The Manji hostel is an ok place to stay and I was lucky that
I had work arranged before I arrived so I was able to start the next day. The
work isn’t exciting or difficult though it does require some common sense which
can be a bit of a stretch for me at times. Some days I pack avocados and others
I thin the apples trees in the orchard; removing the excess apples so that the
remaining ones can grow big and tasty. I understand why the government requires
the backpackers to do this work in exchange for the second visa and I fully
support it. Fortunately for me I found work on a good farm with a decent boss
who pays a good hourly wages allowing me not only to pay rent and eat properly
but also to save a little bit as well. I know that not all the hostel guests
are as fortunate. I am very glad not to be cutting cauliflowers or broccoli as
it sounds like horrible work and the days on these farms are long. Life is
pretty easy considering I’m doing my backpacker ‘time’. I don’t work long days
and though I work hard when I am at the farm the work isn’t difficult and my
boss is fair. If you work hard and he knows you are tying your best he’ll give
you as many days as he can, if you don’t want to work hard then you find work
elsewhere. Thank you mother for instilling a good work ethic in me!
When I first arrived at the hostel there were about thirty
people staying here and it was a friendly quiet place. I did a lot of sleeping
in my first few days as I wasn’t used to working proper hours anymore. I
arrived on a Wednesday but by the following Monday I had kicked my need for the
afternoon Nana nap on my return from work though all I am capable of after
cooking dinner is watching TV or a film before getting an early night. Originally
I kept to myself a lot, chatting with a few folk but not making any big effort
to join in. I am glad I did make some effort though as by the following Monday
the hostel population had swelled to over 70. All of a suddenly there were
people everywhere and the next weekend the hostel was definitely a place to
party as everyone let off steam form a hard weeks work. Sadly for me I was
working on the Saturday so I restricted myself to a few ciders before falling
asleep in front of the TV whilst watching a film. It was worth it the next day
though as though I felt a little woolly headed when I first woke up I didn’t
have anything like a proper hangover so was able to work at a decent pace for
the whole shift.
My second full week in Manjimup was pretty much like the
first. I packed avocado’s thinned the trees at work and in the evenings watched
a lot of films. I did decide to let go a bit at the weekend and joined my new
friends drinking on the Saturday evening, from what I remember it was a fun
night even if I did pay for it dearly the next day by feeling extremely delicate.
It was a good weekend to party though as it was the weekend before Christmas
and I was leaving the hostel the following Thursday to head back up to Perth
for the holiday. The week flew by and though I was anxious about Christmas and
the hostel had decorations up the Christmas songs were limited and the lack of
pre-Christmas hype did make it easier. Before knew it my first stint on the
farm was done and one of the family in Perth kindly came to collect me and take
me back to their home, it was time for Christmas!
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