Nathan and I have been here on the north shore of Lago Rupanco now for exactly one week, and yet it feels much, much longer. We are living in what appears to be a massive lakeside ski lodge, surrounded by beautiful trees, waterfalls, animals, and fields. In other words, we have found Eden. When we first arrived we were volunteers 20 and 21, but now we are down to 18 - the perfect number for the perfect place. We share our upstairs bedroom with two other people and for me it feels exactly as if I have returned to Atlantic College. We wake at 8 am to eat breakfast and be out working by 9 am, but are done by 2 pm when we then get to return to the house and eat a delicious, huge meal. Two people stay back each day and prepare the lunch, and after lunch we all make working lines to clean not only every dish and spoon and fork but also the floor and living room. We are then free to do whatever we would like - whether it be sit around and play card game after card game (the usual option) or go exploring to the nearby waterfall or go sailing on the sailboat recently fixed up and rigged by the lovely Nathan. We are in charge of our own dinners, but there are usually leftovers and did I mention that Greg buys all of our food? Because he does. And it's amazing. Nathan and I expected good things when we read reviews on Workaway that stated what we thought were exaggerations: "I came for 4 days and stayed 4 months," but never did we expect THIS. As Greg said on our first drive down to the house, "I have been all over the world, but never have I seen anything as beautiful as this place." That may be a slight exaggeration (I'm still reeling from Valle de la Luna) but this is by far the most beautiful place one could live. Greg has huge amounts of land - let's just say Nathan went for a "walk" with our roommate Ben up the mountain near us and he said he reckons the small section of the road he took was at least 5 miles. Not only do we look out on the lake, but we also look out on a snow capped volcano in one direction and a mountain in the other. The work we do is extremely satisfying as it is mostly heavy duty labor, such as digging holes for 4 years, setting up the inner yurt rings with barely bendable wood, or using a hoe to prepare the fields for planting. One of the girls here is only 18 and is the architect for the permanent yurt we are building up on the hill for a couple to live in. If you are at all interested this couple will become the permanent gardeners - minimum 1 year. SO PACK UP YOUR BAGS AND COME, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR. The amount of skills found in this small group is unbelievable and hearing about everyone's background never gets old. My dad reminded me of an Israeli travel journal filled with travel suggestions from every Israeli to cross paths with it that is meant to be somewhere in South America. It may exist, but it may also be an urban legend born out of places such as this one where you realize all the best tips really are. An English couple from Cornwall have spent the last few months traveling and not only have they been through the deepest parts of Paraguay (the one country tourists seem to have forgotten) but they have also spent 5 weeks on a boat journey through the Brazilian Amazon that picked up people from all the small villages along the river and featured jam-packed hammocks for beds. We may have to start our very own book. Living with people in such a remote area and spending every moment with a set group of people is what makes this feel like Atlantic College. I know these people better than I knew some people I was acquainted with for all four years of college. We've all skipped shame and moved on to humor - nothing can embarass us and so we are the most "we" we could possibly be. This is the feeling I come home to. It is not a place, but a comfort level. We all wear absurd clothes all found in the rubbish work pile (my daily outfit includes 80s style elasticized jeans, everyone) and occasionally Lenny will come out in a dress for no reason or Kevin will wear a turquoise sweater vest that is way too long. We're a stylish, ridiculous bunch and singing in the morning is not only okay, but expected en masse as an activity. "Let's get down to business" booms from the speakers as everyone defeats the huns/dishes. And did I mention that we have 30 minutes to an hour of game time every day during our work day? I taught everyone how to play "Wah" (thanks again, Atlantic College) and now the sounds of WAH fill the house with or without me. Addie made me some toast the other day and topped it off with butter and cinnamon sugar and I had to wonder if secretly she too attended AC and knew about toast with butter and sugar because what real person eats this! Not that they shouldn't, it's absolutely delicious, but also absolutely 100% student. Thanksgiving is coming up next week and although I won't be in the States, we will be celebrating it here with Monsieur Nathan and myself as the in house chefs. We will be clearing off a massive outdoor table and will most likely be eating chicken..right next to the chicken coop. Slightly messed up, but it'll do. It'll more than do. I'm so thankful for this place - we may have come for a week but we're staying for 20 years. Thanks Greg. Just kidding. ?
