For only $10 you can invest in a pre-paid calling card to call me in Australia. Here's the link:
http://www.mobilecaller.com/rates.asp?GUID=A192F5BBAAFF0D4C819F5B93AD868DFF .
My mobile number is +61 448 699 832. I look forward to speaking with some of you soon.
That's only 3 Starbuck's Cafe Lattes, 2 beers at the Chicago Cub's game or 3 gallons of gasoline.
love,
Beckaroo
I WAS BORN WITH A SUITCASE IN MY HAND: ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD Becky Rochester would gladly live out of a suitcase if it meant she could see the world, and that is what she did and continues to do today. She has lived in WI, IL, PA, CA, OR, New Zealand and Australia. Working in different wineries and vineyards and now a brewery, she lives life to the fullest. Sometimes following her heart instead of her head put her in some difficult situations, but she wouldn't change a thing.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Adventure Continues Down Under
Ah. Australia…what more can I say. It’s a little slice of paradise. It is like I am walking around a really big zoo. There are exotic birds, wallabies and kangaroos just roaming around the countryside. Today while I was walking to work I spotted my first kangaroos! Three of them to be exact, and they just stood there watching me walk by. There are “heaps” of them here (“Heaps” is used a lot over here and replaces the American word “lots”.) So if you catch me saying “heaps” that is why. So I am having heaps of fun here so far. I am living in a tiny town, even smaller than Stoddard, Wisconsin, named Tawonga South. I share a house with Nathan, a guy I met during harvest in New Zealand at Oyster Bay, and his girlfriend, Leah. The house isn’t that big, but it is partly furnished and it is really close to work. The view is amazing. When you look out the front patio doors, you can see Mt. Bogong which is the highest mountain peak in Victoria.
A quick little geography lesson for anyone who doesn’t know much about Australia. There are 8 states in Australia: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria (I live here.). I am about an hour from the New South Wales border and biggest town around here, Albury.
I finally purchased a pay as you go cell phone. To reach me from the United States you would dial +61 448 699 832 or you can email me at rochester_rebecca@yahoo.com. I also hooked up the internet as well, so I will updating my Blog on a regular basis now.
Good news! I am flying home for a visit on September 24th. I will be in California from September 24-28 and then in Wisconsin and Chicago until October 13th. Then I am going to fly back to Australia and continue work at Annapurna Estate Restaurant and Cellar Door until the end of December. If I am not too homesick, then I will do a harvest at a winery here in Australia before hightailing it back to the states.
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful sunshine and warm summer weather. I have been following winter around the world. I am not complaining because the winter is pretty mild here…just lots of rain and snow in the mountains. You can check out the Annapurna Estate Restaurant and Cellar Door website at http://www.annapurnaestate.com.au/ .
Oh yeah…from here on out my new nickname is Beckaroo. Get it? Like a kangaroo.
Love always,
Beckaroo
A quick little geography lesson for anyone who doesn’t know much about Australia. There are 8 states in Australia: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria (I live here.). I am about an hour from the New South Wales border and biggest town around here, Albury.
I finally purchased a pay as you go cell phone. To reach me from the United States you would dial +61 448 699 832 or you can email me at rochester_rebecca@yahoo.com. I also hooked up the internet as well, so I will updating my Blog on a regular basis now.
Good news! I am flying home for a visit on September 24th. I will be in California from September 24-28 and then in Wisconsin and Chicago until October 13th. Then I am going to fly back to Australia and continue work at Annapurna Estate Restaurant and Cellar Door until the end of December. If I am not too homesick, then I will do a harvest at a winery here in Australia before hightailing it back to the states.
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful sunshine and warm summer weather. I have been following winter around the world. I am not complaining because the winter is pretty mild here…just lots of rain and snow in the mountains. You can check out the Annapurna Estate Restaurant and Cellar Door website at http://www.annapurnaestate.com.au/ .
Oh yeah…from here on out my new nickname is Beckaroo. Get it? Like a kangaroo.
Love always,
Beckaroo
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Goodbye New Zealand, Hello Australia
On Saturday I said my goodbyes to my roommate and dear friend Gabrielle, boarded a bus and headed for the Auckland Airport. I arrived 3 hours early to make sure that I wouldn't miss my flight to Sydney. I have been known to have airport travel drama so I wanted to allow extra time.
With me was my backpack, big suitcase and little suitcase. I went to check into my flight and the woman informed me that my bags were overweight. The weight limit was 20 kilograms. I had 13.5 K in one bag and 34 K in another. So I went to the scale and proceeded to repack them to balance them better. I figured I would just throw a couple items away and repack the remaining items. The fee per extra kilogram is $18.60 and I was willing to pay a little extra. I went back to the woman and now my bags were 16.5 K and 24.5 K. I thought it would alright but was shocked when she informed me that I was only allowed one 20 K bag. That meant I would have to pay over $350 extra!!! I explained to her that I had travelled internationally from the USA and was allowed to bring 2 bags at 20 kilograms each. She asked if I had proof and luckily I had kept my ticket from my previous flight. I went to the customer service desk and talked to the manager there. After 10 minutes of using my Midwest charm and batting my eyes, he agreed to waive the fees for me.
After checking in my bags, I proceeded to pay my $25 NZ tax and then got into the security line. Let me point out that during my repacking of bags, I had layered as many clothes on as possible to cut down on weight in my suitcases. By this time I had added two sweatshirts, a hat and a belt (keep this in mind because the belt shows up later in my story). At security I put all of my bags on the conveyor belt, took my hat off and the guy asked for me to take off my belt. I tried to get it off but it was stuck. Then he asked for me to step aside and a woman security agent would need to take a look. Well, silly old me hadn't even considered that wearing a belt that has bullet shell cases and a gun on it probably isn't the smartest idea at an international airport. The woman just took a look and nicely asked me not to wear the belt during my trip. I took the belt off and put it in my bag. I will post a picture once I have access to my computer. Duh!
I arrived at my gate with 25 minutes left to board. The flight was quick and at 5:50 PM I arrived in Sydney. I took a taxi to the Holiday Inn Potts Point and enjoyed a nice evening walking around and relaxing.
Today I went down to see the famous Sydney Opera House and Sydney Cove. The city is clean and there is great shopping and food. Unfortunately I am at capacity on my luggage so I will have to make a trip back just for shopping. Tuesday I fly to Albury and my friend, Nathan, who also worked for Oyster Bay is picking me up. Wednesday we move into our new house in Mount Beauty. I begin work for Annapurna Estate sometime next week or weekend.
As they say in Australia, no worries.
With me was my backpack, big suitcase and little suitcase. I went to check into my flight and the woman informed me that my bags were overweight. The weight limit was 20 kilograms. I had 13.5 K in one bag and 34 K in another. So I went to the scale and proceeded to repack them to balance them better. I figured I would just throw a couple items away and repack the remaining items. The fee per extra kilogram is $18.60 and I was willing to pay a little extra. I went back to the woman and now my bags were 16.5 K and 24.5 K. I thought it would alright but was shocked when she informed me that I was only allowed one 20 K bag. That meant I would have to pay over $350 extra!!! I explained to her that I had travelled internationally from the USA and was allowed to bring 2 bags at 20 kilograms each. She asked if I had proof and luckily I had kept my ticket from my previous flight. I went to the customer service desk and talked to the manager there. After 10 minutes of using my Midwest charm and batting my eyes, he agreed to waive the fees for me.
After checking in my bags, I proceeded to pay my $25 NZ tax and then got into the security line. Let me point out that during my repacking of bags, I had layered as many clothes on as possible to cut down on weight in my suitcases. By this time I had added two sweatshirts, a hat and a belt (keep this in mind because the belt shows up later in my story). At security I put all of my bags on the conveyor belt, took my hat off and the guy asked for me to take off my belt. I tried to get it off but it was stuck. Then he asked for me to step aside and a woman security agent would need to take a look. Well, silly old me hadn't even considered that wearing a belt that has bullet shell cases and a gun on it probably isn't the smartest idea at an international airport. The woman just took a look and nicely asked me not to wear the belt during my trip. I took the belt off and put it in my bag. I will post a picture once I have access to my computer. Duh!
I arrived at my gate with 25 minutes left to board. The flight was quick and at 5:50 PM I arrived in Sydney. I took a taxi to the Holiday Inn Potts Point and enjoyed a nice evening walking around and relaxing.
Today I went down to see the famous Sydney Opera House and Sydney Cove. The city is clean and there is great shopping and food. Unfortunately I am at capacity on my luggage so I will have to make a trip back just for shopping. Tuesday I fly to Albury and my friend, Nathan, who also worked for Oyster Bay is picking me up. Wednesday we move into our new house in Mount Beauty. I begin work for Annapurna Estate sometime next week or weekend.
As they say in Australia, no worries.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Last Day at Oyster Bay
Christchurch SBS Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k Run
Today was my final day of work at Oyster Bay. Just like running a race, it feels great to finish. Now it is time to begin the Holiday part of my Working Holiday Visa. I have the next two days to pack, sell my bicycle and arrange the rest of my travel plans.
Saturday morning Andries, Gabby, Christian and I begin our 9 day roadtrip. It is going to be a fast and furious roadtrip of the South Island. Highlights include a quick stop in Dunedin for a brewery tour of Speight's, a visit to Central Otaga for some winetasting, skiing or some other adrenaline activity in Queenstown, hiking in Milford Sounds, and a tour of Fox Glaciers.
Last weekend I had a three day weekend thanks to the Queen's birthday. Saturday morning Andries, Chris, Matthew and I headed to Christchurch for the weekend. Along the way we stopped at a couple wineries and did some winetasting. Saturday night Andries, Chris and I attended the Rugby final--Crusaders vs. Wartahs. It was fun to see, but I am still a hockey fan! Check out the video clips I posted.
On Sunday Andries and I ran in the SBS Race (pictures above). I ran a half marathon and he ran a 10k. Overall, I did pretty good considering I haven't been able to train with my crazy work schedule. Now I am back on track and have officially started my training for this year's Chicago Marathon.
I drove for the first time in over 3 months! Not to mention on the other side of the road. It was awesome!!! I have received two thumbs up from Andries and am allowed to be the relief driver for our roadtrip. Stay tuned for more pictures...
Saturday, May 24, 2008
I Was Born With A Suitcase In My Hand
Okay. So I get bored easily. Whether it is a job, food, relationships or life in general, it seems that I always need more. I think I was born with a suitcase in my hand. I am constantly on the go--living on the East Coast, West Coast, back to the Midwest and now overseas. After three months in New Zealand I am starting to grow tired of the Kiwi South Island lifestyle. It is slower paced than Chicago and the food is awful. Today I had my first gourmet meal--salmon with potatoes and mango salsa. YUMMY! It was a breath of fresh air. Every day for lunch I eat canned tuna and crackers because I don't know what else to eat. The canned tuna here is really good. There are many different flavors so I don't grow tired of it. The flavors range from sweet thai chili, ginger and lemon, tomato and basil and olives, lemon pepper, salsa and many more. I am hoping that as I travel around the rest of New Zealand, I will find that it is more culturally evolved than this rural area.
Today I went winetasting with Christian, Gabby and Andries. We went to Lawson's, Wither Hills, Villa Maria and Allan Scott. I tasted some great Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Late Harvest Riesling, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blancs. The weather has been fantastic this weekend. Crisp fall days filled with sunshine and a light breeze. It is so nice to have weekends free again. I am spending a lot of time doing nothing and it actually feels great! I did my laundry yesterday. Let me remind you that dryers are not common here so you have to hang your clothes outside to dry. It is tough during the fall and winter months so I hung up a few articles of clothing inside and put my mini heater on full blast to dry them. This took me the full day to dry a load of clothes.
Check out my pictures from today's winetasting adventure. Cheers!
Today I went winetasting with Christian, Gabby and Andries. We went to Lawson's, Wither Hills, Villa Maria and Allan Scott. I tasted some great Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Late Harvest Riesling, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blancs. The weather has been fantastic this weekend. Crisp fall days filled with sunshine and a light breeze. It is so nice to have weekends free again. I am spending a lot of time doing nothing and it actually feels great! I did my laundry yesterday. Let me remind you that dryers are not common here so you have to hang your clothes outside to dry. It is tough during the fall and winter months so I hung up a few articles of clothing inside and put my mini heater on full blast to dry them. This took me the full day to dry a load of clothes.
Check out my pictures from today's winetasting adventure. Cheers!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
2 Weeks to Go! Copy that?
My New Zealand adventure is coming to an end. It is hard to believe that I arrived in New Zealand three months ago. During this time I have experienced so many things, both mentally and physically. On a good note...my bruises have almost disappeared. I have been fortunate to meet people of all ethnic backgrounds, of all ages, and of all personalities. It has made this journey one I will never forget. Some of these people I will see again or at least keep in touch with via email and others I will probably never have contact with or see again. All the same, each person who I had the honor to work with during harvest, has touched my life in some way or another.
All of us go through some difficult things in life. Some go through more than others. For those of you who know my past and even those of you who don't, this trip was probably one of the best decisions I have made in a really long time. I don't think that I have accomplished everything that I had hoped to accomplish, but my trip has just begun. I am beginning to feel like my old self again. I smile and I laugh. I miss my family and my friends. I apologize for not being able to email, write or call everyone personally. but I hope you are enjoying this blog.
Today I moved from Renwick (Alma Street) into a different vintage house closer to Blenheim. Everyone in our house has been split up into the remaining houses. Gabby and I have a granny flat in back of the main house and it has a bathroom and sink. It is nice to have some private space again.
This past weekend a group of 20 or so of us from the winery went to Hanmer Springs. You can check out the website http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/thermal/home/ or here is a tidbit I copied from there:
Nestled in the magnificent South Island high country, the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa has, for 125 years, attracted visitors seeking the benefits of its natural mineral waters and clean, clear alpine air. Set in a breathtaking natural landscape, surrounded by forests and mountains, the award-winning Thermal Pools offers visitors a wide range of experiences, from soothing indulgence to exciting family fun. The Thermal Pools & Spa has nine open-air thermal pools, three sulphur pools and four private thermal pools, as well as a sauna/steam room. A fresh-water, heated pool and a popular family activity area, complete with water slides and water toys and picnic area, ensure the Thermal Pools & Spa offer something for everyone.
The pools range in temperature from 33-42° Celsius, perfect for soothing away aches and pains or for just unwinding. The Hanmer Springs geothermal water is drawn from a bore adjacent to the Reserve complex, providing natural water of the highest quality. And with a bounteous supply of the thermally heated spring water, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa is open 364 days a year.
At the heart of the Hanmer Springs Alpine Village, the Thermal Pools are within easy walking distance of a full range of accommodation, shops, a golf course and other amenities. For outdoor activity, the forests surrounding the village are criss-crossed with walking and mountain bike tracks and the region offers an exciting array of adventure activities. In winter, visitors to Hanmer Springs are only one hour's drive from two excellent ski areas.
During my visit to Hanmer Springs, I went on a nice 2 hour hike to a waterfall. Check out my pictures. I am off to bed.
Cheers,
Becky
All of us go through some difficult things in life. Some go through more than others. For those of you who know my past and even those of you who don't, this trip was probably one of the best decisions I have made in a really long time. I don't think that I have accomplished everything that I had hoped to accomplish, but my trip has just begun. I am beginning to feel like my old self again. I smile and I laugh. I miss my family and my friends. I apologize for not being able to email, write or call everyone personally. but I hope you are enjoying this blog.
Today I moved from Renwick (Alma Street) into a different vintage house closer to Blenheim. Everyone in our house has been split up into the remaining houses. Gabby and I have a granny flat in back of the main house and it has a bathroom and sink. It is nice to have some private space again.
This past weekend a group of 20 or so of us from the winery went to Hanmer Springs. You can check out the website http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/thermal/home/ or here is a tidbit I copied from there:
Nestled in the magnificent South Island high country, the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa has, for 125 years, attracted visitors seeking the benefits of its natural mineral waters and clean, clear alpine air. Set in a breathtaking natural landscape, surrounded by forests and mountains, the award-winning Thermal Pools offers visitors a wide range of experiences, from soothing indulgence to exciting family fun. The Thermal Pools & Spa has nine open-air thermal pools, three sulphur pools and four private thermal pools, as well as a sauna/steam room. A fresh-water, heated pool and a popular family activity area, complete with water slides and water toys and picnic area, ensure the Thermal Pools & Spa offer something for everyone.
The pools range in temperature from 33-42° Celsius, perfect for soothing away aches and pains or for just unwinding. The Hanmer Springs geothermal water is drawn from a bore adjacent to the Reserve complex, providing natural water of the highest quality. And with a bounteous supply of the thermally heated spring water, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa is open 364 days a year.
At the heart of the Hanmer Springs Alpine Village, the Thermal Pools are within easy walking distance of a full range of accommodation, shops, a golf course and other amenities. For outdoor activity, the forests surrounding the village are criss-crossed with walking and mountain bike tracks and the region offers an exciting array of adventure activities. In winter, visitors to Hanmer Springs are only one hour's drive from two excellent ski areas.
During my visit to Hanmer Springs, I went on a nice 2 hour hike to a waterfall. Check out my pictures. I am off to bed.
Cheers,
Becky
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Off to the wonderful land of "Oz" (Australia)
I am off to the wonderful land of "OZ". Australia that is. I have decided to extend my stay overseas, and I am moving to Australia on June 25, 2008. I had an interview and was offered a job at Annapurna Estate Winery in Mount Beauty, Victoria. I start the first week of July. Check out the winery's website http://www.annapurnaestate.com.au/.
Quick facts about Mount Beauty--My new home
Population approximately 1,650
344 kilometres north-east of Melbourne
Mount Beauty is nestled at the foot of Victoria's highest mountain, Mt Bogong, in the fertile Kiewa Valley. Initially developed in 1949 to house workers during construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric scheme, it has prospered into a popular tourist destination with much to offer.
Living up to its name, Mount Beauty has many scenic highlights both in and around the township. It is also a popular base for outdoor activities - from horse riding on the High Plains and bushwalking in the Alpine National Park, to mountain biking along bush tracks and fishing in the Kiewa River. For skiers, Falls Creek is just a short drive away.
Hike through spectacular mountain landscapes
Ride a mountain bike on world class tracks - there are literally hundreds of trails to explore
Explore the scenic trails of the High Country on horseback with an experienced guide
Enjoy tranquil fishing in clear mountain streams
Visit Wallace's Hut, the oldest existing cattleman's hut in Australia
Take in the magnificent views of Mt Bogong and the Mount Beauty township from Tawonga Gap Sample the premium vintages of one of the region's fine wineries.
Link to Google Map to View Mount Beauty
http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=Mount+Beauty+VIC,+Australia&ll=-29.840644,147.128906&spn=34.109334,81.914063&z=4
P.S. The picture is from the Marlborough Harvest Party last weekend. I will post more pictures later this week.
Your traveling friend,
Becky
Monday, May 5, 2008
Back to A Semi-Normal Life
It is amazing how fast 8 hours goes after working 12 hour shifts. Last night was my first night of working 8 hours. My new schedule is from 10:45 PM to 7:00 AM. Before I knew it, it was time to go home. I am still scheduled to work 6 or 7 days a week, but now I have some spare time to enjoy or at the current time just sleep.
I have applied for and received approval for a working holiday visa in Australia. I am thinking of moving there next and working there for six months to a year. Last week I had a couple interviews. One was in Chicago and one was in Iowa. I am really not sure where I will end up in the end. I am just taking it day-by-day.
This Saturday is the year end vintage party. P-A-R-T-Y!!! There are 850 people who are going to attend from all the different wineries in Marlborough. I cannot wait.
Other than that, I have started to run again. I have signed up for the Chicago Marathon in October. So now is time to begin my training. I forgot how wonderful it feels to run--the scenery around here is quite magical. The vines are turning fall colors, there is snow in the mountains in the distance and the air is crisp. It is choice!
Up above is a picture of me working hard topping some tanks. I was so into my work that I didn't notice Nathan sneak up behind me. Of course his sidekick, Manual, was there to document it with a picture. When I got up to turn the pump off and move the lines, I was surprised to find Nathan behind me on a bucket. It was a nice laugh! Well, off to work I go.
Cheers, Becky
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Diggin It in New Zealand
Last night at work was super fun! Three of us woman dug out a tank of Pinot Noir. The best part was that it was nice and warm inside the tank. Other than that, it has been slow the past couple of nights. The grapes have finished coming in and the work has slowed down. It has been almost 2 months of working harvest at Delegat's. Overall, I have enjoyed the experience even though I complain a lot. But I really I think that in the end I will look back and appreciate that I stuck with it and finished the harvest.
I am not sure what is in store for me next...I am debating doing a vintage in California this fall--Yes, I know I just moved back from there, but it is a temporary thing. Don't worry Nikki, Javier will come with me this time. I have applied for a couple harvest positions making sparkling wine. Keep your fingers crossed!
I have two days off next week!!! I cannot wait. I am a complete mess...my eyebrows need to be plucked, my legs shaved and I could use a haircut and color as well. I am looking forward to the days when I work 9-5 again. This is fun, but I am a socializer and am lacking socialization. Check out the piture of Gabby and Me inside the Pinot Noir tank. The cap was about 3 feet high. It is kind of like shoveling very packed snow. There is a quick video of me as well below.
Cheers,
Becky
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A Day/Night Off!
I had the night off last night, and it was wonderful. I went shopping, out for dinner and then to a movie--Desperately, Maybe. Then I went to sleep at 2:00 AM and woke up at 3:30 PM today. It is sunny and we are going to BBQ before boarding the bus and heading back to work. There is a rumor that we only have 2 more weeks of 12 hour shifts. Then I think they cut us back to 8 hours shifts with a day off every two weeks.
I am searching for a job in the wine industry back in the United States. I am most interested in working a harvest at a winery in the Midwest and then it is back to Chicago.
During harvest, the winery has experienced its fair share of mishaps. I took a video of a 160,000 liter tank overflowing during the fermentation process. This is the tenth or so tank that has done this. There are a few factors that contribute to this: overfilling and not leaving enough head space, too much Superfood or temperature fluctuations. Last week we lost power in the whole winery for about 2 hours and all the agitators shutoff. Anyways...check out the video.
Cheers!
Becky
I am searching for a job in the wine industry back in the United States. I am most interested in working a harvest at a winery in the Midwest and then it is back to Chicago.
During harvest, the winery has experienced its fair share of mishaps. I took a video of a 160,000 liter tank overflowing during the fermentation process. This is the tenth or so tank that has done this. There are a few factors that contribute to this: overfilling and not leaving enough head space, too much Superfood or temperature fluctuations. Last week we lost power in the whole winery for about 2 hours and all the agitators shutoff. Anyways...check out the video.
Cheers!
Becky
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The GoodI have survived one month of work as a Vintage Cellar Hand at Oyster Bay Winery. It hasn't been as glorious and as rejuvenating as I imagined it would be. In fact, this past week was a roller coaster ride...more about that later. Last night was my first night off in 14 days. I wasn't even supposed to have the night off because they cancelled all time off because harvest is underway and there is a lot of work to be done, but I knew if I didn't get a night off then I probably wouldn't make it to the end of vintage. So I asked and they agreed to let me have the night off. I cooked a nice pasta dinner, painted my toe nails, gave myself a facial and then went out for a couple beers in Blenheim. Overall, it was a much needed, relaxing evening. I made myself stay awake until 4 AM this morning so I could keep my body tuned to the night shift cycle.
Working 84 hours a week has it's advantages. I don't have time to spend money, I earn about $1200-$1300 a week before taxes and rent and in the end I know that I will appreciate my time that I have off more. I have made some extraordinary friends here from around the world. Each one brings a different perspective about the job, about wine and about life. They have kept me motivated to stick with it and I appreciate that.
The Bad
Imagine going to culinary school and once you arrive you are assigned one job. Maybe the job is checking to make sure all the ingredients are there for the recipe or mixing sugar, flour and baking soda together. But for the whole 3 months you are in culinary school, this is what you will be doing. You don't get to see how the product moves through the entire process because you are assigned one task only and you do that task day in and day out. Well, that is what it is like here at Oyster Bay. It is a factory for wine. I transfer wine from one tank to the next tank and sometimes if I am lucky, I get to move wine and warm it so I can start the fermentation process. I love doing this! I get to work with different yeasts and it is fun watching them grow.
I almost quit about 3 times this week, but I had to take a step back and realize that this is an experience that I need to finish. The work might not be exactly what I had imagined or hoped for, but I have met a lot of great people and I am living in another country. So I am going to take it for what it is. In the end, I will have saved up some money to travel to Fiji an Australia before I head back to the USA.
The Ugly
My legs and arms are covered with dark bruises, my feet are sore from my rubber steel toed boots and yesterday I sprained my right hand! It has been over a month since I started working in the cellar and it is tough work. The city girl in me is dying to go out on the town. I have cut all my fingernails off, my hair is a disaster and I miss my heels and makeup. When I get back to the USA, I am going to be changing my outfit at least twice a day. In two months, I have only worn my heels 5 times. 5 times!
I miss everyone--friends and family and my cat Javier, I miss the Chicago nightlife and I especially miss shopping and wearing my high heels. As they say here in New Zealand, Sweet As Bro.
Cheers!
Becky
Saturday, March 29, 2008
I Traded My High Heels for Rubber Boots
It is Sunday, March 30, 2008. I just got home from another 12 hour shift at Delegat's Oyster Bay. I am enjoying a glass...well a couple glasses...of 2006 Jacob's Creek Grenache Shiraz that I purchased at Supervalue this morning at 7:30 AM.
It has been a rough week of work. I have cuts and bruises from lugging all the hoses and machinery around and my feet hurt. Oh how I miss my high heels. My high heels are far more comfortable than the rubber steel toed boots that I am required to wear. I have an Oyster Bay uniform that I wear to work. I was given two shirts and one pair of pants so I do laundry every day. The shirts are denim long sleeve collared shirts and the pants are navy.
The harvest is still slow here. The grapes haven't quite matured and ripened yet, and it has been raining the past two days so things are on hold. It makes for some very long nights. Last night I was busy. I started work at 7 PM and was assigned a COW--Cellar Operation Work Sheet to do an addition via a dripper to a stainless steel tank. Well, a dripper basically drips, drips, drips liquid into the tank and I had to add over 40 Liters of stuff to drip into the tank! So I sat up there and watched it drip and read my Shape magazine that my mom sent me in my goody package. This was how I spent my first hour of work. Then I had to setup some pumps and mix up some additions to add to two more tanks. Setup and watch. Setup and watch. That was my night.
I posted some pictures from when I went hiking, or tramping as they refer to it here, on the Queen Charlotte Track around the Marlborough Sounds.
Monday, March 24, 2008
New Zealand Nights
I just completed my second 12 hour night shift. It is amazing how fast a day goes when you work 12 hour shifts. Here's a breakdown of my typical day:
6:25 PM get picked up by Catch-a-Bus and head to winery
6:35 PM arrive at winery and enjoy a nice espresso
6:45 PM begin work
10:00 PM Smoko-term for New Zealand break
10:15 PM back to work
1:00 AM Lunch/Dinner ???who knows what to call it at this time of night
1:30 AM back to work
4:00 AM Smoko break--this is when I overload on caffeine
4:15 AM back to work
6:45 AM shift change
7:00 AM clock out and board Catch-a-Bus
7:15 AM arrive home and check email
7:30 AM go to bed
1:00 PM wake up and eat breakfast, play on computer, run or go for a bike ride, lay out in sun, etc.
5:00 PM get ready for work
6:25 PM start all over again
The first night went really fast because I spent the first 9 hours power washing barrels and the last 3 hours cleaning bungs,, the rubber stoppers that go into the barrels, and listening to music. Last night, my second 12 hour shift was extremely long since there wasn't any barrel work and no grapes to process. We were given the option to go home, but I didn't think it was a smart since I am trying to switch my sleep schedule and such. I did some additions to tanks, setup for dispatch of wine into trucks, chilled some wine in tanks, cleaned steel railings and then layed on the cement cellar floor for about two hours. Tonight we are supposed to get a couple tons of grapes so we should be busy.
I posted some pictures of the winery. Check them out.
Becky
6:25 PM get picked up by Catch-a-Bus and head to winery
6:35 PM arrive at winery and enjoy a nice espresso
6:45 PM begin work
10:00 PM Smoko-term for New Zealand break
10:15 PM back to work
1:00 AM Lunch/Dinner ???who knows what to call it at this time of night
1:30 AM back to work
4:00 AM Smoko break--this is when I overload on caffeine
4:15 AM back to work
6:45 AM shift change
7:00 AM clock out and board Catch-a-Bus
7:15 AM arrive home and check email
7:30 AM go to bed
1:00 PM wake up and eat breakfast, play on computer, run or go for a bike ride, lay out in sun, etc.
5:00 PM get ready for work
6:25 PM start all over again
The first night went really fast because I spent the first 9 hours power washing barrels and the last 3 hours cleaning bungs,, the rubber stoppers that go into the barrels, and listening to music. Last night, my second 12 hour shift was extremely long since there wasn't any barrel work and no grapes to process. We were given the option to go home, but I didn't think it was a smart since I am trying to switch my sleep schedule and such. I did some additions to tanks, setup for dispatch of wine into trucks, chilled some wine in tanks, cleaned steel railings and then layed on the cement cellar floor for about two hours. Tonight we are supposed to get a couple tons of grapes so we should be busy.
I posted some pictures of the winery. Check them out.
Becky
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