A Day in My Life at a Tea Farm | Filippa Schwerdt

Good morning!

The alarm rings at 7am and it’s time to start the day. Me as a non-morning person do not really like the early mornings so I usually stay a couple more minutes in the warm bed. Once I’m up it’s time for breakfast, my go to is yogurt with fruit and müsli. You can buy your own favourite foods at the grocery store to make a yummy breakfast!

Now it’s 8am and it’s time to leave for the fields, today we are going to Yokomi. The field on top of a big mountain where your view is towards Mount Fuji, it’s my favourite field! “Kläder efter väder” is a typical Swedish saying, it means “clothes according to the weather” and that’s exactly how we dress. So if it’s raining we are in full rain gear and if it’s sunny - I think you get it :)

Working in the fields means different things. Picking up fallen branches, clearing weeds, your back hurting, drinking tea and admiring the beautiful view. All while listening to your favourite music or the sound of the birds.
By 12pm we go back for lunch. I think the food Michiyo-san makes is the best food I’ve ever tasted, it is really amazing!

Around 1pm we go back to the fields and the work continues until 4 or 5pm, of course with a tea-break in the middle.Once we are back home we help Michiyo-san set the table, there are many plates to carry. Sometimes other workers, friends or family are there to have dinner with us and usually someone brings dessert!

After many shared memories, differences between countries and laughter we all help to clear the table and wash the dishes.I always try to call my friends or family when I have some spare time to tell them about my day. Talking to the other interns or watching a movie is also a great way to end the day! By 10pm most of us have gone to bed, after all it’s many impressions in a day so you get tired. Even me that usually go to bed much later than at home is tired by this time.

Goodnight!