My last week at the Haute Goat farm has begun. To be honest, I am leaving with one teary eye, but the other is full of anticipation. My flight is on Friday at 2:00 pm. Just the idea of flying 4 hours in a country and putting 3000km behind me is kind of weird. I remember it… I always associate 4 hours flying time with Fuerteventura. Anyway, Monday. A normal working day, where I was already looking forward to the evening. It was Shain’s birthday. Shain doesn’t like having a birthday, so here’s a little spoiler. The next day he said to me he enjoyed the evening and his birthday like almost none before. We had packed a scarf from his favorite football state, I created a certificate with the title “Best Fan of the year” and also wrote a little letter. We then presented this to him after dinner, singing and dancing. He was very happy.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I had my last two working days. I had said goodbye to Monica and Trinity, who came again on Tuesday, also once again on Wednesday conjured up something fine from the Cuisine de Tom on the table and enjoyed my last days.

On Thursday I had my day off, everything packed and the suitcase tried to get. Went just so. Then wrote on my blog, checked in the flight and edited my videos. I am really glad that I am still in contact with some of my teachers. Mr. Stokowy had written to me.  1 pm I talked to my parents on the phone and then it was FORZA FCSP! At 4 o’clock I drove again with Christa to Port Hope, because I really wanted to say goodbye to Laurel. It was lovely at her place. Weh ad a nice conversation for an hour. A great last day, which was rounded off with a great dinner.

Friday… the day of saying GOODBYE☹but… the day of saying HELLO too. How was the day? Let us start with the morning. In the morning, I washed the rest of my dirty clothes and cleaned my room. After it I had breakfast and around 9 Debbie, Christa and Tom went for ride. It was so cold, my toes were freezing, but also beautiful. It was my thirth ride in my life, and all of theses rides happend on the Farm Haute Goat. After the ride I put my luggage into the car, we made a last selfie and picture together with all members of HauteGoat. Unbelievable. I spent their 4 months of my life. Around 11 we left the farm. Before that I said Goodbye to the animals (especially Conana, my lovely buddy, I am really gonna miss this dog) and of course to Debbie, Christa, Shain, Kerstin and Saskia. I didn´t want to cry, and I was pretty good, but at the end I wasn´t able about not crying. Anyway, I really love these people, HauteGoat is an unique place, with lovely animals. Debbie, Shain and Christa – I am really gonna miss u and u will always have a place in my heart and you´ll take a big part in my gap year. I really experienced a lot and learned a lot at this place. I will always remember the last words Debbie said to me: „Take care and stay safe, my farm son!“ Hopefully we will see us all soon again. I am planing to come back in June (or for my parents, who don´t wanna here that, …come back in March) to the farm, wanna say hello and goodybye at the same time, before I´ll fly back to Germany. So, this is not a Goodbye fort he rest of life. We will always see each other a second time in life. Christa brought me around 11 to the airport and gave me a big hug. My journey starts! Check-In, luggage drop off, Boarding, Depature and now I am sitting on the plane, writing this blog draft. I´ll have to tell u one more thing about the airport. I was really afraid of the fact, that the airport was almost empty. I felt like there is somewhere a ghost around me. All stores were closed, you almost didn´t see anyone. For the first time, I really realised hoe much Covid is effecting the world. I mean of course everybody knows and sees it, but this was really a moment of realisation.  The plane is quiet full. The seat next to me is free, but I would say the airplane was ¾ full. But still weird and akward. We landed around 5pm in Calgary. Just so that you know, I flew 3000km in one country, flew over 2 provinces and it took 4 ½ hours. Unbelievable. This Country is hugggggggggeeee😊 And also… Now the time difference between Germany and Canada or the place where I am is 8 hours. I am getting more and more far away from home, but time flies and time comes closer😉 Miss u all back in Germany. In Calgary, John and Kathrin (a 21 years old volunteer from Germany, who is already one year in Canada and would like to apply for permant residence) picked me up. We drove home tot he farm. But on our way back home we picked up some chinese food and a pizza. John and Bev, the owner of the horse farm, are really nice. John a mechanic is a completely car freak and Bev loves her horses. Anyway after Dinner I went to bed, because I was so tired. An exhausting day.

Saturday: I had to get up at 7. Breakfast 7.30 and then at 8 I went together with Bev tot he Barn. The Barn is huge. 10 horses in a beautiful barn, where everything is completely organized, everything is clean. Bev just owns two horses, the other horses are mostly from people from the city, who are paying Bev money for caring about their horses. Morning chores, Lunch and evening chores. Approx 5 hours of work and that from Monday to Friday. I am off on Saturday and Sunday. Pretty good compared to my last stay. Anyway, we brought the horses out on the paddock, cleaned their pen, refilled the feeders and stuff like that. It will take a long time until I know which horse is which and what each horse gets to eat. But anyway first of all I´ll have to arrive. Then after chores I went tot he city together with Bev to buy some hiking stuff and work boots. I didn´t have any. So we went to a second hand store and I found everything what I was looking for. After that we made the evening chores and after it I went with John and Kathrin tot own again. Just picking something up. Dinnertime. Chicken curry, delicious. Then I went to bed.

Sunday: My first day off. I always have my day off on Saturday and Sunday. That means I had a phone Call with my parents, wrote my blog, wrote some off my old teachers and then around 12 Bev and I went for my first hike in the rockies. Actually it wasn´t in the rockies, it was close to it. Elbow and Snagmore Hiking Trail. It was so beautiful… about 10km… I am looking forward to all the other Hiking Trails in the Rockies. BTW I am thinking of buying a car together with John. He is a mechanic and knows a lot about cars and he would help me with everything from buying until selling. So maybe something will be figured out. After the hike we brought the horses back to their pens and after this John made a beautiful medium-rare cooked steak. I love it. We watched a funny movie together and went to bed.

The second week before I will leave starts right now. I am excited, afraid and looking forward to my upcoming new adventure.

Monday: A normal day of work. Monica was here together with her Daugther Trinity. We cleaned the chicken pen, I fixed the Trailer and had some other stuff to do. The cool thing of the day was that I had an one hour conversation with Shain. We talked about his live. How he came with an age of 26 to Canada, stayed their illegaly, had his „Sturm&Drang Phase“ and how he got out of it. Later one he gave me some advices and I gave him some too. Well, actually his advices were more interesting or u k what I mean. Anyway, it was a wonderful pre-evening and I learned a lot.

Tuesday: We visited another time a senior home in Cobourg. I took two hours. I was so cold afterwards, but the coffee at Timies made me feel comfortable again. Anyway it was just nice to see another time residents of the senior home smiling when they saw us.

Wednesday: Quiet a busy day. Around noon, the vet came to the farm to check some of our goats. Christa and Debbie think that some of them could be pregnant. Usually u start breeding season now, so that the goats will get their babies in spring. It´s not so cold fort hem and the best time of year to survive the birth. Our super Farm owner Debbie was afraif ot that event, because back to summer, sometimes she had some boys in the girls pen, we all don´t know for what reason. Anyway, I had to catch the goats and the vet put (however u call this thing, i d even k it in German) into their butt. We´ve done this with approx 20 Goats. And yap, some oft hem are pregnant. We expect the first baby in two weeks. For god´s sake… Tom spends 4 months on that farm and leaves excatly one week before we could see some small, cuty babies. Anyway, Christa will send me babies. Now Debbie has to handle with this situation, but I definitley know, that she will do it perfectly. In te evening I cooked some roasted vegetables, Bruxelles Sprouts, Salad and mashed potatoes. Not my best dinner, but it was ok.

Next day… My day off. Finally. I really was exhausted and tired after 6 days of work. SO for real I didn´t do anything. Watched around 2:30pm handball. Germany against spain. Sadly Germany lost. Moritz and I had a phone Call, where we analysed the game. Expert König and moderator Berlage;)

Friday: Just one more week until depature. I hope my last week will be exciting and I hope I´ll experience and discover something. Yesterday evening we´ve ordered a scarf from the Ohio State Buckeyes, because in 5 days, Shain will have his birthday and we wanna give him this. I think he will be suprised and happy about it. Anyway, the day was quiet. Today I had my first beef tongue. Debbie made it for us, it was pretty good. I really didn´t eat much of it, because after some time passed while having dinner, my mind started tot hink about where this kind of meat comes from and where it belongs to. But anyway, it was quiet delicious😊

So Guys, an end on the farm is coming, soon. I am really sad about it, but u k, I still got two more weeks, actually a bit more than two, to discover and experience and spend more time with friends here. Today was a cool day. I woke up at 7, had breakfast and did alpca chores. After this we prepared the car. We needed hay, water, pellets, signs, aprons, hats, leishes and some more stuff. Why? We visited two senior homes in Port Hope today. Together with Debbie and Kerstin we parked the car around 9.15 in front of the alpaca paddock and took Jerrica, our crazy professor, and Princess Leia with us tot he Senior homes. We arrived at the first place at 10. We unloaded the alpacas out of the van and started our tour. Because of Covid it looked like this: We were outside and went from window to window with the alpacas… The residents of the senior home were behind the window inside and via a phone call we communicated with them. It was so awesome to see them smiling. I remembered myself of my soccer club „Kickerfreunde“. It was a bitt he same. Seeing the animals made them smile. Playing soccer in a team made them smile. AWESOME! It is really hard for the residents because they are not allowed to see their families, just from window to window, like we´ve been doing our alpaca visit today. This makes it more difficult for them, so it was awesome to see them smiling. I really enjoyed it. Afterwards we went to a second senior home, also in Port Hope. It was the same procedure and also magnificent. We were around 2 back at the farm. Worked until 4 and then I prepared the living room fort he game at the evening. Shain loves College Football. And today ist he game oft he games. The Final of College Football 2020. Originally Shain comes from Ohio, USA. One team in the final is Alabama, the other one is Ohio. So he was really excited about this evening. And I watched once before some games with him. I really enjoy watching it and it is also an interesting sport. So I decorated it for him and me (I´ll attach a pic) and we watched it after Dinner together. I´ll let u k the result tomorrow. NICE DAY!

Wednesday: Cool day. We started with chores and afterwards we went togeher with Debbie to another Senior home. Same like on Monday. This time it was in Cobourg. Maybe a 20 minute drive from here. It was one more time awesome to see the people smiling. Afterward we brought the frozen food and our products to the virtual Farmers Market. ( I think I already told u something about it) and I got rid of my empty bottles of beer. For empty alcool bottles u have to go to a beer store. An extra store for alcool. Anyway afterwards we went home and the day was over. Only two more weeks here on the farm. Tomorrow is my day off. I´ll go to Cobourg. Why? I´ll have to get my SIN (Social Insurance Number). I booked an appointment today.

Thursday: I received my SIN today. It was pretty simple and the people were really nice. I think we spoke twenty minutes about private stuff like my journey and only 5 about the SIN. Thanks to Shain, who took me there. Afterwards I had my phone Call with my parents. The funny part of the day was that I played „Doppelkopf“ together with Finn, Gavin and Linus. I think it worked quiet good.

Friday: Around 1pm a new volunteeer from Germany arrived. Saskia, a 29 years old woman, who studied sport. She is an expert with horses. So I´ll ask her the next couple days, if she can explain me something about horses, how to handle them and so on. I´ve got lots of work to do.

I finally got the official confirmation of the owner of the vineyard on Vancouver Island. He´ll host me at beginning of May. So I got now two fix points when to go where. That is awesome😊 I am so happy about it and looking forward to it. Then I can hike the Weast Coast Trail on Vancouver Island direct after or before the stay.

Saturday: Got up at half past 6. Why? St.Pauli played and finally they won. After ten years not winning in Hannover, first win against them. Normal, busy day. Was funny. Had an interview during my lunch break with Moritz and Lars. Nice to see u guys again. Miss u ;( Anyway, already mid of january. Just gonna spend 12 more days here ☹ On the one hand, I am sad about it, but on the other hand I am also looking forward to my next adventures. One more thing about the day… Kathy left the farm. She is going now to Calgary to work there in a hotel at Lake Louise. A bit weird… she came one month after me and leaves two weeks before I leave.

Monday: Lazy and boring day. I mean I was busy and got stuff to do, but nothing special. After work I went together with Christa to Cobourg. She had a massage for thirthy minutes, because she got pain in her back and a lot of tension. Anyway, I waited on the parking slot of Tim Hortons . That ist he place where I am currently writing this blog draft. Smoothie on my right, laptop in front of me and teeling u guys about my days. Funny story which most of u don´t believe or can´t imagine. Before we left the house Christa and I took a shower. In Canada, or in most parts of Canada you cannot take a shower while someone else is taking a shower, the diswasher runs or someone is making his laundry. Why? Not enough water😊 In Germany u can have water running the whole time at the same time and here u have to send a message in advanced like: „ I am taking a shower, pls don´t use water“

Tuesday: The special thing about the day was that weh ad our own first private Shmurglle since the farm was closed. This means Debbie had the „awesome“ idea to take the Goats on the walk, but not the normal way weg o with people who booked an experience. She wanted to try something new. Of course it was a pain in the neck. Anyway after 45 minutes of walking we finally ended up back in their pen. Then Christa asked Kathy and Me if we wanna go for a ride. The problem is only two people can go on a walk, so I said go ahead Kathy. You´ll take a ride today and my turn will be next time. Afterwards I wrote some messages on workaway. I´ve got now a place to saty for may. A really beautiful place. It is not safe so far, but the Host said he reserves a spot for me, so I just have to say Yes. Not sure so far, but I´ll let u k.

Wednesday: I worked until 3. It was a normal, lazy and not so busy day. Normally I like busy days and hate days like todays, but today it was fine. Then I received a message from Debbie, she said: „Stop working, come over and watch TV.“ – We were like… OMG, what is going on. Anyway, it was about the news from CNN, which reported about the mob in front of the Capitol in Washington. Ridiculous! After watching TV, we went on a ride. Debbie, Christa and me. The weather wasn´t that good, but it was chilly and cozy. No rain, no snow, just a bit of wind. The only thing I missed, was the sun. Anyway, it was a beautiful second ride for me and I think I did a great job. Love to made these experiences. Tomorrow I´ll have my day off, but it doesn´t feel like a day off, because I´ll be busy. But I´ll let u k tomorrow.

Thursday: I woke up. Went downstairs, prepared my Dinner. I made Lasagne. Good thing about it, ist hat you can prepare it beforehand. So I had a phone call with my friend Finn (it was nice to talk to you), while preapring my Dinner. After it I cleaned and washed everything, called my parents and went afterward on a walk with Christa. In the evening Christa and Kathy went together with me to an area in Ontario where the indiegnous are living. Reason for that? Bakiri, the dog of Christa will have his surgery on Friday, because he might got a lipoma. Christa wanna buy some CBD drops for Bakiri. This should help him to relax and don´t feel so much pain after the surgery and you can buy almost everything about Cannabis in this area. The inidgenous are the people who sell it the most.

Friday: Christa and Debbie were in Toronto, because of Bakiris surgery. That means Kerstin, Kathy and me were together with Shain the only people on the farm. Weh ad some stuff to do, normal work day. But after work weh ad a lot of fun. We unpacked the sleds and went sledding on the hillside at our farm. I think the last time I went sledding was 10 years ago. I felt like a little kid. It was great. Afterwards I sat on my sled, held on to two ropes that I tied to the end of the ATV and the two girls pulled me across the farm. Funny!

Saturday: Lazy, normal day. Nothing special. Beautiful weather, snow, sunshine, no wind. Just cozy. We took two horses on a walk. Afterward I started to plan my future. I´ll let u k if something changes.

Sunday: We worked until 2. Then Rhonda, her son and his girlfriend (The guys fom Primitive designs, I told u once before) came to have a Shmurggle with us. Debbie wanna teach the goats going another way. Obviously this was a pain in the neck and didn´t work how it was supposed to work. Anyway we finally ended up bakc in their pen. After this we had off. Happy about it.

Almost 100 days in this beautiful country and also almost 100 days on the farm, but this will change soon. Today I booked my flight to Calgary. I will leave the farm on the 29th of january and will fly 4 hours to the west. I´ll stay there for at least a month on a new farm. It is a new farm which I found on workaway. After it the plan should be like that: Gonna stay on the farm until end of march/mid of march. Then I wanna go travelling, either with a Travel Buddy (hope I´ll find someone) or on my own. I don´t know so far where I will go when and how, but definitley wanna see the rockies, lake louise, Banff Jasper and Vancouver. After this trip I wanna end up on Vancouver Island. I already got there a place to stay. It is not confirmed so far, but I think it will work out. Then I wanna do the WEST COAST TRAIL on Vancouver Island. Look it up in the internet, it is just beautiful. After that I´ll head back east and wanna see Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec and hopefully after all that stuff I can go back from Toronto to Germany. Maybe if I´ll have time I will fly to Paris, will visit Gianni, my exchange partner and take from there a train to Saarbrücken (don´t know the english word fort he city) and will visit my lovely cousin Felix. Then wanna go home.

Anyway, I´ll let u k about my plans. See u soon and staay safe,

Tom

Monday: A day which was quiet good, busy and I was able to do a lot. Finally after some weeks I´ve done again lot oft hings with the tractor. Pushing our 2 hay composts bachward, changing hay and straw bales in the barn and I brought a new hay bale to the horses. I´m doing really good. Yesterday I started planning my future. I already have some ideas, how and what I will and would like to do😊 I will let u k when I figured something more concret out. Anyway, we went on a Walk later on and I planed again my future. Actually, I´m doing really good. Better than the last week. I just think it is because I made myself some a concept for the future and accept my current situation. The only thing that is bothering me is that I don´t wanna work 6 days a week. After three months there isn´t anything new to learn and I got used tot he work. So it is getting more and more boring and nothing new happens. This ist he reason, why I definitly wanna leave the farm in january. Like I said before. I have some plans and ideas where and what to go and do.

Tuesday:  I started to sign in at workaway. Hopefully I´ll find there some TravelBuddies or Hosts (maybe on Vancouver Island). I definitly wanna go by january to Vancouver. I will start writing some appplications to some Hosts tomorrow. I already found some interesting places for a stay. Hopefully someone would be happy to have me. I hope I will stay here until mid of january and then be able to leave the farm. Anyway, I´ll figure somedthing out. This day was just a normal day. I´m looking forward to the next days. Tomorrow we´ll go out in the evening. Having dinner at Schnitzel Shack, gonna tell u more about it tommorow. And on Thursday I have my day off, will make „Herrencremé“, (recipe of my mom) and on evening we will make Raclette. Anyway, as u k I´ll let u k everything day by day. See u.

Wednesday: Normal day. I worked until 4 and then in the evening weh ad Burgers. Not only normal Burgers… Debbie went with us to Olympus Burger (one of the Top10 Burger Restaurants in Canada) in Port Hope. I had a really delicious Burger. We took them home with us and ate them there. Beautiful Dinner.

Thursday: New Years Eve… I had my day off. That means business as usual xD I had a phone Call with my parents and wrote a lot of applications for different jobs in BC, mostly on Vancouver Island. It was just beautiful sitting in the living room, while having a fire in my back, listening to music and just write some applications. Anyway time flew. While writing my applications, I already prepared stuff for the evening. Silvester means Raclette. So I cooked some potatoes, eggs, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower and bruxelles sprouts. Then after 4pm, Kerstin and I went on a walk and afterward we prepared the rest of our Dinner. Weh ad a beautiful evening together with some beautiful cooked beef and porc by Shain, Raclette and some music. Of course we had also beer, wine and sparkling wine. After having our Dinner, I presented my „Herrencremé“, selfmade. I had the recipes of my Mom. It was tasty and everybody loved the specialty of the Münsterland. After Dinner, Debie and Shain went to Bed and wem ade a Bonfire outside. It wasn´t that cold and close to the fire it was cozy and warm. Then around 00:00 we opened the Sparkling Wine and celebrated „New Year“. A completey different New Years Eve, and also a new experience, but It was definitly quiet good.

Friday: Thank God…. Debbie and Christa said couple days before that we can start working at 12pm. That means I could sleep longer. After it we cleaned the rest from last night and Shain performed a magic Brunch for us. Debbie and Shain usually have an AirBnB in the thirth floor, which can be booked and it includes a really good Brunch. Shain preapred this Brunch for us and it was absolutley amazing. Eggs, Bacon, Fretata and stuff like that. BEAUTIFUL! Then we started to work.  

Saturday: One ofvthe coolest experience I had so far. We worked until 12 and then we went riding. Who is we? Christa, Debbie and me and Kathy and Kerstin accompnied us by foot. I can remember that I ride once before. I was about 8 years old, on the birthday of Larissa Schnitzler. If I remember myself right, then her family owns a horse farm and she celebrated her birthday and it was there the first time that I ride. Anyway, we went on a half an hour ride. Snow, beautiful sunshine… It was gorgeus and I wanna do this one more time. It was just like u k feeling independent riding a horse on a big field, with snow and sunshine. I felt a bit like Winnetou or his blood brother Old Shutterhand.

Sunday: Normal day.

13 weeks in Canada. The days because oft he fact of the Lockdown and that we are close are getting more and more boring. I am looking for a Host on Vancouver Island and I already received 5 or 6 answers, but most oft hem don´t know it so far or already got a Volunteers or they are already planning for April and May. If I won´t find a Host until Mid of january I think I will just book a Flight to Vancouver, book a Couchsurfing place and will egt to know the city and some other people via the Couchsurfing guy. Anyway, I´ll let u k if something will change or how and where I will spend my future. Stay safe and healthy,

Your Tom

Monday and Tuesday were some days which are like always… just boring. Well, I mean weh ad work to do, but not that interesting. Monday went together with Shain to the Dump (Recycling), Cobourg to pick up the groceries. Normally Shain doesn´t speak so much, but at that time he really enjoyed talking to me. He told me something about how he and Debbie met each other. Furthermore when and what he did in his young ages on Vancouver Island. Anway weh ad a nice Chat, went to Timmies and the we headed to Cobourg. Like I said…picking up the Groceries. U remember when I told u last time in my Blog, that the government will pronounce something about Lockdown Yes…Lockdown No?? Well, whole Onatrio is going into a Lockdown from the 26th on. This means the grocery store was compeltely overwhealmed…. Usually we are ordering the groceries online on Sunday, picking them up on Monday (this takes about 5 minutes). This time we waited f*cking 1 ½ hours. Absolutley unbelievable. We sit in the car. Shain was playing Solitaire, I felt asleep, woke up, went for a short walk to „Popeyes“ (something like KFC), bought some chicken strips for Shain and me and then we ate them together in the car until the groceries would come out. FInally a woman brought them to us and we drove home. Cool evening with Shain except the facto f Groceries Pick-Up….

WHAT MEANS THE LOCKDOWN FOR ME? – I hate to say and currently I am really disappointed and sad and don´t really know what to do. I wanted to start travelling on first of january. First Ottawa, then Montreal, via Toronto to the Niagara Falls… Well, I can throw this whole plan now away. Everything will be closed. Same like in Germany. That means I´ll stay for a longer time on the farm. I really don´t know how long exactly. But at least the following weeks. I´ll have to sit down and start making new plans. I´ll start with this hopefully this week. Another bad thing is, that we´ll close the farm on the 26th because of Lockdown. This means no SHmurggles, no Knuffles, no Café, no Walk-Ins, no experiences… I really thing it is going tob e boring…. Currently I am really in a sad and upset mood. But „das Glas ist halbvoll“ – I´ll sit down and will make new plans!!! So that I´ll get happy again and the sadness will beblown away. Not that easy, especially because of the following days.

Thursday: MERRY CHRISTMAS erveryone!!! I hope u had a wonderful day with ur Family. My schedule: Working from 9 to 12, drawing the winner of our Haute Goat Contest ( I was the Goat ferry), talking to my parents, having mulled wine and snacks together with the Haute Goat Family in the Barn and in the evening a nice Dinner made by Debbie (Salmon, Spinach, potatoes). This day was more sad than happy for me. First time spending christmas alone, first time ever without family or friends. It really would have been amazing to be together with my parents. Anyway I think I made the best out oft hat day. As I said I worked until 12, then I was allowed to play the Goat Ferry. I drew the Winner of our Haute Goat December Contest. I will attach a picture of my Outfit. Lovely! Then I had a cool phone call with my parents, which also has been sad, like I said before. Afterward weh ad a lovely time with the Haute Goat Family in the Barn. I couldn´t really appreciate it, because of my sadness (for what f*cking reason it remained until here). But then weh ad a nice evening. Kerstin and Kathy played together with me some games while Debbie was preapring the Dinner. She made a real effort. She really wanted to conjure up a great Christmas for us. Although she is Jewish and doesn’t celebrate Christmas, she made a great Christmas dinner with a great table decoration for us. Shortly after dinner came my cue. I had gotten the gifts for each of us from Laurel ( a 70 year old lady who works here) and she told me to hand them out to everyone at dinner. No sooner said than done. I put on my Goat Ferry costume with the tutu and played Santa. This looked something like this….

That was the laugh of the night. Everyone had fun and it was awesome. Afterwards Debbie had also handed out her presents to us. Alpaca socks and hand cream for each of us. Laurel gave us socks, hats and Canadian candy. I was not expecting this, really not at all. But it made my day so much sweeter and all the worries were gone. I hope they didn’t come back.

Friday: worries still there… because so far still no idea or plan for the future. The farm closes…. more boredom… and I am stucked here. I’ll try to sit down and change something about it. I will. Despite all the moaning, I’ll say it again…. I am happy to be here and I am very happy to get this chance during the current time. So “the glass is half full”…. Friday was one of those days that I have to mentally prepare myself for the coming weeks. Boredom, little to do….Let’s see how the weekend will be. See you very soon…

Saturday and Sunday: Normally the busiest days of the week. Not that time. Worked until 4, some cool stuff to do. I built a Shelf for Debbie. That was fun. We went on a walk, which was pretty, just because we had a bit snow and the Beaver Pond was completely frozen. Sunday afternoon, so now, while I´m writing, I am planing on my future in Canada. I really don´t have any idea where to go, ehat to do… Hopefully this will change. If u guys have any idea, recommendation or something else….pls let me k😊

Tomorrow I´ll be 3 months here. Unbelievable!!! Stay Safe at home😊 Take care and have a good one…. U betcha😉

Tom

Monday-Thursday: Boring days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! except Tuesday: I had my day off and two phone or video calls. One with my lovely parents and the other one with my future employer. All the new „Azubis“ were invited and some oft hem, who are already working their. Normally they do this christmas party in Rheine in the enterprise, but because of Covid online. Good for me, so I was able to take part in it.

Friday: We (Kerstin, Kathy and Tom) worked until 2pm and then weh ad off. Reason fort hat? It wasn´t busy, we almost got 0 people or customers, so Shain took us to Primitive Designs in Port Hope. Primitive Designs is operated by Rhonda, a friend of Debbie, so she showed us her shop, the stuff they are doing. I really don´t know how to explain what they are doing, but I will give it a try. Rhonda and her husband started their business 35 years ago. They are buying stuff from all around the world, but not online. They´re going to the country (countries like Nepal, Thailand, Mexico…) and convince themselve from the stuff they´re buying and about the working conditions. I think that is really unique. Anyway, then they start buying different things. They are selling everything. From clothes, over tables and benches up to sculptures. U might think: „ Well, Tom, it is just a shop or a store“ – but the thing is they are also making their own stuff out of old none usable things. For example they built the chair of Game of Thrones, Bumbelbee from Transformers and stuff like that. I will attach some pictures. Afterwards Christa picked us up and we went to Timmies and then back to the farm. Cool day!!

Saturday: One of the coolest working day the last couple weeks. We had Santa here for 2 hours. I think that was the reason why we had a lot of Walk-Ins and a lot of people who booked an experience. Anyway, it was really busy. I like busy times. The times flies faster and it just makes more fun. And it was fun. Talking to different types of customers, getting to know different things about them, their culture and life. That ist he reaosn why I ike busy time in the Café or on the farm. I didn´t do any experience this week so far, just because it hasn´t been busy. I mean I would love to do it, but I´m fine with it for this week.

Sunday: Weird day!!! I wasn´t so busy, but still a cool day. The weird and akward thing was, that all our goats had/have a diarrhea. It was so disgusting cleaning their pen and to feed them the whole day. But this hasn´t been the tip of the iceberg. Debbie text me around 3, that there is a dead chicken in the chicken pen. „Can u remove it, just put it into a plastic bag and put it in the freezer…“ – I´ve done it. It sound disgusting as well, but it was ok. I am just wondering why I should put it in the freezer. Maybe Debbie is thinking about eating or having it for Lunch or Dinner. Just kidding. Weird sitautions on the Farm that day.

The canadien government had some meetings over the weekends and they will announce the future plans with Covid tomorrow. A lot of people except another Lockdown, like in Germany. I just hope this won´t happen, because now I wanted to start travelling and this decision would completely f*ck my plans. Anyway I´ll figure something out and I´m still soooo happy to be here. Even if everything is closed, I can still see stuff and travel a bit around and I think that is good, because compared to u guys in Germany, I am just lucky and I know that. Always think positive😊 

Monday/Tuesday: Well, u k always this lazy, not important and boring begin of a week. Worked a bit here, worked a bit there. Nothing to tell u. I should start making plans for my travel or next stay after the farm. I haven´t booked something so far, I got plans, but nothing sure so far. Maybe I will take a look the next following days on it. Where, When and How😊 Let u k ASAP.

Wednesday: Had a beautiful Shmurglle around 1ish with 7 girls from a beauty company. I was able to give them some advices about their look 😉 Weh ad a nice chat, had a lot of fun and I´m getting used to speak english, which I realised in that day and that was the most beautiful thing of the day. Becaus I guess u don´t realise that u improve your english skills, when you are doing it… But happy about it. Anyway, cool Shmurggle, nothing more one that day.

Thursday: Another cool day. Well, it was ok. I had stuff to do during the day, so the day passed away very fast. I made the Shmurglle at 1 again with 2 people from Kingston, who´re working for military. One of my best talks so far her i Canada, and one of the best Shmurglles I had so far. The two invited me for a night or a stay in Kingston. They would like to show me the City, when I´m there. Not so sure, if I will do that. Well, I would love to, but without a Car, during Covid times, it is really hard to get there. I would have to take different buses and trains and it´s just so busy to organize this stuff and to make sure everthing works out. Anyway I will let u k if I will do it.

Friday: Day off – just wanna say that the current posts on my blog aren´t that long, because after 2 ½ months at the same place without that much experiences, u have the same procedure every day.

Saturday: I made two Shmurggles and one Knuffle (Kim and Linzie haven´t been there, day off). It was quiet fun and cool, but Kids on a Shmurggle… I hate it. They are screaming, they´re running after the goats, trying to grab their coler and stuff like that. Exhausting!!! Anyway, in the evening Shain and I went tot he Restaurant „Five Stars“ – picking up Dinner for all of us. I had Asian Rice Noodles with chicken and Shrimps. Delicious😊

Sunday: Sitting for 3 hours at the gate can be cold, boring and in Germany we say…“Auf die Palme bringen“ – after that I didn´t want to work anymore for that day… Then I´ve been in the Café after Lunch and in the evening I went on a walk together with Kerstin;)

2 ½ months already in Canada, unbelievable how fast time flies… I will spend two more weeks here and then I´ll leave the place which already has a place in my heart. BUT!! Looking forward for the next experiences and adventures. Next week I definitly should and I will start planing my future here in Canada. I have the desire to travel and travel and travel. Don´t wanna work anymore😊

See u soon and pls take care. Especially during the current Covid Situation in Germany!!!!

Tom

Monday: Lazy, normal day until 4pm. Kathy, Christa and me went to the City Port Hope. Reason for that? Christa had to go to the independent, a super market, to buy dog food and further she had to go to the vet, because after 7 weeks every puppy gets something like a vaxine. Anyway she took us to the post office in Port Hope, because I had to send something to Germany. Yes; I sent my signed contract back to Germany. Before Canada I had an Assesment Center at different companies for a dual study. One of it went really good and so I´m happy to announce that I will have a plan at least for the next 4 years. Yuhhhu…. After the post office, Kathy and I went to the „Thirsty Goose“ – a pub where I´ve been on Halloween. I ate Poutin again, delicious. Then Christa picked us up, we drove to Tim Hortons, I bought my loved frozen Lemonade😊

Tuesday: I started the Barn Clean Out, completely on my own. Exhausting.

Wednesday: Kathy and I finished the Barn Clean Out. Some work in the Café… But one special thing happend. I made my first Shmurggle on my own. Very cool. 1 mother with her two 20 years old daughters booked it. They were really kind and respectful, especially about the point that I´m a guy from Germany, who came to Canada to improve his english and who has less knowledge about the farm and the goats than Farm Owner Debbie. So we went on our walk with the goats. After one hour we ended up at the Playground. We had a nice talk, took some pictures together and we still have contact. Really cool first SHMURGLLE!!!!!

Thursday: I had my second Shmurggle, which wasn´t that good like yesterday, but the people were nice too and we had a nice talk. Now I´m sitting here at the table and I´m wondering how these two SHmurglles effected my skill and self-confidence speaking english. Anyway, I think I have to start speaking english more and more, also with the other german WWofers.

Friday: Day off.

Saturday: Buzy day on the farm. Worked until 4pm. Then we had Dinner together with Linzie in the Café, a worker on the farm, who stayed longer that Saturday for some reason. Then, we left around six ish the farm. Christa, Kerstin, Kathy and me went to „The Thirsty Goose“, a pub in Port Hope. We met Kim (a lovely 50 year old woman, who´s also working at the weekends on the farm) there and had a beautiful evening with a couple of beers and some Pooutin😊 I think we left around 11, then Tim Hortons and finally back home. Beautiful and cool evening, while listening to live music. And my heart was bleeding the afternoon. I mean I already knew that this day will come anyways, but u k it´s still bleeding. The Woman Debbie sold Tugboat to, picked him up. He left the farm and goes to Nova Scotia on another farm. Have a wonderful time there u little cozy puppy:)

THATS ALL XD See u soon:)

TOM

Monday: It hasn´t been a boring day. I mean I´ve been completely alone with Debbie and Shain at the farm, so I expected a lazy and boring day. But it wasn´t like that. At least until 4pm. I had some stuff to do. But when I was off, the boring time began. Kathy, Sandra, Lina and Christa, all, have been in Toronto. So I sat toegether with Debbie and Shain at the table during the dinner. I don´t know if I´ve already mentinoed it. Debbie and Shain don´t hate each other, but it doesn´t look like they like each other or that they are married. So you all can guess who has been the bridge between the two mountains xD I bet u k it.

Tuesday: BARN CLEAN OUT!!! Until 10am I had to do the Barn Clean out completely alone. Exhausting, boring but especially exhausting. I´ve finished the bucks, the chickens and I was almost ready with the goats. Then Monika came. Monika is a the daughter of a friend of Debbie. She is about 35, has a husband and one daughter (8 years old) and a soon (4 years old). Monika and her husband have a dream. One day they would like to have their own farm. This is their dream. So, Monika asked Debbie if she can volunteer once a week. SO she came at 10am with her daughter and helped me with the rest of cleaning the goats pen. We had a nice talk about the canadien school system, her dreams, my past, her past, my plans for the future and I teached them a bit about goats. At least that what I got to k here. At 1pm, Sandra and Lina, who started their two week RoadTrip on that day, came tot he farm with their rental car to pick up all their stuff. The two of them had a flat tire, drove to the next garage after changing the tire and fortunately were able to continue driving after that. I am glad that everything went well and that both of them have a unique time now. The goodbye was sad and I will miss them both, but I look forward and hope that both of them will have a good time sometime.

Thursday: A lot of stuff happend. I changed the hay and straw bales in the barn. Currently I would call me a master in driving a tractor. I remember when I said „es ist ja noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen“ – now the master felt down xD Then I had to do some farm stuff. Afterwards I´ve been in the kitchen in the Café. I should learn from our Head Chef Eric how things are handled in the kitchen and how every menu is prepared. Why? Because on Sunday Eric will be off and I have to take care about the whole kitchen on my own. Afraid? No. I will handle this or I guess I will figure out how everything is handled xD Anyway, it is cool doing different stuff. Tractor, Café, kitchen, animals, experiences…. I already experienced a lot in my last 8 weeks here on the farm and every day something new happens, I´m learning or get to k something else. Very cool! In the evening I had to cook. Pasta, asparagus, bolonese, salad 😊

Friday: DAY OFF!!!!! Finally, I really was exhausted. St.Pauli played at 12:30pm. I talked to my parents. Cleaning my room…

Saturday and Sunday: Saturday was one of the best days I´ve ever had so far here in Canada. I worked until 12 in the Café. Some basic stuff to do. Then I went with Debbie to the „Santa Clause Parade“ in Port Hope. Port Hope, the city where the film „IT“ was produced, is known for their events during the year. The „Parade“ is one of the events, which takes palce every year end of november. Because of Covid it was a bit different, but still awesome. You have to imagine that it´s a bit like the german Karneval, but the other way. Well, u k it´s like, we had a stand with two alpacas and many costumes on a long street. There was a booth next to the booth. Everything was represented. From farms to self-made robots. We went to our booth and took over the shift from CHrista and Kathy. Meaning I grabbed the goat hat, put it on, started dancing to live music and greeted every passing car with Merry Christmas and Ho Ho Haute Goat xD The parade went on for another two hours and then we took off. Super cool event. But the real highlight came afterwards. Kathy and Christa came to set up with the truck and the van (a normal car, a little bigger maybe) in which the alpacas were inside. After the disassembly I realized… Debbie and me… two people… two cars. Long speech, short sense. Tom drove Debbie’s van all alone through Ontario, Canada with two alpacas in the trunk back to the farm. UNBELIEVABLE! I could not believe it. Jerrica and Bella spit on each other all the time in the trunk. Everything worked out great and we were back on the farm at 4 o’clock on time. Super great day 🙂

Sunday was also a great day. Eric, our head boss had the day off because it was his son’s birthday. That means that he had shown Kathy and me how everything works at every lunch last week. So that meant Kathy and Tom had to run the kitchen on Sunday. Actually everything is very simple and we did a great job. About risotto, BLT, chilli con carne, brisket bun or a soup and grilled cheese. Chef and cook rocked the Sunday. It was really fun.

Tomorrow I will be in Canada for two months. Time flies. Maybe I will write another 2 month review 🙂

Tom