Post 13: Supervisor Pala

I heard from some kiwi workers, that they don't enjoy working because thir supervisors keep saying "keep working! You guys just had a break!" or "Hey you, here is a missing!". But my supervisor Pala is different. They're trying to make a friendly atmosphere by making jokes and talking to each worker.

1. Nicknames

My name might be a bit difficult to remember even if I tell them "I'm Ayumi, like Ah you me!". So Pala gave me a completely different name "Skinny". And that's not because of my appearance. There worked a Japanese girl last year looking very similar to me (Pala says we look the same) and she was called Skinny by Pala. She was hard working as me 😌 

But I'm not the only one with a weird nickname. The two German girls who used to work with me were called "Farmer girl" (she was wearing outdoor clothes) and "Office girl" (She was wearing black pants) 😂

Fun fact: Pala uses too many weird nicknames so that even his boss like "Pala stop calling them with your own names, they get angry!" 

2. "Hanji"

Cause there are many Indian workers, I hear their conversations every day. And I was wondering what "Handji" means, because they say it a lot of times. So I asked a Indian guy and he told me it means simply "Yes" as I expected. I thought it was funny to use it so I started using "Hanki" instead of "Yeah". In fact, the Indian found it really funny. I'm still using it and it became normal now.

Pala: (Walking towards me saying) Skinny!!

Me: Hanji! (Stop working and looking to him)

Pala: (taking my hand giving me plenty of thinned buds) Happy Halloween 🤗 

And it changes randomly to "happy thinning" or "happy Easter"

3. Smartphone

Pala always pretend to be angry to someone but he's actually just kidding.

Once he asked us seriously "How many times did you guys look at your smartphones to check the time??" as it was soon home time and nobody had any motivation to work. One guy said three times, another girl two times and when Pala asked me I said like: "No times because I have a watch" pointing at my wrist. It made me happy to see Pala laughing :)

4. The Japanese guy

One day, a guy named Hiroki joined our team. He's 22 and comes from Osaka. I didn't expect he was Japanese so I was so happy when I was told it by Hapi, I was like "Really!? 🤭 He's Japanese!! 😆" and went to his bay because I had the instruction to teach him the job. Pala saw how we were talking and laughing (Hiroki has my sense of humour 😂) and from that day on, he's making jokes secretly like

Pala: Skinny! Did you call your mother?

Me: No, why do you ask?

Pala: Oh, I thought you're gonna say 'Hey mom, there is a new Japanese guy at work and I think he's cute' 

😂 Or like

Pala: Skinny! (Waves me to come over)

Me: What's the matter Pala?

Pala: I think the Japanese guy is looking at you

And so on HAHA After every joke we do hi five laughing together 😂 I love it

5. His catchphrase

(Imagine these phrases in Indian accent)

"Take it easy, take it easy"

"Over here, same story same work."

"See look 👉🏻 (pointing at a canopy) you do like this... See look over here"

"Very nice very nice"

6. Snacks

In some orchards there are orange and mandarin trees. Pala allows us to take some for free 🤭 Once he gave the girls some golden kiwis from the pack house when told him that we haven't eaten any kiwis in NZ yet! And another day he shared some Indian sweets with us :) 

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About Pala

Pala is an Indian supervisor around 50-60 years old. He's is always wearing gum boots, jeans, a hoodie and a cap + sunglasses:

I'm a about to draw a short manga about him so here is a sketch: 

He looks serious with his sunglasses but actually he has such a friendly face :)

When he realises that someone is a bit tired, he walkes to their bay and tell them a funny story. He even told us about his life and family: His father sent him to NZ at a really young age, first he was a party guy but after meeting his future wife he stopped and got a great father of three boys (14, 16, 18 years old). Unfortunately the mother's got in drugs so he is caring for them by himself. Here he gained a lot of trust and a good name as a supervisor. One could argue that he is sometimes not strict enough or favours the girls too much, but overall he is really wonderful.

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Unfortunately we backpackers are doing another job now then thinning (I forgot the name) so we're not working with Pala right now :(

But last week when we were working as usual, I believed I heard Palas' voice and immediately after that I heard "SKINNYYYY!!!" 😂 Yes it was him visiting us for a few minutes. I was so happy 🤗 I hope we're gonna work with him again after that current job.