At mealtimes, Susanna would regale us with incredible stories from her past experiences, as well as fascinating tidbits of her philosophy and knowledge of various conspiracy theories. As a sampler, did you know that most politicians are in fact lizard people hiding behind human facades, that toothpaste is an illusory capitalist ploy of the dental industry, and that mer-people exist? I didn't think so.
Just below the schoolhouse, the national park and Misty Mountains held many creeks, waterfalls, and swimming holes. We were told that the swimming hole next to Suzie's property was home to a platypus, but once again the little creature eluded us during our entire week's stay.
Overall, our first WWOOFing experience was a success and we hope to do more in the coming weeks. It was, more than anything, a learning experience regarding work management and communication, as well as the barter/trade work exchange lifestyle. I think our experiences with Couchsurfing helped prepare us for sharing living spaces and routines with new people, though having a host as your boss and negotiating their moods and expectations is a whole different level of challenging. Suzie and Cal were incredibly generous and gracious hosts, and we hope her school of consciousness gets up and running on schedule.