My guests cancelled again so I'm not teaching until 2pm today but I get paid for a whole day's work. Sweet as.
Sunny again today (UGH) so still no fresh snow. Training this morning was great - small group chose to learn some freestyle so I have some cool tricks now. Favourite being falling on purpose, rolling, getting up and keeping on skiing. Falling over on purpose kinda suits me, and if I ever lose balance in a lesson then I'm definitely pulling that one. Silly Tom didn't realise his school was training on the glacier today so he was the only smurf there. He trained with us and stuck out like a sore thumb, although I don't think he minded the attention.
The appartment is full of mud again from our boots even though I cleaned up the place yesterday. Grr.
Love always
Amanda (Jon took his name badge back)
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
busy on the glacier
This week it's Dutch and Polish school holidays and WOW is it busy here. The lift queues are suddenly huge and there's an annoyingly long wait for lunch. On the plus side, more lessons for both of us. My private lesson from Saturday extended to Sunday, so I missed out on a kids group for the week. (Not a bad thing.) Been on private lessons up on the Kitzsteinhorn every day :) A few beginners, and a few great skiiers too. Always good fun to get to ski down at my own leisure behind a great student and get payed for it. Day off today because the guests I was assigned moved their lesson to tomorrow. Did some cleaning and grocery shopping and stuff. Baked some brownies too :) Training yesterday was really cool as well. We were taught alternative more fun exercises to give people, and we had a blast trying them out... skiing with balloons between our legs, chasing balloons down the mountain, skiing in backwards formation while looking between our legs...we were quite a sight.
It's been really warm here this week - above zero for a few days running now. The snow on the beginners' hill and on the Maiskogel (where we live) is really wet and slushy and yuck. By the end of the day it's like waterskiing. That probably explains the number of people up on the glacier every day.
Also thanks to a nice package from home we are slightly less bored in the evenings and my brain has something to do. I think we have enough crosswords to last us at least a few years.
Hope everyone who just started Uni is enjoying it. Let us know how it is!
xo
Jon (bit of an inside joke. I still don't have a velcro name thing for my uniform, so Jon gave me one of his. No one has actually called me Jon yet though.)
It's been really warm here this week - above zero for a few days running now. The snow on the beginners' hill and on the Maiskogel (where we live) is really wet and slushy and yuck. By the end of the day it's like waterskiing. That probably explains the number of people up on the glacier every day.
Also thanks to a nice package from home we are slightly less bored in the evenings and my brain has something to do. I think we have enough crosswords to last us at least a few years.
Hope everyone who just started Uni is enjoying it. Let us know how it is!
xo
Jon (bit of an inside joke. I still don't have a velcro name thing for my uniform, so Jon gave me one of his. No one has actually called me Jon yet though.)
Friday, 22 February 2008
lots of nice long walks...
Hey all
Sorry for being online less, but it's a bit more of a hassle to get to the net from the new place. It's pretty cool, but does entail a few schlepps up the run in the evening/night. Not so bad...good exercise I suppose. Had friends over for dinner last night and I got piggy backed down the mountain :D good fun.
Was still on Esprit this week...bit of a handful taking them up the big chairlift and stuff. But all a learning experience. Mum - I'm never allowed to leave the kids unsupervised so if one needs the toilet the whole group has to come along.
Had a bit of an adventure earlier in the week - one of my kids' ski fell off the chair so Tom carried him down while I managed the rest of them. Then on the next ride up another dropped his pole and then fell off trying to catch the pole (no injury, the lift wasn't high up yet) but it spooked the kids and made them a bit hard to manage.
Day off today so finally getting the chance to catch up with everything. Mum, you'd be pleased to know we cooked properly the other night! (chicken in tortilla wraps with tzatziki and salsa and cheese and tomato and capsicum). Was a step up from our standard frozen pizza, sausages/chips or pasta with tinned sauce.
Love always
Amanda
P.S. And to those wanting to hear from Tom, he's basically a lazy bum and refuses to post on the blog cause he knows if he doesn't I'll end up doing it anyway. But he is alive and kicking.
Sorry for being online less, but it's a bit more of a hassle to get to the net from the new place. It's pretty cool, but does entail a few schlepps up the run in the evening/night. Not so bad...good exercise I suppose. Had friends over for dinner last night and I got piggy backed down the mountain :D good fun.
Was still on Esprit this week...bit of a handful taking them up the big chairlift and stuff. But all a learning experience. Mum - I'm never allowed to leave the kids unsupervised so if one needs the toilet the whole group has to come along.
Had a bit of an adventure earlier in the week - one of my kids' ski fell off the chair so Tom carried him down while I managed the rest of them. Then on the next ride up another dropped his pole and then fell off trying to catch the pole (no injury, the lift wasn't high up yet) but it spooked the kids and made them a bit hard to manage.
Day off today so finally getting the chance to catch up with everything. Mum, you'd be pleased to know we cooked properly the other night! (chicken in tortilla wraps with tzatziki and salsa and cheese and tomato and capsicum). Was a step up from our standard frozen pizza, sausages/chips or pasta with tinned sauce.
Love always
Amanda
P.S. And to those wanting to hear from Tom, he's basically a lazy bum and refuses to post on the blog cause he knows if he doesn't I'll end up doing it anyway. But he is alive and kicking.
Monday, 18 February 2008
new place and small children
So, sadly, unlike the tantalising promise of French kids instead of more Esprit, I'm on Esprit again. 'Improvers' in the morning (better than beginners) and Spritelets in the afternoon. *Sigh*. At least I know I'm doing a good enough job for them to want me back. Esprit is Sun-Thurs...had last Friday off and then the best group ever on Sat. A French family who didn't want a lesson, just someone to show them around the glacier, booked me for 4 hours and they were as good if not better skiiers than me. Woohoo. So that was a nice day of getting paid for skiing round.
Moved into the new place last night. It's a nice apartment, more space than the last, and a just-renovated bathroom, but lacking a dishwasher and a bit impractical. At least I'll get fit walking up the hill for every day I finish work too late to get last ride up. It does have a great view, though. Skiied down to work this morning and I was the only person on the slopes - it was really cool. The lift hadn't even opened yet.
Love always
Maz xox
Moved into the new place last night. It's a nice apartment, more space than the last, and a just-renovated bathroom, but lacking a dishwasher and a bit impractical. At least I'll get fit walking up the hill for every day I finish work too late to get last ride up. It does have a great view, though. Skiied down to work this morning and I was the only person on the slopes - it was really cool. The lift hadn't even opened yet.
Love always
Maz xox
Friday, 15 February 2008
moving!
Hello again
Moving apartments tomorrow...our new one is pretty cool but a bit impractical. It's halfway up the mountain, so we can ski in/ski out, but we have to be home by 4:30 every day to make the chairlift otherwise we have to walk up which isn't so fun. Day off today but sadly no skiing for me since I'm busy organising all the little things to be able to move tomorrow! Tom is at the ski service shop for a whopper 8 hour shift.
My afternoon private lesson yesterday went really well - the guy booked me to teach his wife next week :) Also survived week 2 of Esprit kids...had one with a bad fall who wanted his mummy and another who peed her pants. All in a day's work. Apparently I have French kids for private in the coming week instead of Esprit...dum dum dum!
And for those who were wondering: yes, Tom is alive, he's just too lazy to post on the blog since he figures I'll write about anything important. He's teaching on weekdays and tuning skis on weekends.
That's all for now I think - cya
Moving apartments tomorrow...our new one is pretty cool but a bit impractical. It's halfway up the mountain, so we can ski in/ski out, but we have to be home by 4:30 every day to make the chairlift otherwise we have to walk up which isn't so fun. Day off today but sadly no skiing for me since I'm busy organising all the little things to be able to move tomorrow! Tom is at the ski service shop for a whopper 8 hour shift.
My afternoon private lesson yesterday went really well - the guy booked me to teach his wife next week :) Also survived week 2 of Esprit kids...had one with a bad fall who wanted his mummy and another who peed her pants. All in a day's work. Apparently I have French kids for private in the coming week instead of Esprit...dum dum dum!
And for those who were wondering: yes, Tom is alive, he's just too lazy to post on the blog since he figures I'll write about anything important. He's teaching on weekdays and tuning skis on weekends.
That's all for now I think - cya
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
apartments and nice weather
My super kids went up to the top of the lift this morning YAY. Had a Dutch woman for private this arvo...she was actually a really good skiier but with no confidence so I just had to ski with her and build it up. I'm getting more used to the kids...I'm ready for out of control collisions now so nothing can surprise me.
Moving house on Saturday since our apartment has been rented to tourists for the rest of the high season. It's still gorgeous and sunny here every day. Some fresh snow would be nice.
Tom says hi and he will attempt to post pictures.
Moving house on Saturday since our apartment has been rented to tourists for the rest of the high season. It's still gorgeous and sunny here every day. Some fresh snow would be nice.
Tom says hi and he will attempt to post pictures.
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
work and nice weather
Mid-week 2 of teaching and all is well. I have Esprit beginners in the morning again and privates in the afternoon. Took my beginners up the pommer for the first time today with success :)
So far in privates have taught 2 30-something Dutch guys and a gorgeous little French girl. Am slowly getting better with the small kids - they are sooo cute when they listen/are agreeable. I am however starting to get REALLY sick of the Bobo dance.
Have the afternoon off today, Tom and I are about to go out for drinks with a few of the other instructors. We've met lots of great people from all sorts of countries.
To Little: have had hot chocolate twice in your mug and the chocolate bowl is filled with caramellos in our room :)
So far in privates have taught 2 30-something Dutch guys and a gorgeous little French girl. Am slowly getting better with the small kids - they are sooo cute when they listen/are agreeable. I am however starting to get REALLY sick of the Bobo dance.
Have the afternoon off today, Tom and I are about to go out for drinks with a few of the other instructors. We've met lots of great people from all sorts of countries.
To Little: have had hot chocolate twice in your mug and the chocolate bowl is filled with caramellos in our room :)
Saturday, 9 February 2008
mmm snow
Just back from a beautiful day skiing on the glacier. Sunny and clear. Lots of nice off-piste with the A-team (Sean the Aussie, Yandi the Hollander, Jon and Jonas the Swedish guys, and me!) And Tom came too.
Christi, Grace, and Jess came over from Zell am See today so we'll be out with them tonight. Nice to see them again :) Work again tomorrow - here goes!
We also received a lovely package full of chocolate from home. Thanks!
Christi, Grace, and Jess came over from Zell am See today so we'll be out with them tonight. Nice to see them again :) Work again tomorrow - here goes!
We also received a lovely package full of chocolate from home. Thanks!
Friday, 8 February 2008
end of week 1
We survived our first week of teaching!
I got today off and I'm about to head up the glacier to do some serious skiing. Tom is up there with his group and Col is staying home on his day off (the poor thing does enough skiing during the week...)
Tonight is prize giving for my kiddies...they get medals and certificates for the race we did yesterday. They actually all did really well! I was proud of how much they improved since I got them on Sunday. And my Spritelets made me a card with a big crayon flower on the front and paint handprints inside. Was quite cute.
I'm off to hit the slopes - it's a gorgeous cold sunny day.
xo
I got today off and I'm about to head up the glacier to do some serious skiing. Tom is up there with his group and Col is staying home on his day off (the poor thing does enough skiing during the week...)
Tonight is prize giving for my kiddies...they get medals and certificates for the race we did yesterday. They actually all did really well! I was proud of how much they improved since I got them on Sunday. And my Spritelets made me a card with a big crayon flower on the front and paint handprints inside. Was quite cute.
I'm off to hit the slopes - it's a gorgeous cold sunny day.
xo
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
phew
I'm on my lunch break from work atm so thought I'd write a quick post.
Am completely exhausted from my little kids in the morning (who went up the pommer lift today!) and my Spritelet class in the afternoons (the ones too little for the morning group) who are a handful. Being in Austria is great but so far I've been doing more babysitting than skiing. I'll talk to my boss soon to ask for only half days of kids next week so at least I can do some skiing with adult students in the arvos.
Tom's permit for the other ski school came through and he's been teaching too for the last few days. Older kids than mine who are good enough to go up the mountain and ski powder with him. Grr.
It's Carnaval here so yesterday we got to get all dressed up for work in the Kinder Club. Was good fun - we all had capes and horns and devil tails and face paint to go with our red and black uniforms. Tom's school (head to toe bright blue) had white Smurf hats to finish off their look.
Love always from Austria
xox
Am completely exhausted from my little kids in the morning (who went up the pommer lift today!) and my Spritelet class in the afternoons (the ones too little for the morning group) who are a handful. Being in Austria is great but so far I've been doing more babysitting than skiing. I'll talk to my boss soon to ask for only half days of kids next week so at least I can do some skiing with adult students in the arvos.
Tom's permit for the other ski school came through and he's been teaching too for the last few days. Older kids than mine who are good enough to go up the mountain and ski powder with him. Grr.
It's Carnaval here so yesterday we got to get all dressed up for work in the Kinder Club. Was good fun - we all had capes and horns and devil tails and face paint to go with our red and black uniforms. Tom's school (head to toe bright blue) had white Smurf hats to finish off their look.
Love always from Austria
xox
Sunday, 3 February 2008
work!!! :)
Today Colin and I both taught our first ski lessons!
I had the Esprit beginners (they're a British tour group)...about 10 3-4 year olds. At least they speak English, phew. It was fun but really hard work. Try running up and down a snowy hill picking up small kids for a morning. Some of them are sooo cute, but its tough. Only 2 episodes of tears and almost all of them can snowplow stop now. (Or as I frequently yell: BIG PIZZA!!!) It's the ones that can't that take all the effort. And I've learnt the Bobo dance (giant furry penguin, the kids club mascot) that I have to do at the beginning and end of every lesson with the kids. Good times. I have the same kids every morning this week and then I'm on call for private lessons booked in the afternoon. We bought some champagne for tonight since all 3 of us are working now :) Tom is at work in the ski shop at the moment. He seems really happy with it - apparently the guy he's working with is good fun and they play great music in there.
Oh, and Sarah was officially the first person to call me on my new phone at 7am today.
I had the Esprit beginners (they're a British tour group)...about 10 3-4 year olds. At least they speak English, phew. It was fun but really hard work. Try running up and down a snowy hill picking up small kids for a morning. Some of them are sooo cute, but its tough. Only 2 episodes of tears and almost all of them can snowplow stop now. (Or as I frequently yell: BIG PIZZA!!!) It's the ones that can't that take all the effort. And I've learnt the Bobo dance (giant furry penguin, the kids club mascot) that I have to do at the beginning and end of every lesson with the kids. Good times. I have the same kids every morning this week and then I'm on call for private lessons booked in the afternoon. We bought some champagne for tonight since all 3 of us are working now :) Tom is at work in the ski shop at the moment. He seems really happy with it - apparently the guy he's working with is good fun and they play great music in there.
Oh, and Sarah was officially the first person to call me on my new phone at 7am today.
Friday, 1 February 2008
Phone!
I gave up on Telstra and bought myself a cheap Austrian phone.
My number is +436645737325
Call me :)
P.S. Calling me might cost a lot. Make sure Mummy is paying for it.
My number is +436645737325
Call me :)
P.S. Calling me might cost a lot. Make sure Mummy is paying for it.
skiing and work
Tomorrow we're all going to Zell am See to meet up with some other SLAP people (Grace, Christi and Kasper) for a day skiing since we're all free :)
Tom did his first work hours yesterday in the ski shop. Hurray for income! We also checked out the sauna downstairs in our building. It's nice :) We also get fresh bread rolls delivered to our door every morning for brekky. It's nice to wake up to! We're very happy with the apartment so far. Will post pics when I can (before you people complain again)!
Tom did his first work hours yesterday in the ski shop. Hurray for income! We also checked out the sauna downstairs in our building. It's nice :) We also get fresh bread rolls delivered to our door every morning for brekky. It's nice to wake up to! We're very happy with the apartment so far. Will post pics when I can (before you people complain again)!
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