Jillaroo Training, Things Fall into Place (Perhaps)

Last week I went to a 5-day Jackaroo/Jillaroo School called Leconfield to learn how to be an Australian cowgirl. This required taking a six hour train ride out to Tamworth, where I stayed at a hostel for a night before and after the school. Most of the other students and I were picked up from the hostel and driven to the school in a small bus. Leconfield is an hour drive from Tamworth, much of it on dirt roads, and to get to the farm we had to literally drive through a creek.

At the school there were about 15 other students, about 3/4 foreigners (all European except for myself and a Japanese girl) and 3/4 female. Most of the students were in their 20's, although there was a father and 8-year-old son. Some people had experience with horses or farms, but there were also plenty like myself with not much experience. It was not my first time riding a horse, but I had not done so in about ten years, so I was rather nervous at first. My horse was named Swappie, and even by the end of the week I'm not sure she liked me much. My two worst fears were getting kicked by a horse or falling off, neither of which happened but both of which I witnessed.

We spent a fair amount of time horseback riding which was quite fun. On horseback we mustered (gathered) and herded cattle and sheep, as well as played games. We had a lot of activities with both sheep and cows. Some of my favorite parts of the week were wrestling a sheep (alone) and a calf (with a partner). Also witnessed a sheep get its throat slit and then be skinned (which I helped with, I never thought I would get the opportunity to stick my hand in a dead sheep!) and butchered. We also sheared (shaved) a sheep, and there is a video on Facebook of me doing this. As for cows, watched one get branded, tagged (in one ear, the other ear got the corner cut off), and the balls cut off, or more literally squeezed out. It was disgusting, but fascinating.

Other highlights of the week were playing games and hanging out at night. Some of the games we played reminded me that there are some distinct differences between the US and Australia, mainly how 'uptight' Americans are. Example: a game called pink pig. We were in a circle around the campfire, and a pig stuffed animal was passed around. Everyone kissed the pig on a body part that had not been said yet. After that, we went around the circle in the opposite direction, and kissed the person next to us on the body part that we said. If either person refused to do it, they had to either do a naked run or blow bubbles in a bathtub that the dogs and pig drink out of and bathe in. The body part that the guy next to me chose was the ass... I cannot imagine this going down in the States.

Natural horsemanship was emphasized a lot during the week. This means making it more comfortable for the horse to do what you want, rather than forcing it. I liked this approach. We also learned about caring for horses, shoeing and saddlery. Other classic jackaroo/jillaroo activities were practiced, such as lassoing and whip cracking. So much fun!

I've been back from Leconfield for a few days now, back to Sydney and couchsurfing. Things are appearing to begin to fall into place. A few days before Leconfield I was at Sydney Harbour and a friend saw a hiring sign at a cafe on the wharf. I talked to the manager and dropped by a resume the next day, and he said that a trial shift would be arranged. I never got a phone call, but went in after coming back from jillaroo school. Arranged a (paid) trial shift which was yesterday. It went pretty well, and they said they would "most likely" call me in the next week or two about permanent shifts. I really hope it works out. The pay isn't great (AU$12/hour US$10.50 after taxes, which sounds good compared to the States but is about as low as you can get here) but it's not too difficult or stressful and the people seem nice. Also the location is amazing, it's very close to the Opera House and between that and the Harbour Bridge.

Comments and questions encouraged. Apologies about being slow to update, I will try to be quicker from now on.

Photos of first week in Australia: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=459064id=719590246&l=3c221f1150
And Leconfield: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=459084&id=719590246&l=eb708367bb