Valuable memory
—Farming Experience
When it comes to our school, CCU, many people share the common impression that there are many pineapple fields around our school, and that is the reason why our school is called “pineapple college”. However, even though our school is near the pineapple fields, many students in our school do not have the chance to go to the pineapple fields. Fortunately, one of the clubs in school frequently launches interesting activities including taking us to visit the neighboring Sanxing Village (三興村) and to held farming experiences. Each year, from March to May, is the pineapple harvest time, and it is also the busiest time for farmers. On 19 March 2022, I participated in an activity for helping the pineapples “wear hats” with the club members.
It wasn’t until I took an actual action in experiencing the pineapple farmer’s life that I knew the difficulties and hardship of being a “farmer”. Besides, I also learned knowledge about pineapple growing and its different breeds. According to the local farmer, Mr. Chen, who owns the large pineapple fields near our school, we knew that if pineapples are exposed to excessive sunlight, they are at a high risk of being “burnt”; in other words, their appearance may turn white, and the taste of pineapple may become sour, and then further leave a negative impact on selling. On the one hand, pineapple farms need to help pineapples wear hats to avoid overheating; on the other hand, if pineapples lack sufficient sunlight, they may not be sweet enough. Therefore, pineapple is a delicate plant as it requires attentive care by farmers.
This time, Mr. Chen asked us to wear the “yellow hats” for pineapples, it doesn’t require complex skills to put hats on pineapples’ heads. Nonetheless, the work became highly difficult to execute as a result of the extreme heat and the dangerous working environment. We had to bear the heat and endure the hurts and injuries caused by the sharp pineapples’ leaves; under 30 Celsius, we worked for about 1.5 hours without taking a rest. We all felt extremely exhausted and fatigued, and we were pouring with sweat after working. What’s worst, my legs seemed to have an allergy to pineapple leaves for their stinging thorns, so I made an emergency appointment to the hospital at night. After I got two injections from the doctors, the injuries on my legs finally became less stabling and swollen.
Despite the accident incident, I still enjoyed the farming experience to my heart’s content. Without this activity, I would never know how challenging the work is and many other handicaps they had to face. Although it takes me time and money to cure my injuries, I won’t feel regret attending this precious activity and experience as it is definitely a valuable memory in my life.
