Our first day at the Coffee Farm

Ship: Johann Smidt
Date: 16.01.2026
Position: Carlos Coffee Farm
Nautical position: /
Etmal: /
Total: 6836 nm

Our day started with a late breakfast at 08:00. This is a privilege for us because breakfast on the ship is at 07:30 and at the language school even earlier, at 07:00. The cooks made us delicious scrambled eggs, toasted bread, rice with beans and a separate plate with banana and peach.

After breakfast, a group went swimming in the river next to our campsite (very cold but refreshing).

At 09:30, we had to meet at the house and were separated into two groups. One group was sent to pick the coffee beans and the other had to turn the drying beans around so that they wouldn’t mold.

I was in the group that picked the beans. It was very fun because we listened to music and Carlos danced a little bit with us. We only had to pick the ripe ones, which was very difficult because some looked ripe, but when they were turned around, they were still green. Carlos gave us a sweet lemon. It smelled delicious, but the taste wasn’t that intense, though still very yummy.

Some boys in my group were convinced that they picked the best beans (Leopold, Emil).

After an hour, we swapped groups and were sent to turn the beans around. The beans lay on African tables – tables with nets so that air can come from everywhere – and we had to turn them with our hands. It was like a peeling for the hands because the beans and the net rubbed against them. After an hour, that was also finished and we went to get lunch.

Because we had a little time before lunch, Roque, Manja and I went swimming in the river. For lunch, we got rice with beans (again), salad and chicken.

After we ate, we had free time until 14:00. Some of us slept, while others played cards or went swimming.

At 14:00, Carlos gave us a tour around the farm. We all sat in his truck and drove a little bit, then we had to walk up a hill and back down again.

After we got back, we had free shore leave until dinner. After dinner, Emil got a buzz cut and everyone was watching. Now we will play cards or go to bed.