South’s own globetrotter on tropical island adventure

TAKING a gap year is often high up on the to do list for students who want to see something of the world before settling down to continue tertiary education or work, and for Jesse Dickens (20), it was something he really wanted to do, but it had to be something different from the norm.

Jesse is a part-time student at Abbotts College Johannesburg South and spoke to the CHRONICLE about his adventure on a Japanese island, where he lived for six months.

“I heard about this opportunity from a friend and it’s quite simple – all you need to do is visit www.wwoof.net and read about this fantastic opportunity, where you’ll get to live and learn on organic farms worldwide,” Jesse said.

WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchange, thereby helping to build a sustainable, global community. As a volunteer (or WWOOFer as they are called) you will live alongside your host helping with daily tasks and experiencing life as a farmer.

The flight and any other travel costs are for the WWOOFER’s own expense but while working, accommodation is free, as well as food, at the place where you’ll work, and your host will take care of you.

“I chose Japan. I’ve always been interested in this country and travelled to an island called Chichijima, in the Pacific Ocean, about 1 000km off Tokyo Bay south. It took 24 hours on a ferry from Tokyo to reach the tropical island, mainly for tourists, and I worked at the hotel in Pelan Village, six hours a day, with one day a week off.

Tropical island

“The hotel was totally organic and my jobs included picking fruit and chillies, ploughing the land and maintenance around the hotel. I certainly worked very hard but it was fantastic and I also had to chop wood for a fire where I’d cook a huge pot of rice every day for the guests. Rice is eaten at all meals, usually with fish or fruit. Families on the island bartered with the fishermen to get fresh fish. It was very hot while I was there with a humidity of between 90 and 100 per cent. The hotel didn’t use any chemicals; it was totally organic, and cocoa butter soap was used. And for shampoo, a citric acid rinse was used to wash hair,” added Jesse.

“On the island there is one primary and one high school. Children who wish to go to university have to leave and go to the mainland to carry on their education. Many are happy, though, to stay on Chichijima, just like their parents and grandparents before them. I once asked what the islanders do when they are stressed out? The answer was, ‘What’s stress? We don’t know stress’.

“Tourists from USA, New Zealand, China and the UK mainly visit Chichijima – some have quit their jobs and take a long holiday there.

“I had wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone and living at the hotel gave me the opportunity to do this. I had to learn to speak some Japanese and my host family assisted me with a lesson each week. The culture was so different and when speaking to someone, depending on their status, you bow when you greet and each greeting is different.

“For recreation, snorkelling, kayak fishing, mountain hiking and cycling are popular and I became a super cyclist, going to town and around the island on a bike. To see the whole island it only took about four hours cycling. Chichijima’s population is about 2 000 and the main town only has two streets. The island is crescent-shaped with beautiful beaches, some coral (black and white), sandy beaches and rock beaches and the island is spotless, with no litter at all. The locals are very into recycling – they recycle absolutely everything!”

“There is quite a bit of history here, too. During World War Two the island became a base for American soldiers and a chapel was built for them, which is still here. Some houses have an American influence while others are typically Japanese in style.”

Would Jesse go back to Chichijima? “Definitely! Life is simple, the people are friendly, and hey, there’s no stress,” he laughed.

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