Any avid coffee lover will tell you that coffee is not just a drink, but a whole philosophy. But how much do we know about the journey coffee beans make before they end up in our coffee maker? How many hands are involved in its cultivation, processing and transportation? And with what subtleties is the production of the most popular drink in the world connected?

Especially for readers with a healthy dose of adventurism, our editors have prepared a selection of volunteer programs that offer participants to become part of the multi-stage process of coffee production and spend a vacation full of coffee experiences.

Not so long ago, we already wrote about a volunteer program in a fishing village in Ecuador (""). But if you love coffee and learn Spanish, then you will never pass by the volunteer program organized by Colorful Ec uador, a Spanish language school and volunteer platform located near the capital of Ecuador - Quito.

Although Ecuador does not export as much coffee when compared to coffee giants such as Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia, it is nevertheless one of the 15 countries whose natural conditions allow the cultivation of two of the world's most popular types of coffee - Arabica and robusta.

The mountainous terrain of Ecuador means that in an area of ​​only 283,560 km2, many different ecosystems coexist, suitable for growing different varieties of coffee. Throughout Ecuador, about 200,000 hectares of land are occupied by coffee plantations, which employ the population of 16 provinces.

Among the many different programs, Colorful Ecuador invites everyone to spend a week on a coffee plantation in the Northern Andes. According to the organizers of the program, here you can not only try yourself as a coffee farm worker, but also enjoy the unique nature of the Northern Andes, climb mountain waterfalls, visit the Yacurí National Park and, of course, enjoy a cup of coffee collected by yourself.

This program is open all year round, which means that participants can be part of any stage of coffee production, whether it be collecting coffee beans, removing the pulp, washing, drying, sorting, roasting or grinding. In order for potential volunteers to better plan their trip, the organizers have compiled a table that clearly displays the timing of a particular stage of coffee production.

The coffee industry has always played a key role in Costa Rica's history, and coffee is still one of the country's top three exports. Costa Rican coffee has a high caffeine content and is used to create various coffee blends. Coffee grown in Costa Rica is famous all over the world and is rightfully considered one of the best. The government of Costa Rica encourages coffee producers in every possible way not to lower the bar and constantly work to improve product quality. The results of such a policy are not long in coming: in 2012, it was the Costa Rican coffee variety Tarrazú Geisha that became the most expensive coffee variety sold by the famous Starbucks chain.

A large charitable trust Global Volunteer Network, which has been organizing volunteer programs around the world since 2001, offers to become a member of the Coffee Cooperative program and work on one of the coffee farms in mountainous Costa Rica. Volunteers will also be able to become direct participants in the production of coffee and see how the coffee market functions.

In addition to getting to know the coffee industry, volunteers are also offered the opportunity to help orphanages and hospitals, work as an English teacher for Costa Rican children, take care of unique leatherback turtles, and much more. Get detailed information about programs, conditions of accommodation and meals can be found on the website.

The history of coffee production in Guatemala goes back over 150 years. Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, Guatemala has been the largest supplier of coffee in Central America. To date, the mountainous regions of Guatemala produce the best coffee varieties known in the world. Coffee grown in Guatemala has a rich aroma and dense texture.

Under the auspices of the charity Volunteer International HQ, a volunteer program was organized in Guatemala, allowing participants to plunge into the life of a non-profit farming community. You can work on a plantation from 1-2 weeks to a whole year, and the cost of the program includes all expenses. In addition, a trip to Guatemala can be beneficial for Spanish learners, as working on coffee plantations involves continuous contact with native Spanish speakers. More information can be found on the program website.

Coffee growing in Nepal is relatively new. The culture was brought to the country only in 1938, but within just a few decades it managed to gain great popularity. Today, all coffee grown in Nepal is some kind of Arabica. According to experts, Nepalese coffee has a special aroma. Also, Nepalese coffee producers are proud that the collection and processing of coffee beans is carried out here manually and does not harm the environment in any way.

Farming community Agriculture in Nepal, promoting organic farming in Nepal, invites volunteers to get acquainted with the process of growing organic coffee in the highlands of Nepal and become part of it. The organizers promise a breathtaking view of the Himalayas and the direct involvement of the coffee farm. Agriculture in Nepal will especially appeal to those who care about fate environment, because this community promotes the most sustainable way to grow coffee without the use of any pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

You can learn more about the activities of the community on their website. Also, anyone can contact the organizers and ask all their questions.

Today BusinessTimes publishes the latest story about seasonal work abroad. In our next materials, you can read about the countries where it is best for Russians to go for seasonal work, about visa issues related to this type of income, as well as about possible options for seasonal employment.

My story began in the Czech Republic, in Prague. I was looking for some work for the summer in Prague, but I couldn't find anything. And then I came up with the idea to look for work in some other country. I decided to travel and work in New Zealand. Why exactly there? Because one day, when I was little, I met people in the Czech Republic who emigrated to New Zealand during the communist era in our country, and they told me that New Zealand is a great country for hiking. I really enjoy this type of travel, and besides, I heard that there are many opportunities to find seasonal work in New Zealand. All these reasons together pushed me to make my dreams come true.

I started looking for information about the country and travel there, found out where and how I can get a visa and work permit. I found all the information on the Internet. The first step was to get a visa. The student agency helped me get a visa and buy tickets. I arrived in Auckland at the end of October.

I spent two days in Oakland getting my tax number and opening a bank account. Then I went to Taupo for a day and then went to Hastings. There were so many tourists there that I could not book any accommodation in this city. Had trouble finding an overnight stay but finally found one, albeit only for one night. The next day I went to information Center and they helped me find accommodation in Napier, because Hastings was really crowded.

When I first came to Hasting, I read that there was an opportunity to get a job in the apple orchards picking apples. This work usually starts in November, but people told me that this year there was a frosty winter and the apple picking work will start later. I was told the same thing at Napier. Then I decided that traveling is better than waiting for work. A couple of days later I went to the Mahia peninsula, with two other guys from the Czech Republic.

I met these guys on the bus. And then we went together to Lake Waikaremoana. Very necessary information we were given a job search office in Whakatane. Their employee told us important things - and we went to TePuke to pick kiwi flowers there. We worked for a whole week in the kiwi tree garden. After this job, we went to Taupo to find something better, like housekeeping. It so happened that our first employer promised to send a salary to our bank accounts on the very next Wednesday, but did not send it. I spent about NZ$30 to call him, but all he said was "sorry, I always forget".

I decided to solve this problem through the Department of Labor - but I never received the money. Then I spent another week in Taupo asking everyone about work. All attempts to get settled failed. The most interesting adventure of those days was a trip around Lake Taupo and the road through a flock of sheep to one farm - but at that moment there was no work for men. In early December, I returned to Hastings and registered with the seasonal worker's office.

And just two hours later I received a text message with a phone in Thornhill, and so began my work in the vineyards. The vineyard had to be lifted and tied with wire. Between Christmas and New Year I went to Tongario on a hiking trip. After the New Year, there was no work again, but then the French, whom I met in the vineyards, suggested me a job in a kiwi garden near Cleve. The kiwi harvest was just beginning - but it lasted only five days. Then I worked in a plum orchard picking plums for two weeks. Since January 28, I and another friend of mine have been unemployed, trying to find something every day. But now it is not very easy, because the apple picking season will only start in mid-February.

Seasonal work in Europe- this is not only an option to make good money in a season (wages are 2-3 times higher than in the CIS countries, and there are always relevant offers), but also a great opportunity to get to know a new country, improve your language, gain new skills, get useful contacts to stay in the country afterwards. Everyone pursues their own goal. But the disadvantages are the same for everyone - this is hard physical labor in greenhouses or a construction site, little time for rest and, perhaps, only 1 day off per week.

Possible vacancies with seasonal work in Europe in 2018 in the following areas:

• tourist resorts (summer);
• ski resorts (winter);
• agriculture and farms;
• reserves;
• caring for children, the elderly;
• volunteering.

If found a good place, you can earn up to 1000 euros in the service sector, up to 600 euros in the agricultural sector, up to 1200 euros in construction, up to 800 euros working as a helper at a construction site, up to 600 euros in families.

Seasonal work in Finland

The main type of seasonal employment in Finland is agriculture (picking berries, vegetables and fruits). Raspberries are harvested in July-August, strawberries - in June-July, forest blueberries - in July, blueberries and bilberries - in July, lingonberries - in August, potatoes - in September. But more often it all depends on the weather and the harvest.

For legal employment in Finland, it is better to apply for a work visa in advance (2-3 months in advance). The visa is issued on the basis of a contract with the employer. We recommend looking for just such options, since it is illegal to travel abroad, it is possible not to receive payment.

Please read before your trip labor code countries, specify the terms of payment, accommodation, transport. Invitations are sent free of charge, so if you are offered paid services, refuse - it's a scam. Find out in advance where the embassy of your country is located in Finland in order to be prepared for all unforeseen situations.

Seasonal work in Poland

Seasonal work on farms is also common in Poland. The advantage of working in this country is the close location, loyal conditions to obtain a visa and a similar language. Mostly people come to Poland from May to September to pick apples or cut champignons. You can also find vacancies as an animator, kitchen assistant, waiter, maid, administrator, packer and so on.

Seasonal work in Norway

In Norway, seasonal work is in demand in agricultural and livestock enterprises and farms. Popular jobs are:

• garden pruning;
• weeding;
• harvesting;
• crop packaging;
• animal cleaning;
• fish ripper;
• salting and packaging of fish products.

It is also possible to find work as a waiter in a hotel or restaurant.

A work visa is valid for 90 days. This is enough to work out the season, besides, it is almost impossible to extend the permit. Before you go to the country, get acquainted with the working conditions, with wages. Check the employer on our blacklisted website if you have any doubts.

Seasonal work in Spain

The main type of employment in Spain is agricultural work and service personnel in hotels or families. The following vacancies are always relevant in the country:

• picker of fruits and vegetables (mainly oranges, grapes, strawberries, tomatoes);
• administrator or maid;
• waiter or bartender;
• guide or animator (with good knowledge of the language);
• builder.

At agricultural enterprises and farms, work is paid either by the hour, or by the amount of the harvested crop. You can earn more at construction sites, especially for qualified employees. Payment for work in the hotel depends on the season.

Seasonal work in France

Popular seasonal work vacancies in France - in agriculture, in parks and hotels. The season depends on the field of activity, climate and location of the province. Especially popular work in France is grape harvesting (September-October, Pyrenees, Beaujolais, Laura Valley, Burgundy), cherry picking (May-June, Rhone Valley), strawberry picking (May-June, central part and Perigord), vegetable picking ( July-September, Auvergne, Aktavia). Jobs are also in demand in Disneyland and Asterix parks - up to 12,000 employees are hired here during the season.

To travel to France, you need to apply for a visa 3 months in advance on the basis of a contract with the employer, the permit is issued for 90 days.

Seasonal work in the Netherlands

The most demanded vacancies with seasonal work in the Netherlands are working in greenhouses with flowers, fruits and vegetables. In second place are construction vacancies (qualified assemblers, welders and fitters). The visa can be issued for 6 months.

Where to find seasonal work in Europe

To quickly find work for the season in the EU, use the site. here you will find current job offers in Europe directly from employers without intermediaries, as well as from employment agencies. We recommend checking the contacts of employers (in the black list on the website, on forums on the Internet). Read the contract carefully and do not pay any housing, paperwork or airfare fees.

Seasonal work abroad is gaining popularity in last years among our compatriots. In winter or summer, additional labor is needed in resorts, hotels, shops or farms when harvesting in developed countries in Europe or the USA. In a few months, you can earn a decent amount of money, on which you can then live at home. Of course, there are pitfalls in temporary work. We will consider such moments.

Seasonal work abroad for Russians is popular among students and people who do not have a permanent income. Basically, such temporary work is chosen by young people who are not tied to the workplace at home. The main criteria here are:

• endurance;
• stress resistance;
• readiness for irregular work;
• good health.

The advantages are the opportunity to see with your own eyes how people live and work in other countries, new acquaintances, practice in a foreign language. The indisputable disadvantage is heavy and irregular physical labor.

Basically, seasonal work abroad is relevant in summer and ski resorts and in agriculture. Girls find jobs caring for children and the elderly, there are many vacancies in the service sector. Often in Western European countries, people are required for harvesting. Men go to work as builders, handymen, harvesters of vegetables and fruits. There are a lot of offers for young people to work as volunteers. The work is unpaid, only housing and food are provided, but there is an opportunity to learn a foreign language. Such offers may be of interest to those young people who are thinking about entering foreign university or about moving to a certain country. Everyone knows that it is much more useful to go and see with your own eyes than to hear stories from other people.

Consider which countries are popular with Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians.

Most popular countries and vacancies

The most popular countries in Europe where residents of the CIS countries go:

• Poland
• Finland
• France
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Spain

Most often, seasonal work abroad for Belarusians and Ukrainians is in Poland, due to the close geographical location. In the neighboring state, people are needed in summer and autumn to help harvest potatoes, apples and other vegetables and fruits. A large number of mushrooms are also grown in greenhouses in Poland. Every year people are recruited to cut champignons, workers are almost always provided with housing and food. During the summer holidays, students can find work in the agricultural industry, in hotels, and on attractions.

Finland is popular with residents of the CIS due to higher salaries, workers are recruited there to harvest lingonberries, cloudberries and blueberries. Picking wild berries is the main type of seasonal work in the northern country. They also hire workers to harvest potatoes and strawberries. The duration of the berry harvest is from two to four weeks, the beginning of ripening is June, the end of the harvest is the beginning of September.

It is worth considering another northern state - Norway. Here you can get a good income from seasonal work related to fisheries and livestock farms. There are often not enough hands to cut fish. This is a very hard job that requires endurance. In Norway, there are vacancies for a fish gutter, a fish pickler and a seafood packer.

The Netherlands is waiting for workers in their flower greenhouses and livestock farms. There is also an acute shortage of welders and builders. In this state, it is easiest to find seasonal work, since, for example, greenhouses where tulips grow operate all year round.

France is recruiting seasonal workers for the grape harvest. After all, France is the world's first wine producer, and during the grape ripening season, labor is urgently needed. France also produces a large amount of fruits and berries such as cherries, strawberries and apples. To collect them, workers are also needed. France can offer vacancies for maids, waiters, maintenance workers in summer and ski resorts. The biggest tourism and entertainment employers are Disneyland Paris and Asterix Park.

Interesting! Disneyland Paris hires over 12,000 workers for the summer season

In Spain, workers are needed to pick olives, grapes, strawberries and oranges. If the employee speaks Spanish, then you can get a job in hotels, restaurants. Usually wages are piecework, the cost of housing and food is deducted. However, under such conditions, you can also earn good money. As you can see, harvesting work abroad is the main type of seasonal work for CIS citizens.

Working conditions and paperwork

For seasonal work abroad, employers have the following conditions:

• You must be an adult and not older than 60 years.
• It is advisable not to have bad habits.
• Be able to apply for a work visa.
• Be fluent in at least one foreign language, which may affect wages.
• The minimum working time is 8 hours a day, the payment will be higher than similar work in the CIS countries, but lower than in permanent jobs.

You should know that the minimum wage for seasonal work starts from 500 euros per month and can reach 1,000 euros on average. In the event that continuous work takes more than 90 days, a residence permit or a work permit is required. Job search is carried out independently or through intermediary firms. The help of intermediaries is often sought when traveling for the first time, then you can contact the same employer.

First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules of the labor legislation of the state where you are going to work. Better conclude employment contract. It must be written, with a description of all working conditions. It is necessary to clarify in advance all the nuances on the way to the place of work, food and accommodation.

Important! You need to know the phone number of the consulate or embassy of your country at the place of work

A work visa is issued on the basis of an agreement with the employer. It is better to take care of applying for a visa 2-3 months before the start of work. For example, in Norway there are the following conditions for employment:

• An employment relationship between an employee and an employer must have a permit from the labor administration in Norway.
• Wages must comply with the approved pay scale for the industry. If there is no such at this enterprise, then the wage corresponds to the minimum hourly rate.
• The employee must be a full-time employee.
• Don't forget to take out insurance. It should be issued in a foreign company and without a franchise, in order to avoid unnecessary expenses.
• It should be discussed where the salary will be transferred. There have been many cases when money is transferred to the account of an intermediary company, and the employee runs the risk of being left empty-handed. Therefore, you need to meticulously study the documents before signing them.

If you are looking for a job on the Internet, do not be too lazy to look for reviews of an intermediary company. Employees of hotels and supermarkets are more protected, as the money goes to the account of enterprises.

How much can you earn in seasonal work

Average hourly wage for service workers:

• dishwasher - 6-10 dollars per hour;
• maid or housekeeper - $ 7 per hour, and you need to work at least 10-12 hours a day;
• Nurse or nurse in a nursing home or at home - $10-12 an hour;
• picking apples in Poland - 2-3 dollars per hour, this is the lowest paid harvesting job;
• animator at the hotel - $ 300-500 per month, but here accommodation and meals are at the expense of the hotel;
• a handyman in a fish processing plant earns an average of $10 an hour. This is how much they pay at the enterprises of Alaska and Norway, and processing is additionally paid, up to $ 15 per hour of work above the norm.

Jobs in the US are now the highest paid, but they require good health and stamina. A trip to Alaska, for example, entails high costs:

• round-trip airfare - about $ 1,500;
• work visa - $190;
• insurance - 300-400 US dollars.

Also popular is work for students for the summer in the USA, under the Work and Travel program. Students work in cafes, restaurants, maids in hotels, and similar options.

Interestingly, for a long time there has been a category of people who travel professionally to harvest berries in the summer in Finland, and in the winter in Spain. For a couple of months of seasonal work in Europe, such people can live comfortably in their homeland. It is also worth noting that the presence of a driver's license and the ability to drive several modes of transport is welcomed by employers. The main thing is not to let yourself be deceived!

There are a lot of announcements on the Internet about the recruitment of Russians for seasonal work abroad. Intermediaries promise to find a place during the seasonal harvest, help with a visa and accommodation in the country. Workers are waiting for hard physical labor: they will have to spend several hours in an uncomfortable position, lift weights, get up early. A work visa is not always issued, often people enter on a tourist visa and stay in the country illegally for several months. But despite this, the number of people who want to sign up for seasonal work does not decrease, someone even perceives it as an adventure and an opportunity not only to earn money, but also to visit abroad. We asked people who traveled for seasonal work to talk about their experiences.

Timur

Irkutsk

sea ​​kale

I went to work in South Korea, spent a total of a year and two months there. During this time, he was engaged in various things: he worked at several factories, harvested vegetables and fruits, but the most difficult thing was the harvest of seaweed. We simply called this work “the sea”. A Korean farmer rents a plot in the sea, puts ropes there, somehow spuds this cabbage, and when it grows, we sail on boats to collect it.

One leaf of cabbage is about two meters long, and it grows in bunches of five or six leaves. At a time, it was necessary to get two or three such beams, also taking into account the resistance of water. It turns out that you pull 80 kilograms. You had to get up at four in the morning and immediately climb into the cold sea. Before lunch, you pick cabbage, bring it to the shore by boat. After lunch, it is loaded into a car with a special crane, you take cabbage to special drying chambers.

Alco bonuses

More than half of those who come to work are indebted men who feed the whole family. Someone drowns in a mortgage and goes in the hope of closing it as soon as possible. Basically, these are people from Primorye, Transbaikalia, Buryatia, Siberia. Minimum payment in Korea in terms of rubles - this is about 100 thousand per month. Also, there are always some bonuses from employers, for example, they can be affixed with alcohol. In general, Koreans themselves are hardworking and responsible, they don’t even go on smoke breaks, and they need to somehow balance their work stress, so they can start drinking already from lunch. They have soju - local vodka, and it is considered quite normal to drink a couple of glasses in the afternoon, and in the evening it can legally flow into a booze. I even saw men who came for money, but started drinking there, and it got to the point that their wives sent money for a return ticket.

Many who return from work to Russia do not want to say that there are such tough bosses and hard work, and they say that they simply received a lot of money there, without particularly straining. Because of this, frail, weak men, office plankton and sissies then come to seasonal work, they think that now they can easily earn money there. There were a lot of those who left literally in the first days. Before that, I went in for sports, because it was somewhat easier for me than the others.

"Poly-poly"

I initially entered Korea with practically no money, I didn’t know the language where to look for a job, I didn’t understand. But in Korea there is a labor exchange for unskilled workers, and I found the first place there. There are agents - these are the same workers who have already installed a good relationship with farm owners. From those who want to get a job, they take up to 20 thousand rubles, but all their help is that they will talk to the boss in Korean and ask if he needs workers. Sometimes a person pays, and they just give him a phone number - then call yourself and negotiate. There are real agents who can really help with work in some way - these are usually ethnic Koreans. But before contacting someone, it is better to sit on social networks in specialized groups, google all the information. I know a man who gave 40 thousand rubles for help in crossing the border, and he was simply printed out and given a route sheet downloaded from the Internet.

On the very first day of work, you will learn the first words, “poly-poly” is especially quickly remembered, which means “faster, faster”. When you stay in Korea for a long time, you start to meet different people, they can help with work. In general, even if you don’t know the language and don’t know how to do anything, but you smile, then you can already count on employment and a normal attitude from the authorities. In Korea, all sorts of merry fellows get better and get more hard workers.

One million rubles

When you work in a factory, you have to rent your own apartment. We found a one-room apartment for 15-18 thousand in rubles, for a two-room apartment we paid already 25. And on the seas or fields, housing is provided free of charge, but the conditions there are Spartan. I had only two sheets - one to sleep on, and the other to cover. pillows, hot water and there was no internet. I went to the nearest supermarket to catch wi-fi.

During this time, I definitely earned more than a million rubles, another thing is that I initially did not go for money, but for adventure. I spent some of that money there. In Korea, everything is quite expensive: a pack of cigarettes - 200 rubles, a kilogram of potatoes - 200 rubles. He sent some part to his family, brought something and made a contribution for the future.

Svetlana

Vyborg

strawberry fields

From Vyborg we went to Finland both for shopping and to the water park, which turned out to be even cheaper than St. Petersburg. I constantly heard talk about the possibility of going to work, but I couldn’t get to the farm - no one just shares such information. People who get into the brigade go to work for ten years in a row. The farmer recruits other workers only if someone from his brigade does not arrive or the fields increase. The first time I went on an ad in the newspaper. To go, I even took out a loan. We had a tourist visa, with which you can work in Finland for no more than three months.

At first I got to a good farmer, but only for three days. He was waiting for a whole bus of workers, but they were delayed, and the harvest had to be harvested. There was a large berry, and the attitude was excellent. It was necessary to cut the weeds on the field, you can’t tear them so as not to damage the roots. There were three of us: two men and myself. The farmer gave us secateurs and gloves, the gloves fit the men, but they turned out to be big for me. We laughed, and I went to collect without gloves. The farmer left somewhere, and then returned and brought me the gloves he had just bought in a small size. We can say that the farmer took care of us, and not just hired us.

Then we went to another farmer, but his berries were small, like blueberries. I thought that in Russia I would earn even more. I began to complain to the agent that he had brought me to a place where I couldn’t even repay a loan, picking berries all day long, and he said: “Well, leave!” I packed my things, got on the bus and went to Russia. A year later, it turned out again that the berry has gone, there are still no workers, and I live a two-hour drive from the farm. We packed up and went to a caring farmer together with my daughter.

Berries out of politics

The following year, I found a website on the Internet with a list of all the farmers in Finland. My daughter and I chose those who were closer to the border, who had an email address - wrote them letters with an offer to hire us. We sent out about a hundred letters, and only seven people answered. Closer to the season, two still wrote and asked if we were ready to come. One immediately sent invitations, explained that you need to take a certificate of income, and the other asked a bunch of questions. In the end, we went to the first one.

We traveled for an average of three weeks. We went to the fields by six in the morning, until about noon we picked berries. When the harvest was in full swing, they were harvested until three o'clock in the afternoon. Even when I went for the first time, I saw how women from the Baltics pick strawberries. They do not stand bent over, but put on knee pads and sit over the beds. So, indeed, the back and legs do not get tired, only the hands hurt. On the farm they give instructions: strawberries with a white tip are not good, overripe ones are discarded, without a tail - too. It happens that you accidentally pick the wrong strawberries, but you don’t throw them away, but you eat them. We ate so much that we didn't even want to eat.

Brigades are usually 20 people each, most of them come from Ukraine. They immediately introduced a rule - not a word about politics, we all came to work and are here in equal conditions. For workers, all farmers have equipped houses, where there are bedrooms for several people, a kitchen with all appliances, a bathhouse nearby, and wi-fi. They worked seven days a week, but in the afternoon it was possible to go to the same farmer to pick peas for an additional fee, to go for wild berries. There was also free time - we went shopping on the lakes, played the guitar, rode bicycles. There is such an expression "strawberry tan" - when the back is red, and the front is white skin. We also tried to sunbathe to even out our strawberry tan.

One thousand euros in three weeks

For strawberries, the standard container is a basket, which includes two and a half kilograms. Some take it by weight, somewhere they count by the piece, and somewhere they even divide the income for the whole team. On average, a kilogram of berries is one euro. For three weeks of work, I earned about a thousand euros, my daughter the same amount. But I am a slow person and do not collect very quickly.

But we once had a guy, a gynecologist by profession, he could, where I collect one euro, make two. But some only beat back how much they paid for travel to the farm, visa and local entertainment. Their goal is not to make money, but only to visit Finland. We spent what we earned in different ways: we invested in studies, invested in the dacha, then we took the Daewoo Matiz and for the last time we drove it to the harvest.