Lesson #9 Fog on the brain...
Let’s kick-start with a weather whinge! Serves me right for complaining last time I suppose, but now the non-snow has moved from sunny warmth to grey foggy wetness. Predictions of snow range from tomorrow to the end of February, and indeed I may well give up any kind of weather reporting in the interim as it’s just going to get more and more whiny! In general, I have noticed an unwelcome streak of ingratitude in my outlook since being back in Austria. Before Christmas almost every day felt like a gift from God and I could see so many things to be thankful for. Now I struggle to be genuinely grateful. I think it’s a combination of missing people at home after such a lovely holiday, and of coming back with different expectations. I went out originally expecting the worst time my life and was wonderfully surprised - maybe this time there has been something of a reverse. Hopefully even this post will play its part in reminding me of everything I have to be thankful for!
So. First week back was a mish-mash of organisational faffing, the odd bit of teaching and a renewed relationship with Spar (I‘d forgotten it has its own smell…). Thanks to the pleasant disorganisation of the beginning of term I have so far only had 6 lessons all told! Despite this lack of work I have finally been paid and have a few Euros to my name. Plus I officially live here on a long-term basis and have the extra paperwork to prove it. Getting reacquainted with my bike has been an interesting experience - as predicted by several teachers, bike riding in January is a rather dangerous practice, but this is due to mud rather than ice. Have had a few hairy-scary moments but no slimy catastrophe as yet…
To be honest, I don’t really feel like I’ve managed to settle back in again. I was astonished at how far away it all seemed as soon as I was back home, and somehow the sense of that is still there. I haven’t immediately slotted back in the way I did at home, but nor do I have that exciting feeling of freshness about it all. Most annoying. I choose to blame the fog, and in fact last Sunday, as we set off for ski week, the beautiful pink-tinged sky framing the mountains in gently frosty air gave me a real lift of the heart. My pretty Austria is still out there…
Ski week! Yes, last week I joined 9 teachers and 94 kids from the Gymnasium for their ski course. It’s quite a different set-up from our school ski trips at home - it happens during term-time, the teachers themselves are qualified instructors, and kids have to have a reason NOT to go. This does mean you get quite a few ‘ill’ at various points during the week… Oh yes, and of course everyone has their own kit. I got some very odd looks on announcing I was just off to hire some boots.
We set off on Sunday morning, and there was some panic as I arrived ‘late’ (i.e. only 5 minutes early) to a severe lack of seat-space. Happily a place was found, and I was pleased to be reminded that some things cross all boundaries of nationality - breeds of bus-driver being one such thing. Ours was of the gruff friendly ‘do-what-ya-like-but-don’t-do-x’ type, and with a long blast of the horn we were off. (Interestingly, Happy Birthday seems to be another border-crosser. A couple of the students turned 13 mid-week and as well as a rowdy German song we had Happy Birthday, sung in English. Apparently this is completely normal.)
Twas very strange to arrive at ski pistes within four hours rather than 24! In spite of the lack of real snow the skiing was fantastic, all the more so since we started as soon as we’d unpacked. I’d like to feel I did England proud, despite that incident with the sheet ice and friendly tree, and it’s true I was in the fastest group - but as mentioned earlier, these guys are 7 years younger than me…
I confess I started the week feeling very unofficial, as it was clear noone knew what role or responsibilities I was supposed to have and so as a result I ended up having none. While this feeling didn’t fade with time, everyone was so friendly that I soon felt at least legitimate if not particularly useful! And I gradually learnt to deal with the banter - I think Austrians are even more sarcastic than Brits…Relationship to the kids remained fairly ambiguous: I don’t teach any of them so they don’t know me, and my ski-group estimated my age at 15, but the fact that I was sat at the Teachers Table made things confusing, I think! However, managed to chat to a few, and definitely won the respect of some of the girls after playing on the teachers’ team in the football tournament! Will never cease being grateful to my Dad for getting me into the game, I’ve lost count how many boundaries it’s helped me over in the past!
Anyway it was BRILLIANT to get a chance to ski and I mostly enjoyed the week in all it’s various oddness. Plus on an afternoon trip to Saalbach I proved I’m well and truly a Hanlon, with their innate ability for ridiculously inappropriate dress in posh hotels. I have photos to prove it. And while recovering after skiing I discovered 2 genuine Austrian soaps: all wealthy but complicated people, gold flattering light and melodramatic music… It’s not Eastenders out here!!
Since being back, have however resisted temptation to watch it compulsively and have instead started in all earnestness on my project. But now, the end of another week means it’s time to go fight with the Evil Washing Machines. Hope I can convince them not to eat my clothes this time…
So. First week back was a mish-mash of organisational faffing, the odd bit of teaching and a renewed relationship with Spar (I‘d forgotten it has its own smell…). Thanks to the pleasant disorganisation of the beginning of term I have so far only had 6 lessons all told! Despite this lack of work I have finally been paid and have a few Euros to my name. Plus I officially live here on a long-term basis and have the extra paperwork to prove it. Getting reacquainted with my bike has been an interesting experience - as predicted by several teachers, bike riding in January is a rather dangerous practice, but this is due to mud rather than ice. Have had a few hairy-scary moments but no slimy catastrophe as yet…
To be honest, I don’t really feel like I’ve managed to settle back in again. I was astonished at how far away it all seemed as soon as I was back home, and somehow the sense of that is still there. I haven’t immediately slotted back in the way I did at home, but nor do I have that exciting feeling of freshness about it all. Most annoying. I choose to blame the fog, and in fact last Sunday, as we set off for ski week, the beautiful pink-tinged sky framing the mountains in gently frosty air gave me a real lift of the heart. My pretty Austria is still out there…
Ski week! Yes, last week I joined 9 teachers and 94 kids from the Gymnasium for their ski course. It’s quite a different set-up from our school ski trips at home - it happens during term-time, the teachers themselves are qualified instructors, and kids have to have a reason NOT to go. This does mean you get quite a few ‘ill’ at various points during the week… Oh yes, and of course everyone has their own kit. I got some very odd looks on announcing I was just off to hire some boots.
We set off on Sunday morning, and there was some panic as I arrived ‘late’ (i.e. only 5 minutes early) to a severe lack of seat-space. Happily a place was found, and I was pleased to be reminded that some things cross all boundaries of nationality - breeds of bus-driver being one such thing. Ours was of the gruff friendly ‘do-what-ya-like-but-don’t-do-x’ type, and with a long blast of the horn we were off. (Interestingly, Happy Birthday seems to be another border-crosser. A couple of the students turned 13 mid-week and as well as a rowdy German song we had Happy Birthday, sung in English. Apparently this is completely normal.)
Twas very strange to arrive at ski pistes within four hours rather than 24! In spite of the lack of real snow the skiing was fantastic, all the more so since we started as soon as we’d unpacked. I’d like to feel I did England proud, despite that incident with the sheet ice and friendly tree, and it’s true I was in the fastest group - but as mentioned earlier, these guys are 7 years younger than me…
I confess I started the week feeling very unofficial, as it was clear noone knew what role or responsibilities I was supposed to have and so as a result I ended up having none. While this feeling didn’t fade with time, everyone was so friendly that I soon felt at least legitimate if not particularly useful! And I gradually learnt to deal with the banter - I think Austrians are even more sarcastic than Brits…Relationship to the kids remained fairly ambiguous: I don’t teach any of them so they don’t know me, and my ski-group estimated my age at 15, but the fact that I was sat at the Teachers Table made things confusing, I think! However, managed to chat to a few, and definitely won the respect of some of the girls after playing on the teachers’ team in the football tournament! Will never cease being grateful to my Dad for getting me into the game, I’ve lost count how many boundaries it’s helped me over in the past!
Anyway it was BRILLIANT to get a chance to ski and I mostly enjoyed the week in all it’s various oddness. Plus on an afternoon trip to Saalbach I proved I’m well and truly a Hanlon, with their innate ability for ridiculously inappropriate dress in posh hotels. I have photos to prove it. And while recovering after skiing I discovered 2 genuine Austrian soaps: all wealthy but complicated people, gold flattering light and melodramatic music… It’s not Eastenders out here!!
Since being back, have however resisted temptation to watch it compulsively and have instead started in all earnestness on my project. But now, the end of another week means it’s time to go fight with the Evil Washing Machines. Hope I can convince them not to eat my clothes this time…
posted by Little Fi | 9:01 AM
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