no problem Al. I am on the road myself now until monday. After that try buzzing me. generally with the time difference might be best in your evening tjme I would guess. regarding currency fluctuations, it is scary. the strengthening $ at this stage helps no one.
Hi! Yeah Barefoot is a great place to work, I love it. I'm actually not Brazilian, "Marista" is a play on words; a combination of my name, Marie and Barista. Anyway, let me know if you ever head down to the coffee works or cafe, take care!
Chatting would be GREAT! We have just got a high-speed broad connection here so SKYPE could be an option. I think a lot of people in the coffee industry have talents leading towards anthropology and social/ethical relationship building. Its an incredibly diverse group of people in the industry, thats what makes working within it so unique and rewarding.
Hey Al, thanks for the comments. My home town is Wellington, bottom of the South, which is actually further south than the top of the South Island... its like an enourmous "overbite". Top of the South is beautiful- cities and towns like Blenheim, Nelson, Richmond and Picton. Famous wine country as well as tobacco an whale watching. The coffee accross the strait in Wellington city is also quite something.
Regarding the Indonesian question, indeed it is a sensitive one. Poverty is still a problem in Indonesia- and the racial question is one somewhat linked into this problem. Historically the Chinese make up a small % of the population, around 5-8%. Most came to Indonesia in the 1800's. Like expatriate Chinese populations in many countries, the tight wok ethic meant that they enjoyed economic success here (as well as in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore). However, I think due to the way the Colonial Dutch Government ran Indonesia the Chinese were used as a buffer between the local population and the Europeans. After the Dutch departed a lot of the wealth, maybe as much as 85%, ended up being controlled by Chinese business interests. This of course has ultimatley caused a lot of problems that areas much economcally driven than racially motivated. In the economic collapse of 97/98 it was hard for all groups.
The coffee industry, both up and down stream has a fairly diverse level of people involved- chinese, europeans, javanese, sundanese, baliese,Papuans, Floranese, Timorese, Torajaans etc. The export buiness has perhaps a higher level of chinese Indonesian involvement, primarily because they are and have always been traders.
Sounds like your son's mother-inlaw is most likely from Wellington or around there (bottom of the North Island). You know NZ is such a small place I may even know the family!
Hey Al, we have quite a few common interests in that case! Sadly I do not get to the West Coast as often as I would like. I MAY be going to Detroit around Christmas to visit my bro-in-law, but it depends somewhat on what transpires economically over the next month I would guess. Spent a year in the US back late 89 and 90- in Colorado. Spent a bit of time during that stint in Southern CA. Great country, very welcoming folks everywhere I travelled. Would like to visit for sure next year, so I will for sure keep in touch.
As mentioned I really like looking at the retail side of the business in other producing countries. In Indonesia we are a wee bit behind the 8 ball, especially with the Indy scene.
Hi Al Sterling, My desire is to develope friendship through out the coffee world. Welcome to Barista Exchange. When I was a fourth grade child my family lived in mission viego and my father worked at saddleback memorial hospital. I am currently living in redlands california about two hours from you.
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Regarding the Indonesian question, indeed it is a sensitive one. Poverty is still a problem in Indonesia- and the racial question is one somewhat linked into this problem. Historically the Chinese make up a small % of the population, around 5-8%. Most came to Indonesia in the 1800's. Like expatriate Chinese populations in many countries, the tight wok ethic meant that they enjoyed economic success here (as well as in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore). However, I think due to the way the Colonial Dutch Government ran Indonesia the Chinese were used as a buffer between the local population and the Europeans. After the Dutch departed a lot of the wealth, maybe as much as 85%, ended up being controlled by Chinese business interests. This of course has ultimatley caused a lot of problems that areas much economcally driven than racially motivated. In the economic collapse of 97/98 it was hard for all groups.
The coffee industry, both up and down stream has a fairly diverse level of people involved- chinese, europeans, javanese, sundanese, baliese,Papuans, Floranese, Timorese, Torajaans etc. The export buiness has perhaps a higher level of chinese Indonesian involvement, primarily because they are and have always been traders.
As mentioned I really like looking at the retail side of the business in other producing countries. In Indonesia we are a wee bit behind the 8 ball, especially with the Indy scene.
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