So Instead of beeing a backpacker I ended up as a fruitpacker at a farm in soutwest NSW, Australia. I was just about to miss my flight from Brisbane as I accidently took the train to the airport in the wrong direction which made me end up at the opposite end of town. By the time I finally brought myself back to the central to switch to the right train I arrived to the airport just a few seconds befor my check in counter closed. This is why I shouldn't be left alone when I have to handle locations. I planned to spend the night at Sydney's domestic airport as I arrived quite late and was about to catch the train early in the morning, but unfortunately the airport closes at 11pm which was when the staff threw me out. I met an amarican girl on the street and we went together to find the fabled McHostel, the nearby McDonald's who are happy to let backpackers spent the night there. Maybe 'happy' isn't the right way to describe it, but at least they didn't complained when we crached at their chairs.
After quite slepless night I managed to find the right train in the morning, and after a good 8 hours ride I found myself in this tiny little local town, surrounded by nothing but fields. I got picked up by the hostel host and local farmer Michael who drove me back to 'Fruitshack' where I was about to spend the following two months farming.
Fruitshack is the hostel, or the shack obviously, where all the backpackers who's working in the area is staying. Including me there was 13 of us. All here by the same reason - to get our second year visa signed. As I still haven't build up my backpack properly I wasn't at all prepeard for the cold here as the night could get really chilled. I didn't even had a pair of long pants, or hoodies which made me freeze my fucking ass of during the night even if a got 4 blankets for myself. I got to borrow a hoodie from English Tom which been my lifesavers the last week. And a pair of trousers from Stina, the Swedish girl I spoke over the phone with before I got here.
That first evening for me Michael took us Kangaroo spotting. Which is when we all went into the bus above, got driven throught the forest with a big spotlight to catch the sight of some real Kangarooes. We didn't see one, ore two but 34 of them jumping around the forest that night. A good start at the shack for me.
My first working day the next morning was terrible, if a got a chance to kill myself I probably would. It was that bad. I got placed to desuckering 23 rows of grape trees. by myself, with no music or anything. I was tired, as I didn't got any proper sleep during the last few nights. It was hot, my back started to hurt after 5 minutes. During that day I promised myself to be on the first train back to Sydney if I ever got placed at the same position again.
As soon as I got back to the shack and to the people, my minds did changed a bit. We had a goodbye party for the French guy as he was leaving the following Monday after 5 month in the shack. Good fun, and a great start for me to get to know the others, with drinking games and chatting the hours away.
Turned out that I was placed doing the exact same thing the next day, but this time together with Tom, my roommate Scottish Nikki, and the French guy. And it actually turned out to be a good laught this time since we all in the same situation, chatting to each other, supporting and helping each other out. Company make such a different. We decided to head down to one of the only bars that night to get some real good beers before the French guy was about to leave us. Also because you can't have glass bottles of beer at the shack meaning that your stuck with the cans bottles which isn't even half as good as the ones you could get at the bar.
Sunday night Michael organised a outdoor cinema for us, where we all sat watching a movie with popcorn, champagne and blankets. Such a nice end of the week.
Me and Nikki went back to the same field doing the same desuckering thing the next few days as well. Two days I got placed doing some lemonpacking, which was all about putting lemons in a box, and sorting bad ones out. I got told that I was lucky getting that kind of work since that is the best paid one and not as fysical hard. Basically, the work here is pretty shit, badpaidonce. But I considered that the experience you got, and the people you meet are worth so much more than any money in the world.
Also, before I finish this massive post, I want to give my mother the best congratulations on her birthday today. I miss you lots and I hope you having a splendid time back home with all your children around but me. Wish I was there only for that moment. you've been in my thoughts all day, love you mom :)