Above is a picture of what I look like while I'm talking in all my arm-waving, tongue-showing, cardigan-wearing, hair-parting glory.
It's also the view people must have of me while I'm telling them that I'm about to move to a farm on Vancouver Island to learn the ins and outs of growing food. For the most part, people have been pretty encouraging and receptive, but occasionally people just don't get it. Here's a list of some of my favourite responses I've had from co-workers, supervisors, friends, and acquaintances here in Oakland, California:
1) "Oh." (Concerned look) "How old are you?"
2) "Is it a buffalo farm? I heard you've got a lot of buffalo farms up there."
3) "Someone told me you're moving to a farm. That's not right, is it?"
4) "Farming's really hard, you know."
5) "A farmer? That's funny." (Laughter) "Wait - are you serious?" (Nervous laughter) "I can't tell if you're serious." (Pause) "Why would you want to be a farmer?"
6) "Does this mean you'll be doing a lot of physical labour? Now that you've finally gained some weight, I'm worried that you'll get really skinny again." (Thanks, Mom!)
7) "When I was a teenager, I used to listen to a lot of Rush." (Pause) "They're Canadian, right?"
1) It took us a few years to find our way too. Welcome to the club.
ReplyDelete2) We'll take you to the buffalo farm (Fairburn Farm: awesome family, buffalo are all cuddly and bouncy like puppies: http://www.fairburnwaterbuffalo.com/)
3) Shazam. Hipster blogger by day, soil groupie by night.
4) Yes, farming is really, really hard.
5) Purpose, meaning, and ridiculously high food standards.
6) We'll take "before" and "after" photos.
7) Makaria Farm's soundtrack includes "Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John and "Better Class of Losers" by Randy Travis. Be warned: there are dance parties.