Hi, my name is Mariano Ferreyra and I’m going to tell you the story about my first seasonal job in
New Zealand.

It all begins one morning in Auckland. Tired and disappointed about the lack of responses to my
text messages seeking for any position available anywhere in N.Z, I went to sleep early just waiting
for the next day to come. Just before getting to the stand by state before sleep, I start hearing
my text message ringtone. I jump out of the bed and grab my phone. It said:”Hi Mariano, we are
contacting you from ####### Orchard. The job starts in two days. We will be waiting for you.
Cheers”. My happiness was indescribable and the day ended with a great future ahead.

My destination was Hastings, Hawkes bay. Someone told me there were too many vineyards down
there, but I never thought there were so much as I saw.

I arrived at 8pm, and went directly to the accommodation arranged. I stayed in one of the many
flats the place held. I lived with 4 asian guys, one from Taiwan and the other three from Malasia.
They were working in the same orchard as I Would so, as I had no car, we arranged they could take
me to work.

Next day, at 6:30am I was up getting ready to be taken to work at 7:00am. I had to prepare a bag
full of food and drinks because the day was going to be long and hunger and thirst needed to be
satisfied.

Once in the orchard, I was given some tools and taken to my respective block. The job I had to do
was vine pruning. They you have a big scissor, a small one and some paper tyers. Basically your
task is to cut the tree big branches first with the big scissor leaving just 3 branches. One of those
will finally be cut too. The second step is to use the small scissor to cut little branches coming out
of the 3 branches. After that you pull all the cut branches out. Finally you roll two branches (one
from each side) to the lowest wire and you tie the last but of the branch with your tyer.

It sound quite easy but it isn’t. After some hours, your hands start aching, so does your back. You
get really hungry and thirsty and you get paid per contract, that means the amount you get paid its
up to you.

The positive thing is that you have time to talk with the guy in front of you and meet a person
from everywhere, that’s how I met Sonia.

Sonia was a Chech girl that was working in Hastings since last year. She was good and really fast at
pruning. She was a money machine, and she was gorgeous too.

As days passed by we got to know each other pretty well. I taught her some Spanish words and the
other way round. She made me try some tipic Chech food and so did I. We were starting to fell in
love with each other, but we were to fool to realize.

At the same time,the job was finishing and Sonia and me were going to take different routes,
which made us feel quite sad about it.

Anyway that month in Hastings was awesome. The experience of working outdoors, in an orchard
or farm is really unique although its pretty taught too. I met many people from different countries
and we managed to exchange stories and culture. I also had a love story with this beautiful lady
that will keep a piece of my heart for ever.

I recommend you whoever is reading that this are things that happen just once in life. This are
opportunities we must not let them pass away. We have to live our life as if every day was the last
one, trying to learn from everyone and from everything.

Hope you had enjoyed my storie

Cheers

Mariano from Argentina.