I arrived on the Esperanza in June when she was in Finland, to volunteer as an assistant cook for three weeks. Now one month later I'm still on the ship cooking and I am going to stay 6 more weeks! That's how it always goes when you're with Greenpeace, you never know what's coming next. Before I joined the ship I had just finished my Art studies when the opportunity to sail came. I love the ocean and to sail and I had been cooking before so of course I said yes to the job. The day in the galley starts at 8 a.m. in the morning and ends at 8 pm at night, but within that time I also have a break at 3 p.m. There has never been a boring day yet. Surely I have some days where I have been really tired and exhausted, but still not bored. It's like on the ship in general, there is always something happening.
Yesterday Rosso, one of the deck crew, filled in for Rien (who is normally the cook on board). Rosso has been working as a professionally cook before so I expected some new useful things to learn from him.
I arrived to the galley at 3 pm to start preparing the food and saw Rosso really busy with cooking and baking all kinds of stuff already. Loud Italian music was coming out from the cd player and Rosso was dancing and singing while he cooked. After ten minutes of crazy dancing we continued cooking. One hour later we where still dancing and singing, though also cooking, when Rosso thought it was time for some good role play. I was standing totally innocent, chopping a cucumber, when the attack came. Terrified I looked up to see a mad-eyed Rosso pointing a huge spoon at me, with a bowl on top of his head and a saucepan lid as protection on his chest. I rapidly took up another spoon (not as big as Rosso's, to my disappointment) and the fight started. the battle lasted for about 5 minutes followed by hysterical laughter.
Then we decided to keep on cooking. The food is always supposed to be ready at 6 pm so we had plenty of time left and after a lot of hard work the food was finally ready. The people arrived at 6 and looked so impressed at the assortment of Italian food, which was a total success.
After everyone finished dinner there was a lot of cleaning to do so I was preparing for 1 hour of straight cleaning but Rosso told me that I could go. He said he would take care of everything. So after a discussion about whether or not I should go (I was feeling a little bit guilty about going), I decided that I had earned some free time. I played guitar for a while (I am learning while on board) and then feeling tired but happy I fell asleep that night thinking about tomorrow's food and what might happen that day.
-Tara
Comments
Hi Kieron - Rosso makes the best gnochi and pizza. I loved it along with the rest of the crew who have now chained Rosso in the galley and refuse to let him leave ;-)
Posted by: Lisa (web editor) at July 28, 2005 05:15 PM
Hi Tara. We still not hear anything from you, we wonder very much, is everything ok, have you a nice and intresting time onboard, we missed you very much and love you, you know that.
We hope to hear from you or if you write something here, so we know, what you are doing and what happend on this trip, so go to the computer, write many things about what you are doing and about yourself.
Many hugs and love from Kent o Sivan
Posted by: kenta at July 28, 2005 12:04 AM
My Mum is Italian! She comes from Ascoli PIceno in the Marche region! She is an excellent cook and I love Italian food!
What did you eat? Did you like it?
Posted by: Kieron Barnes at July 27, 2005 02:25 PM
Dear Tara! It was nice to read about your day at sea. You seem to have a good time on the ship. Do the others know that you are a good singer as well as a guitarplayer? We hope that you practice your voice, that you get the opportunity, and not only work in the kitchen all the time. We think of you a lot and envy you. We are shure you have a good time and that youŽll get a lot of experience. Still, we long for you,and canŽt wait until youŽll get back to us in Hässelby. WeŽll be waiting to hear from you soon again. Lots of love from all of us! Aunty Bruber and your mummy Kricko.
Posted by: Bruber and Kricko at July 23, 2005 07:35 PM
Hi Sara. Where are you now, I like to know and here from you and now if everything is ok, can you write me as soon as possible. I will try to send you little money so you have something to buy anything nice for remembering. I hope to here from you soon, and can you tell me your "private" email adress on the ship. Have a nice trip and take care we love you Kent and sivan
Posted by: Kent Hedin at July 23, 2005 01:17 PM
His Tara, thanks for nice story, it was very good written and very intresting to read, we llike to eat your muffins when you will arrive to sweden again.
Go on have a nice trip work hard and have a nice time, many hugs from daddy and Sivan
Posted by: Kent (dad) and Sivan at July 20, 2005 12:56 AM
A little wonderful Tara ! :)
About those Swedish muffins... donŽt try to do them at home kids, Tara is a professional.... haha
kraaaamis
Posted by: Daniel Bredefeldt at July 19, 2005 04:48 PM
