The last couple of nights working have been (knock on wood, which here can be used as a hammer, jack stand, or simply a stool) have been great. Full 12 hour shifts with at least 3 tractors light discing has really been getting things done. We started with 4 at the beginning of the night, but as usual in Brazil one of the discs breaks down. Anyways, with 3 tractors in a field it goes by fast because it actually looks like a person is getting something done. Fazenda (farm) Rondonia is sitting in really good shape to start planting whenever the planter is ready and the rain decides to fall.
It looks like in the next couple of days the other intern and I will be heading back to Fazenda Global to help put together the 108 foot planter. Bauer Built Manufacturing sent down one of their employees to help put 3 planters together ordered by Americans. Since he only speaks English the interns will be in charge of putting this monster together. 108 foot may seem like a weird number to you, but the row spacings are different. Cotton down here is planted on 36 inch centers while soybeans, corn, and popcorn are all planted on 18 inch centers. If you do the math correctly, that is a 36 row, 36 inch planter. Anyways, that's where I will be for probably the next week. So, for the next week I will not be able to communicate with the outside world. So hang on for a week and I will be back on. I know your lives depend on my blog.
So long!!
Signing off........
-Hrubes
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
2 Waterfalls and NO Diesel
Well folks, after a nice relaxing weekend after 2 weeks on the farm, I am back at it. But before the work began we were treated Monday with a very cool experience.
One of our bosses took us on a adventure to see some waterfalls in the area. The taller waterfall was only about 45 minutes from town, but the smaller, but cooler waterfall took another hour on a road where taxes are not paid. It was rough to say the least, but well worth it. At both falls the interns took a dip into the water hoping to not get eaten by either Piranhas or a giant anaconda. Haha!! I think those are only in the Amazon River/Rain forest. Anyways, it was a great trip and the pictures are even better. Some of them you might think that I didn't take, but would I lie??
Tuesday we headed back to the farm that I have missed. Dino was there and he was great as usual. He asked if our Portuguese has improved and I nodded yes and added "um poco", meaning a little. The rest of the day included finishing up on some work on planters, for Rondonia will be the first of GAI to be in the field. Something different an intern commented on; at home we wait for things to dry up to plant, but here we wait for the rain. Before we start planting, since its so dry here, we have to wait for enough moisture to be in the ground. Also, in Brazil we don't have a problem with the ground being too cool for germination, so moisture is the only thing were waiting for. Another thing you have to be careful about in this climate is getting too anxious. Putting your crop in too early because you think the rainy season is here can also be a costly mistake. It has rained in the last month, but it shuts off for 2-3 weeks. Meaning the crop would have germinated, but then will have to go through a 2-3 week drought in 90 degree weather everyday. Anyways, Eric our agronomist, is making sure the rainy season is here to stay before we get crazy putting in the crops.
Wednesday started off very slow, but it sure got exciting really quick. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Rondonia grows all the meat for itself and the other GAI farms. Well, they must have been getting low on beef, so we went to work. Lasso in hand, I eyed my first victim. He stands about 5 foot tall, black hair, hairy lips, big tongue, four legs, and some horns. I missed multiple times, but the other Brazilian didn't. He's good, I told him he could be a star in rodeos back in the U.S. We then tied him real close to a tree so we could knock him out and start carving. Very interesting process considering I am in Brazil and I have yet to see a steer killed and cut up anywhere. One down and one to go. The next one was a bit tougher to catch, but once it was tied to a tree, they wanted me to do the sacrificing. I didn't know what to think but I thought to myself; "just another experience I can talk about during an job interview". So I took the axe firmly, eyed my bullseye (ha ha that's funny, I really wasn't aiming for its eye) (wow, I am still laughing) and SWUNG, and obviously didn't hit it square. The steer stumbled a little, but was just laughing at me. So I regained my footing and swung again, again, and on the 4th hit he finally went to the ground. I was laughed at by all the Brazilians. All they do now is point and laugh at me saying QUATRO!! Besides the hazing, it was a good experience.
In the afternoon Dino told me to go sleep cause I will be taking the night shift Wednesday night. So I went back to the room and tried to sleep but couldn't. Anyways around 7 when my shift in the tractor was about to start I put all my things in the tractor. (ie, I-pod,cookies, & strawberry juice. Healthy I know) The Brazilians began totalk to me at this point and after getting our points across, I find out that we do not have a drop of diesel on the farm. I asked when it was coming, and all they said was maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day, or the next. This is the answer I have been repeatedly given while in Brazil after I have asked for something. Things are just slow, and not like the U.S.
Anyways, life is good down here. I am having a great experience!
It's around 90-95 degrees here about everyday, so all I am doing now is rubbing it in. Your Welcome
Signing off..............
- Hrubes
One of our bosses took us on a adventure to see some waterfalls in the area. The taller waterfall was only about 45 minutes from town, but the smaller, but cooler waterfall took another hour on a road where taxes are not paid. It was rough to say the least, but well worth it. At both falls the interns took a dip into the water hoping to not get eaten by either Piranhas or a giant anaconda. Haha!! I think those are only in the Amazon River/Rain forest. Anyways, it was a great trip and the pictures are even better. Some of them you might think that I didn't take, but would I lie??
Tuesday we headed back to the farm that I have missed. Dino was there and he was great as usual. He asked if our Portuguese has improved and I nodded yes and added "um poco", meaning a little. The rest of the day included finishing up on some work on planters, for Rondonia will be the first of GAI to be in the field. Something different an intern commented on; at home we wait for things to dry up to plant, but here we wait for the rain. Before we start planting, since its so dry here, we have to wait for enough moisture to be in the ground. Also, in Brazil we don't have a problem with the ground being too cool for germination, so moisture is the only thing were waiting for. Another thing you have to be careful about in this climate is getting too anxious. Putting your crop in too early because you think the rainy season is here can also be a costly mistake. It has rained in the last month, but it shuts off for 2-3 weeks. Meaning the crop would have germinated, but then will have to go through a 2-3 week drought in 90 degree weather everyday. Anyways, Eric our agronomist, is making sure the rainy season is here to stay before we get crazy putting in the crops.
Wednesday started off very slow, but it sure got exciting really quick. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Rondonia grows all the meat for itself and the other GAI farms. Well, they must have been getting low on beef, so we went to work. Lasso in hand, I eyed my first victim. He stands about 5 foot tall, black hair, hairy lips, big tongue, four legs, and some horns. I missed multiple times, but the other Brazilian didn't. He's good, I told him he could be a star in rodeos back in the U.S. We then tied him real close to a tree so we could knock him out and start carving. Very interesting process considering I am in Brazil and I have yet to see a steer killed and cut up anywhere. One down and one to go. The next one was a bit tougher to catch, but once it was tied to a tree, they wanted me to do the sacrificing. I didn't know what to think but I thought to myself; "just another experience I can talk about during an job interview". So I took the axe firmly, eyed my bullseye (ha ha that's funny, I really wasn't aiming for its eye) (wow, I am still laughing) and SWUNG, and obviously didn't hit it square. The steer stumbled a little, but was just laughing at me. So I regained my footing and swung again, again, and on the 4th hit he finally went to the ground. I was laughed at by all the Brazilians. All they do now is point and laugh at me saying QUATRO!! Besides the hazing, it was a good experience.
In the afternoon Dino told me to go sleep cause I will be taking the night shift Wednesday night. So I went back to the room and tried to sleep but couldn't. Anyways around 7 when my shift in the tractor was about to start I put all my things in the tractor. (ie, I-pod,cookies, & strawberry juice. Healthy I know) The Brazilians began totalk to me at this point and after getting our points across, I find out that we do not have a drop of diesel on the farm. I asked when it was coming, and all they said was maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day, or the next. This is the answer I have been repeatedly given while in Brazil after I have asked for something. Things are just slow, and not like the U.S.
Anyways, life is good down here. I am having a great experience!
It's around 90-95 degrees here about everyday, so all I am doing now is rubbing it in. Your Welcome
Signing off..............
- Hrubes
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sand EVERYWHERE!!!
Hello everyone, its me and its been a long time coming for this next post. Sorry for the length of time between posts but I had no internet at the farm I was at. 2 weeks without being conected is a long time for me but it was quite the 2 weeks. This post will get lengthy but well worth the read.
So, the farm I was at for the past 2 weeks is called Global. Global is located south of Luis Eduardo and sits really close to "The Edge" (my picture that was above). 4 interns have been staying out at Global for the past 2 weeks to work on planters and getting them ready for the busy season ahead.
First off, the American misfortune that I was talking about at Rondonia was also going on here and another farm. The other interns ended up blowing out the front seal on their JD 8430 and another group of interns ended up having their transmission fail on them. So this is the reason why 4 of us were at the same place working on planters. Working on stuff here is not the same compared to back in the US. They can fix about anything here with a hammer and a couple of regular wrenches, and since they they like "lean manufacturing" (haha) they only think we need one of each wrench. I guess I get to work on my sharing skills while I am down here.
New equipment is on the way, 2 JD 8430s and a 109 foot JD planter. I hope to get in on the fun putting that planter together (it comes in a container in pieces) with the vast array of tools!! Another thing here, nothing happens very fast and it really tests a persons patience. It seems to take like 2 weeks just to get parts around this area.
While working on equipment one thing is very different and I really don't like it. SAND! Its everywhere my eyes can see and its blowing all the time. I was told that a month before the rains start the wind blows like crazy, and it does. When we were working on the planters outside you easily got sand in your mouth. It doesn't taste very good. After a whole day outside my ears would be full of sand. As my grandfather use to tell me as a young kid "you could grow potatoes in those ears". Im serious, I bet I could have. Another thing thats an annoyance to me out on the farms are the flies. I hate flies!!
Other things that have been happening on the farm include loading semis with some of our seed corn to be treated. Once again having convienient equipment around here is like a sin, so we load probably around 1,200 bags all by hand. Us Americans decide to take Henry Fords advice and make a assembly line to be more efficient. It worked very well and I think the Brazilians on the farm were impressed with our "new technology".
The food is starting to impress me still considering we have the same thing all the time. In the last 2 weeks we have had; cheesy potatoes, lamb chops, mullberry jam, and homemade french fries. Itwas AWESOME!! Yes they do have like 6 mullberry trees right by our sleeping quarters, so right after lunch another intern and I basically defruit these trees as much as possible. These are the biggest and sweetest tasting mullberries that I have ever had. I LOVE them.
To pass the time down here another intern and I have been playing baseball catch. The brazilians give us a weird look, but its relaxing and helps pass the time by. I also have been reading like its my job, and I hope I brought enough books with me to get to December. Another nightly activity that we attended was the making of popcorn (pipoka in portuguese) by the brazilians. This was no microwave job either, it was made over a small fire. This popcorn was special too, it was actually grown by GAI last year.
Well thats about it, for those who are curious my farmers tan is coming along nicely and will be happy to show it off when I get back.
Oh, I almost forgot. I was my clothes by hand. Its not very fun and I don't think I would have been a very good helper back in the times before the technology of a mechanical washer.
Hope everyone is having a good harvest back home!!
Signing off........
- (a domesticated) Hrubes
So, the farm I was at for the past 2 weeks is called Global. Global is located south of Luis Eduardo and sits really close to "The Edge" (my picture that was above). 4 interns have been staying out at Global for the past 2 weeks to work on planters and getting them ready for the busy season ahead.
First off, the American misfortune that I was talking about at Rondonia was also going on here and another farm. The other interns ended up blowing out the front seal on their JD 8430 and another group of interns ended up having their transmission fail on them. So this is the reason why 4 of us were at the same place working on planters. Working on stuff here is not the same compared to back in the US. They can fix about anything here with a hammer and a couple of regular wrenches, and since they they like "lean manufacturing" (haha) they only think we need one of each wrench. I guess I get to work on my sharing skills while I am down here.
New equipment is on the way, 2 JD 8430s and a 109 foot JD planter. I hope to get in on the fun putting that planter together (it comes in a container in pieces) with the vast array of tools!! Another thing here, nothing happens very fast and it really tests a persons patience. It seems to take like 2 weeks just to get parts around this area.
While working on equipment one thing is very different and I really don't like it. SAND! Its everywhere my eyes can see and its blowing all the time. I was told that a month before the rains start the wind blows like crazy, and it does. When we were working on the planters outside you easily got sand in your mouth. It doesn't taste very good. After a whole day outside my ears would be full of sand. As my grandfather use to tell me as a young kid "you could grow potatoes in those ears". Im serious, I bet I could have. Another thing thats an annoyance to me out on the farms are the flies. I hate flies!!
Other things that have been happening on the farm include loading semis with some of our seed corn to be treated. Once again having convienient equipment around here is like a sin, so we load probably around 1,200 bags all by hand. Us Americans decide to take Henry Fords advice and make a assembly line to be more efficient. It worked very well and I think the Brazilians on the farm were impressed with our "new technology".
The food is starting to impress me still considering we have the same thing all the time. In the last 2 weeks we have had; cheesy potatoes, lamb chops, mullberry jam, and homemade french fries. Itwas AWESOME!! Yes they do have like 6 mullberry trees right by our sleeping quarters, so right after lunch another intern and I basically defruit these trees as much as possible. These are the biggest and sweetest tasting mullberries that I have ever had. I LOVE them.
To pass the time down here another intern and I have been playing baseball catch. The brazilians give us a weird look, but its relaxing and helps pass the time by. I also have been reading like its my job, and I hope I brought enough books with me to get to December. Another nightly activity that we attended was the making of popcorn (pipoka in portuguese) by the brazilians. This was no microwave job either, it was made over a small fire. This popcorn was special too, it was actually grown by GAI last year.
Well thats about it, for those who are curious my farmers tan is coming along nicely and will be happy to show it off when I get back.
Oh, I almost forgot. I was my clothes by hand. Its not very fun and I don't think I would have been a very good helper back in the times before the technology of a mechanical washer.
Hope everyone is having a good harvest back home!!
Signing off........
- (a domesticated) Hrubes
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Almost
Well, last night was going great until about 4 a.m when I looked behind me only to find no disc. Haha! I almost had one full shift!! Well the farm-made hitch pin did not hold up to my 10th gear speed across the semi-smooth field. So at 4 a.m I just drove the tractor back to the farm. I think this breaking spree deserves a song and it goes a little like this; "this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friends". Wow, Lambchops was a great show back in the day!!!
Today Michael and I head back to LEM for the weekend and then to another 2 farms for two weeks. Dino also happens to be in LEM tonight and he wants to go out for some drinks with Michael and I. This sounds like a great idea in hopes to meet some more people and keep advancing my portuguese. I am also hoping for a dip in Tyler's new pool and hot tub. Last night while oiling and greasing the disc I decided to knee the disc and it didn't want to move. So I am not walking straight at the moment.
Anyways, I am not sure when the next time I will be on here because I am not sure the next farms have internet. (I'm crossing my fingers) So everyone be safe and cheer on those Cyclones!!!
Off to buy more cookies at the store!!! Yummm
Signing off..........
-(a limping) Hrubes
Today Michael and I head back to LEM for the weekend and then to another 2 farms for two weeks. Dino also happens to be in LEM tonight and he wants to go out for some drinks with Michael and I. This sounds like a great idea in hopes to meet some more people and keep advancing my portuguese. I am also hoping for a dip in Tyler's new pool and hot tub. Last night while oiling and greasing the disc I decided to knee the disc and it didn't want to move. So I am not walking straight at the moment.
Anyways, I am not sure when the next time I will be on here because I am not sure the next farms have internet. (I'm crossing my fingers) So everyone be safe and cheer on those Cyclones!!!
Off to buy more cookies at the store!!! Yummm
Signing off..........
-(a limping) Hrubes
Friday, October 3, 2008
American misfortune continues on Brazilian soil
Well so much for not breaking anything. Last night I was only a couple of hours into my night shift when I noticed something wrong with the light disc. Well it turns out a spindle broke on this disc as well. Seems like nothing will go right for us Americans down here. Luckily for me, the diesel man was right there to save me and whisk me back to the farm on a half hour cab-less tractor ride. Luckily it was another beautiful night here in Bahia with all the stars shining brightly. Sometimes I wish I had a girlfriend to go on tractor rides at night down here. Wait a minute, I actually wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy. Having a girlfriend that is.
Anyways, so last night I had again some time on my hands to get sleep. Today I had the opportunity to help grid soil sample one of the lotes (fields). One sample for every 2.5 acres or 1 hectare, and the fields are no 80 acres like back home.
Dino and I are really starting to become good buds, and I am having a lot of fun. Unfortunately for the next two weeks I will be working at the other 2 farms to get to know those farm managers before I come back to Rondonia to help Dino plant the crops.
Well back to work, one more night shift before I head to LEM tomorrow. Hope nothing breaks!!!
Signing off.......
-Hrubes
Anyways, so last night I had again some time on my hands to get sleep. Today I had the opportunity to help grid soil sample one of the lotes (fields). One sample for every 2.5 acres or 1 hectare, and the fields are no 80 acres like back home.
Dino and I are really starting to become good buds, and I am having a lot of fun. Unfortunately for the next two weeks I will be working at the other 2 farms to get to know those farm managers before I come back to Rondonia to help Dino plant the crops.
Well back to work, one more night shift before I head to LEM tomorrow. Hope nothing breaks!!!
Signing off.......
-Hrubes
Thursday, October 2, 2008
On the farm
Alright, sorry for the length of time between posts but this is the first time in 5 days that I have had access to internet. I didn't realize how addicted I was to being connected all the time by a phone or the internet. I've been pulling my hair out to have this moment back.
At the beginning of the week I was seriously wondering what the heck did I get myself into. No interaction due to the language barrier, the other intern was in the tractor while I was on the farm, and no access to internet to see if the world was ending somewhere other than Brazil. Most of you know me pretty well, but I need by social interaction to survive. I was really stressing out about it and really felt homesick, but as the week went on it got better because my Portuguese has been progressing.
Rondonian (pronounced hondonia) is the farm that I will be working at the majority of my stay in Brazil. It is the largest of GAI's farms at 5,000 hectares or 15,000 acres, Grown on this farm is popcorn, corn, soybeans, and edible beans. I should also include the 50 head of cows, 50 head of pigs, and 50 annoying chickens. Rondonia is the only farm north of LEM for GAI. The rest of them are south and a lot closer to town. The manager of Rondonia is Dino (pron. Gino) and he is a very likeable guy. He is very interested about the United States as both Michael and I have gone through our pictures with him. He is very hands on and I thank him for that everyday. He knows a little english but is very patient with us when we're talking in portuguese.
To describe the conditions on this farm I would have to start by saying that I have been getting away with not wearing any deodorante for 5 days!! HAHA Ok its not that bad, but besides the internet and electricity, I feel like I'm back in the 80s. Things I hear are all the same, kids whining, tractors running, cows mooing, chickens clucking, and the workers singing in portuguese. The food, well its below average just for the fact that its basically the same thing for lunch and dinner everyday. I get by not eating lunch, by nibbling on the cookies I bought at the super market before we left town.
My shift: 7:00pm - 7:00am!!!!!
The only positive about this shift is that it's not hotter than (you finish the anology) when I'm working. So during the day, when its really hot, I have to catch up on the sleep I lost while in the tractor. At night its hard to see, there is no help to be found when something breaks, and it is easier to fall asleep at the wheel. My weapon in turning over the dirt (60% sand) is a 8410 and a heavy disc no wider than the duals. Mind you, it takes me a half an hour to make ONE ROUND. No wonder why it seems like I am getting nothing done during my 12 hour shift. In the last 5 days Michael (another intern from Washington) and I have had some bad luck. One spindle on the disc has broken, on the same disc we have burned up a bearing, and lastly a stick has put a hole in the front tire of the 8410. You may wonder how could a stick do that. Well the field we are working on is on its second year of production. Before it was just cerrado, basically big brush scattered throughout. So this stick I talk about is actually about the size of my forearm.
We're on the verge of rainy season so tillage is going on at full speed, 24 hours a day with 3 tractors and discs. The P & K of the N-P-K (fertilizer) is also put on 24 hours a day with 2 tractors. Back at the farm the rest of the workers are either working on planters, cleaning soybeans to plant, or are doing general things around the farm. Tyler, the president of GAI, wants to start planting popcorn by the 15th of October. Looking at all the ground that needs to be worked and the problems we have been experiencing with equipment, I think thats gonna be a push.
It feels like spring here with all the planters being worked on and the tillage work being done. I am really excited to continue to work with Dino and his crew to get these 15,000 acres planted before the 5th of December. Contrary to the beginning of the week, I am actually starting to enjoy my time here.
p.s. could someone please send some peanut M&Ms, it would be greatly appreciated!!
Signing off.......
- (a skinnier) Hrubes
At the beginning of the week I was seriously wondering what the heck did I get myself into. No interaction due to the language barrier, the other intern was in the tractor while I was on the farm, and no access to internet to see if the world was ending somewhere other than Brazil. Most of you know me pretty well, but I need by social interaction to survive. I was really stressing out about it and really felt homesick, but as the week went on it got better because my Portuguese has been progressing.
Rondonian (pronounced hondonia) is the farm that I will be working at the majority of my stay in Brazil. It is the largest of GAI's farms at 5,000 hectares or 15,000 acres, Grown on this farm is popcorn, corn, soybeans, and edible beans. I should also include the 50 head of cows, 50 head of pigs, and 50 annoying chickens. Rondonia is the only farm north of LEM for GAI. The rest of them are south and a lot closer to town. The manager of Rondonia is Dino (pron. Gino) and he is a very likeable guy. He is very interested about the United States as both Michael and I have gone through our pictures with him. He is very hands on and I thank him for that everyday. He knows a little english but is very patient with us when we're talking in portuguese.
To describe the conditions on this farm I would have to start by saying that I have been getting away with not wearing any deodorante for 5 days!! HAHA Ok its not that bad, but besides the internet and electricity, I feel like I'm back in the 80s. Things I hear are all the same, kids whining, tractors running, cows mooing, chickens clucking, and the workers singing in portuguese. The food, well its below average just for the fact that its basically the same thing for lunch and dinner everyday. I get by not eating lunch, by nibbling on the cookies I bought at the super market before we left town.
My shift: 7:00pm - 7:00am!!!!!
The only positive about this shift is that it's not hotter than (you finish the anology) when I'm working. So during the day, when its really hot, I have to catch up on the sleep I lost while in the tractor. At night its hard to see, there is no help to be found when something breaks, and it is easier to fall asleep at the wheel. My weapon in turning over the dirt (60% sand) is a 8410 and a heavy disc no wider than the duals. Mind you, it takes me a half an hour to make ONE ROUND. No wonder why it seems like I am getting nothing done during my 12 hour shift. In the last 5 days Michael (another intern from Washington) and I have had some bad luck. One spindle on the disc has broken, on the same disc we have burned up a bearing, and lastly a stick has put a hole in the front tire of the 8410. You may wonder how could a stick do that. Well the field we are working on is on its second year of production. Before it was just cerrado, basically big brush scattered throughout. So this stick I talk about is actually about the size of my forearm.
We're on the verge of rainy season so tillage is going on at full speed, 24 hours a day with 3 tractors and discs. The P & K of the N-P-K (fertilizer) is also put on 24 hours a day with 2 tractors. Back at the farm the rest of the workers are either working on planters, cleaning soybeans to plant, or are doing general things around the farm. Tyler, the president of GAI, wants to start planting popcorn by the 15th of October. Looking at all the ground that needs to be worked and the problems we have been experiencing with equipment, I think thats gonna be a push.
It feels like spring here with all the planters being worked on and the tillage work being done. I am really excited to continue to work with Dino and his crew to get these 15,000 acres planted before the 5th of December. Contrary to the beginning of the week, I am actually starting to enjoy my time here.
p.s. could someone please send some peanut M&Ms, it would be greatly appreciated!!
Signing off.......
- (a skinnier) Hrubes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
