Escuela Agrícola

Tuesday and Wednesday two other interns and I worked two consecutive 16 hour days to prepare for a meeting on Thursday with the Director that would decide the fate of Ikatu (it survived!). So, we were given Thursday and part of Friday off.  We decided to leave our computers and phones behind so we couldn't be reached and go out to the Escuela Agrícola (Agricultural School) which is run by the Fundacion, to see what that was all about.

It was great. There are 150 15-18 year old students who live there and take classes and work the farm. They rotate so they're in class one week and working on the farm the next. They learn about farming, obviously, but also about things such as hotel management (there is a hotel on the grounds), as well as the business side of running a farm. Many of their families own a good deal of land, the majority of which is not being put to use, so many of the kids hope to be able to begin using those as farms when they are finished with school.

Many students go on to University when they're done there, and the others apparently have no trouble at all finding jobs upon graduation, as they have such high levels of vocational training. It was amazing to see the way they used all natural pesticides and fertilizers, solar energy, and the like. The school is completely sustainable and self-sufficient.

We were just visiting, so we got to enjoy the experience without being interns, for a change. Here is some of what we saw:

Pig's noses. We saw pigs too, but they're not nearly as cute as their noses.

Coffee. They don't harvest it at the school, there was just a plant hanging out. Oh, South America.

Baby goats. Katherine wanted to take this one home.

And then I milked a cow. I know, you can't tell it's me, but it is!

Kiddos weeding. Fun, fun!

Stars. Lots of them. Scorpio is high in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere. Ah, to be away from the city!

Went for a little bike ride. Life is complete, now...

But in all seriousness, I may have found my calling in life. I could be happy as a farmer. Between a farm and stars and a bike ride all in one day...I dare you to try to wipe the smile off my face. It's all about the little things.