pruned it back in March 2020. They prune trees every 3 years to make sure they keep it healthy. 8 hours to pick wasn’t as bad as I thought it was, especially with the past experience of picking in the main farm where I am working. Oh and to end the day, I had to water the Gesha plants. So I finish a job to attend to the next one. Drought season can be really harsh to younger coffee trees.
After everything is done, I have people asking me “How was your day, Danni?”. This question is honestly difficult to answer. I was exhausted, and tired, but I knew it served me well in experience and learning. Ofcourse I can’t say those words, because I know that I have brought this upon myself and that I can’t complain. Instead, I say “It has been a day”, while giving a forceful smile. So yes, I mostly suck it up because such is life on the 5th of November.
