I still remember the first time it snowed in Germany. I was still at Büchters at this point, and the old street lamps made every glow beautiful. It had the magic of a first snow, where the streets aren't yet full of sand and salt, and each snowbank lays perfectly over the natural contours of the earth, everything perfectly white and nothing touched. Living at Damiani's during the winter time has been a much different affair, and may I innocently add, slightly more gorgeous. Across a small field where they live is this perfect pine forest, I dont think there is one hardwood tree in there (a very uncommon occurence in the current cycle Northern Minnesota is in, as every forest back home is a mixed forest). It still makes me wonder every time when we get snow (which, unfortunately, hasnt been often) at how beautifully frosted and perfect they look. I must admit that I have been feeling very ready for summer lately, but I was also really happy when the snow showed up again this week. I hope it snows a lot in the next couple of weeks, and as soon of the end of February hits, everything should just melt. Ill give it until middle of march, but even then we dont live in a perfect world. Ill keep dreaming. Over our Christmas break I went skiing for the first time in the Alps, which was of course a very awing experience. At that point, you are so high up that the tree line escapes you and all you see is snow, the small towns and trees below you. I have never had that before. It could possibly be Im a bit of a forest girl though, because I felt slightly uncomfortable being so exposed up there. The mountains are super crowded, and with no trees you see everyone all the time. There aren't a huge amount of lifts, and I would say skiing in the states is probably a more comfortable affair given that Germans get quite pushy when they have to wait in line. Each 'Skigebiet' usually has a specific sort of theme, or targets more at a specific level of skiiers/boarders. Skiing is more common here, I do believe every one of my friends at school knows how to ski. I also saw many more skiiers than I did snowboarders on the slopes than I normally do back home. And I haven't seen a ski patrol once, not once. They saw accidents occur often (and I really can not understand how they couldnt, people ski manically fast here), but I haven't seen one accident since Ive been here. Well, of course you see people fall down. But nothing serious, not once. It makes me wonder. Most places also have different card systems than some resorts in the states, especially Lutsen. More electronic. It is truly amazing standing at the peaks of these mountains and being able to ski down the slopes in such a beautiful area. This past weekend was a lot of fun with the exchange students, quite hilarious. I ended up teaching two students from Mexico who had their first time on skis that day. I think they could maybe have done better, if they had understood absolutely every word I'd said, but they really did pretty awesome. Despite this beautiful area though, the first and second times I was skiing I felt this longing to be at Lutsen. You will probably all say Im crazy, but there is something to be said about knowing a ski mountain like the back of your hand, and really feeling comfortable there. It was quite odd for me skiing in new skis ( which, for the record, are super old practically straight orange skis, which became another challeng), new boots, new people, and with a new set of trails planned out for me. The first day I went I was so tired at the end of the long day that I almost started crying on my last ride down. My legs killed me. They were what you could call relatively happy, just dead tired. Its funny how when you spend your life living in a different language, everything, including little everyday tasks, end up taking much more energy than they might back home and you get tired out much faster. My napping skills have very much approved since this time last year.
Besides just downhill skiing though, I also took a skate skiing course with my host sister and have been cross country skiing a few times. My host parents are probably a bit too intense for me, but it was actually quite fun. Im getting better at it.
My host family also took me to visit a canyon in the area where we live, which was really cool. Büchters, my first host family took me extreme sledding with tobagans that was super fun. Theresa and I ended up falling over a lot though, and I still have a few welts (from December) on my sides.
I have a few pictures below to share with you guys of skiing and other winter/snow-like activites. Of course I have more, like in every case when I post a blog, but I picked a few of my favorites.
Schlepp Lifte - a T-Bar lift where the orange part sits between two passengers and you lay the bar against your thighs. These lifts mean, however, that you stay on your feet for a much longer time than you may in most American ski places. This means you also get tired much faster, as they also force you to press your shins against your boots. They may someday be the death of me.
In Oberaudorf this past weekend with a few other exchange students and Rotex people from my Rotary district. It was quite funny teaching people who had, before this winter, never seen snow. I, being as I am from Minnesota where there's only 2 seasons: winter and road construction, can not imagine not having snow in one year, let alone my entire life. The ski resort was very small, but it was of course fun with all the exchange students.
On the lift with Hanna and Dennis, from Finland and Rotex back from Taiwan.
Ryk (from Arkansas), Laura (Finland) and waiting for people at the bottom of the hill.
The sun fighting its way through the clouds.
Taking the back roads.
Ryk inspecting the lack of snow that Germany has had until now, it snowed the day after we left the mountain. The pathway was pretty dirty at this point though. And full of rocks. Awesome.
Hiking at Breitach Klamm, a canyon right along the border of Austria/Germany. We entered on the German side, but as you can see on the sign ("Österreich"), we had coffee and cake on the other side of the canyon.
Looking down.
Manred, Theresa and I standing by the ice.
If you look closely, you can see my bright jacket and Theresa's in the ice sheet.
The walkway. Not what you would call particularily safe.
Along the river. Safe again.
Theresa (Damiani) standing on the border between Austria at Germany, as we went skiing at a ski resort, or 'Ski Gebiet' called Fellhorn. Fellhorn is the biggest ski mountain in Allgäu, or in the area. It is definitely not for beginner skiiers.
Looking out from the top.
Waiting in line. Germans are surprisingly pushy in line, and given there are so many people there (not unusual), we got pushed around a lot and waited a lot. At least the view was nice.
Taking the Gondola up. Barbara was making sure Theresa's helmet was on correctly.
Early morning at the foothills of the Alps, ready for skiing.
Watching Parachuting, something very popular over here - you pay for a bahn, or gondola ticket and take your monstrous pack with the parachute inside up to the peak of the mountain. You then, after waiting for a good wind, run off the peak and float back down to your vehicle. At least thats how it should theoretically work. It was really fun to watch.
Manfred and Barbara at Tannheimer Tal, in Austria.
The Damiani girls at the top, my first time skiing in Germany (well, Austria). But first time in the Alps.
Lisa and Theresa waiting for mom and dad. At home, I can be sympathetic and know I do the same impatient act. Here, they ended up waiting for me quite a few times.
Bahn ride up.
At Büchters for dinner during Christmas vacation. We made Raclette, a swiss tradition sort of like Fondue with small little pans. You can put all matter of things inside (potatoes or stuff like bacon were my favorite, as well as broccoli), but every pan has to have at least one slice of awesome cheese on it. Kari would have liked that. Its quite funny. And yummy.
With Büchters and Christopher (my elder host sister, Kathi's boyfriend) at the top of a small hill we half sledded to, half walked to.
The sled ready for takeoff. They dont use cheap old plastic sleds, oh no, they had real oldschool tobagans. Everyone does.
Me sliding down a section of the hill, where I ended up sledding right over the path instead of stopping at it, and digging my feet into the hard snow before I had the chance to run into a tree. It was super fun. Maxi, Büchters dog ( who I just recently found out was a male, they had thought Id just been using the wrong article the entire time. He really does look like a girl though) is following me.
Theresa and I in preparation for our ascent. I was not aware we were going sledding that day, given there was actually no snow in Kempten (we drove about 40 minutes to get to this extreme sledding/skiing area), so have on all of there clothes - except for my hat, which is one of those cute hats you wear to school or something, but not for sledding. It kept going down in front of my eyes and I could barely see a thing. On top of it, the colors made me look like a Christmas tree.
Chris, Kathi's boyfriend, looked sort of funny himself with the pretty awesome hat. He did that purposely though. Hes attempting to help me as we climb up to go sledding back down.
Kathi and Chris sledding along the path.
Ha! I hear you all back home have been having -30 weather or more, and that I can not say I miss. Its been nice, a few degree above freezing (for Americans around 35°, for me around 5° or so). Snow days, or cold days in Minnesota, I do miss though. They dont get snow days in Germany. How sad is that?
Celebrating midnight right as it started to snow looking over Kempten ( we took a small hike at about 11.30 to celebrate New Years outside). I spent New Years with the majority of my friends from school, at one of their houses. I also had an Indian dinner with my host family that night.
