Dirty and demanding farm job

“But that’s not the kind of job you came to Australia for, right?”

I got confused and didn’t know what to say. It was EXACTLY what I came here for. It was a dream job. But as it was “seasonal farm work”, for a stable home-owning adult it seemed like something so temporary and meaningless that no one could possibly want it. Except that I did but I felt so ashamed that I couldn’t get a word out of my mouth. 

It was the first time someone was degrading about my farm job. I was working on a vineyard in Yarra Valley; one of the best wine regions in Australia. I tried to explain that it was good for my CV as if that was the reason why I wanted to work there.

“It’s good that you like farm work so you can easily complete the days for your second-year visa and then do something else.” “I could be at the beach in that weather but not working outside!” “I guess it could be fun even though it’s so physically demanding!”

I’ve been thinking about these comments I’ve received after saying that I truly enjoy farm work. Behind the subtle belittling, they hold interesting views about work life.

First of all, we’ve grown to think that the US type corner office corporate job was the goal, as if humans were made to sit in an office staring at a computer screen. And as if THAT wasn’t intense and demanding. 

Second, as someone who has worked almost 10 years in restaurant business, I can tell that a regular day of a waitress is much more intense than anything I’ve done on the farms. The number of steps taken and heavy lifting done might be the same, but on top of that there’s customer service and pressure of time. On top of the ugly fact that I actually get paid more now.

Many can’t even imagine what working in a farm would be like. We’re so disconnected from nature and the roots of human body that physical work is seen as something hard and being outside as something dirty. Meanwhile people are becoming more anxious, fat and unhappy than ever, while using more time inside and less time moving their bodies.

As I’m smiling in the sun, handling dirt and potting beautiful palm trees I can’t help but think: Could it actually be that being outside, using one’s body, having muddy hands and uneven tanning lines was more rewarding than a big salary office job?

Maybe the answer is not same for everyone, but it’s something this depressed generation might have to think about. 

xx