So it's been about 2 weeks, figured I should try and get the energy to post something to this thing. As is the usual custom when traveling, I have been searching for what will ultimately be my beer for the harvest. Currently the two front runners are Hansa marzen gold or Carling Black Label. For those interested, they are both lagers as is most beer here. I really can't imagine a scenario where I would want a porter at this point. The sun is hot to say the least.
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| View from near the winery |
To give a short synopsis of my sitation, I'm currently working at Asara winery, which is actually a huge hotel and restaurant as well as winery located in Stellenbosch, SA. Unfortunately, I didn't get the penthouse suite like I thought I was going to (bastards). So it goes. Instead, my fellow housemates and I were given a different "penthouse" which is actually a converted office. It's actually not that bad except for the fact that we don't really have a shower per se (don't feel like explaining...there's a shower downstairs that I use that we get to share with the vineyard workers, so it's obviously very clean and works well) and that my bedroom is soo huge and empty that I often feel as if I should start playing indoor soccer in there or something (word on the street was that a ping-pong table might go in there, which I am obviously all for). Man I'm tired, really don't have any energy to think of something fruitfull and entertaining to write. Hell, I can barely spell at this point. Most of my day currently consists of lifting, stacking, moving, and emptying crates full of grapes...as well as the usual winery work (fun fact: wine is made from grapes!). Sorry if this sounds like complaining, but after dealing with 4000 of these things I'm allowed to (see pic below). Anyway, looks like its just another harvest getting paid to get in shape, boo ya; suck on that Jack Lalanne. (the other day we did a heavy day and I got to enjoy lifting 10 tons worth of grapes in crates in about 4-5 hours...."Where's the goddamn protein, MA!!")
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| I can take you, old man |
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| Lebo with the remnants of a crazy hour of tipping crates onto the sorting table....we organized them later |
Fun South Africa facts:
-In Africa time, now means tomorrow, soon means next week, and later means never
-the sun is hot.....very hot
-beer is cheap but you feel like its expensive..."no way man, 50 rand a 6 pack what is this? Lethoso??"
-trucks are called buckys and traffic lights are called robots...go figure
-people are in every parking lot to help you park, its like all of South Africa has valet parking....cept there are really just there to stop people from stealing shit......if you pay them
-to easily communcate with everyone at work I need to learn 3-4 languages....which isn't promising considering most people don't understand my english
-jerky is the national food only here it's called biltong and is made from all sorts of crazy animals like kudu, springbok, ostrich, and eskimos
-the rand (unit of currency here) is not quite as strong as the dollar, so despite the fact that I have fifteen 100 bills in my wallet, I am not a baller
that is all. Maybe I'll get around to writing another before I leave in May.
