I have come to the end of my exchange, wow the time has flown by. After my time in Wales, the weather was starting to get a little colder and the days drawing closer (unfortunately!!!).
My time in Somerset was spent on Exmore National Park and in East Somerset. I stayed on 2 similar farms who farm very differently because of the type of land they were on. For example in East Somerset, their land was inland on the canal and drainage system (with huge great cement drains about 3 foot wide and 9 or 10 foot deep) and very prone to flooding therefore they have to check their stock twice a day. The 2 weeks were difference, one week I helped out with lots of cattle work and visited a lot of markets and the other I was helping set up a bio diesel processing unit also with lots of social activities.
From Somerset I moved on to Devon where I stayed for another 2 weeks. Unfortunately while I was there I was witness to a positive TB test on a beef/sheep farm with 11 out of a mob fat limousine steers of 45 being either classified as a reactor (infected) or with an inconclusive result. All were slaughtered and the farm was put under restrictions, including not being able to sell any animals. This was a very difficult time. Luckily compensation is still fair for the farmers. During this week I got to visit Cornwell. We made it right the way down to Landsend (the furthest south west point in England). I found out that it is only 11149 miles (what ever that is in km) to reach Launceston, Tassie, a bit far and cold to swim. In the following week I was staying on a dairy farm ………yes….. another one!!! I did some fore milking and calf feeding and even helped with a little milk recording.
My final week…..I was at the end….. was spent in Dorset, just east of Devon. I spend this week in the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory; well getting into the spirit of my host clubs Harvest Dinner. A dinner the Club organises and runs for parents and local community members, who have assisted the club during the last year. It is a great way of saying thank you. It dinner was served to us by Ompa Lumpas and every thing was about chocolate, I was in heaven along with all other chocoholics.
…..And after 20 hosts and 6 months of travelling the United Kingdom, meeting lots of fabulous people and having so many different experiences and the 2 extremes in weather, my exchange has come to an end. I am a little sad to say goodbye to an experience that is so fabulous, but life goes on, hey.
So goodbye from the 2006 UK exchange and I will see everyone in a couple of months when I make it home.
Alison Field
UK Exchangee 2006
Study Tours
FINAL REPORT - ALISON FIELD EXCHANGEE TO UK 2006
