Christmas and New Years

I need to start off by apologizing, I should have written this blog a long time ago, but I was out of internet service for 2 weeks, and then when I got home, I just seemed to have SO much to do! My mind was starting to go crazy, so I scribbled down to-do-lists on sticky notes during school, and now they are scattered all over my computer screen! At least once I get this blog finished it will be another thing to check off my list! Okay, so let's start with Christmas...

After school let out on Friday, I said my goodbyes to all my classmates and was heading out the door when I was tapped on the shoulder. We did Secret Santa in my class (it's called Engrl Bangrl here) and I got my final gift. The girl who had me made a notebook and had all my friends in the class write a little Christmas note in it! It was so touching to see that these kids in my class actually do care about me and cool that I could read it in the 3 languages it was written in! I almost teared up, because I realized that even though I was missing my family during the holiday season, I knew I had more than one family to take care of me over here; even my classmates!

On Saturday morning we packed the car to the max and drove to Hochart, where my host grandpa has a house and art collection, and where we spent Christmas. During the next few days we relaxed a lot, had good conversations, and ate SO much! Christmas here is celebrated on the 24^th, where the Christkind (an angel) brings all the Christmas decorations, the tree, and the presents during the day while the kids are distracted. We went to Church in the afternoon and sang Christmas songs (in German) and “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night) brought tears to my eyes because it reminded me so much of being back home. But I kept telling myself that I get so many Christmases back home, and only one in Austria. That made me appreciate it a lot more! Once we got back home, Theresa and I waited down stairs until the Christkind was finished. And then once the Christkind rang the bell we ran up to the living room to see what they brought. The sight was not at all what I expected. The Christmas tree was beautiful lit with real candles and sparklers like we use on the 4^th of July. We sat around the tree and sang Christmas songs and read from the Bible. We then opened presents which was a lot different than what I’m used to. There wasn’t all this hype about gift giving and going over the top. It was simple and quite silent. The silence was weird for me, but I think there was a beauty in it. I got presents and cards from all over the world, and I feel so blessed. Thank you to everyone who supported me thus far and sent their love, and I hope you all know my love was sent right back at you that night! That night, and for the next few nights we feasted (like really, stuffed ourselves) with friends and family. Then on the 26^th, we jumped in the car again and started the long 5 hour drive towards the mountains….

Christmas Tree

 

Theresa reading from the Bible

 

 

Niki, Babsi, and Franz (host grandpa) on our Christmas walk

            As we drove into Kitzbühel, the excitement in the car started to rise. It was dark and foggy so I couldn’t see any of the surrounding mountains, but it was clear that we were there due to the small-ski-town feel I know so well. Everyone dressed like they do back home, the general attitude is upbeat, and the conversations are always revolving around snow. We moved all of our luggage into the family’s condo and had upbeat conversations comparing one another’s goggles, skis, helmets, etc. I was feeling right at home. That first night of sleep was the best I’d had in a while. There is a river running right next to the condo, and the peaceful melody put me right to sleep. In the morning we figured out my ski situation (I borrowed Babsi’s old ones and rented boots) and then hit the slopes. The snow was a little icier than what I’m used to in the Butte, and was all around just a different consistency. And I was on skinny racing skis with the bindings set toward the back of the ski, so my first few runs took a little getting used to. But by the end of the day I was chasing Niki (he is an amazing skier, once a ski instructor in Austria which is super prestigious) down the hill with a huge smile on my face! The days went by with the same routine: an early breakfast and then straight to the slopes, lunch at a mountain hut, and then a big dinner with family and/or friends. Here are some of the highlights of my skiing experience in the Alps:

 

1.      The views are absolutely incredible! At the top of every lift you get a 360 degree panoramic of beautiful mountains! It was a lot like home!

2.      We skied real fast. My entire host family can ski really well and we had such a great time trying to keep up with one another.

3.      You can ski so far in one day, and all with the same ski pass! One day I skied from one state of Austria to the next (Tirol to Salzburg)!

4.      I rode the longest gondola with only one tower in the world! That was a little sketchy!

5.      It snowed one day and I got to experience the closest I think I can get to what Austrians call a powder day. Niki and I skied about 5 inches of fresh for a few hours before heading back to the groomed ice sheet!

6.      I learned a lot about Austrian culture and mountain huts. Family meals are so crucial here and they taste really yummy too!

 

One day it was raining really hard, so I went into Kitzbühel with Babsi. Our condo is in Kirchberg which for comparative purposes we can say is like Crested Butte (but I personally think nothing compares to that little piece of Paradise) and is about 10 minutes away from Kitbühel. Kitzbühel I came to discover is quite like Aspen in the sense that it is filled with really expensive shops, and the tourists are a little snotty. But the comparison stops there. I was so in awe by the adorable old Austrian buildings and brick streets. Babsi and I went to this hidden bakery that was literally through this secret door, and then we browsed the super expensive shops. Unfortunately due to the downpour I didn’t take any pictures, but you’ll just have to imagine how magical this little town was. I kept thinking to myself, “Okay Jessie, how are you going to live here one day? What job could help you buy a small piece of property here that is even more expensive than Vienna’s high society inner city apartments?” I don’t have the answer to that yet, but I’m thinking I need to figure it out.

 

Okay and moving on to New Year’s because I really need to get this thing done! So Kirchberg had a small ceremony on the ski slopes the day before New Year’s Eve and Theresa and I went to watch. The ski instructors came down with candles and little kids skied with flags representing each country that the ski instructors were from. Then there was a little performance with ski teams who performed this synchronized skiing act (I think it should be a sport in the Olympics) that was so cool! Then there were skiers on stilts (never seen that before) and the night ended with some fireworks. Overall, it got us excited for the New Year and was fun to see how the little town of Kirchberg celebrates. On New Years Eve we had my host Aunt, Uncle, and 5 year old cousin over for a big dinner and played games together. At midnight the most magical thing happened that I can say is a million times cooler than a ball dropping. Literally hundreds of fireworks started going off at the same time. We live right by a hotel that set off their personal show right in front of us. Simultaneously, families living all over the valley were setting of their own fireworks. Our heads were constantly shifting left and right looking up and down the mountains at the spectacle. It was overwhelming and beautiful and I felt so happy in that moment!

The next day we went to Kitzbühel for their New Year’s celebration. They had a show similar to the torchlight parade in Crested Butte, where all 300 ski instructors came down the mountain by candlelight, and then jumped over a fire! A witch with a cast on her leg was thrown into the fire to hopefully get rid of injury on the mountain for the New Year. A giant 2013 was set into the mountain slope with candles which were slowly lit one by one. Then came the outstanding firework show. Timed perfectly to music, the sky was lit for about half an hour. It was one of the most beautiful firework shows I’ve seen and it was a great way to bring in the New Year!

Candles on the slope

Ski instructors by candlelight

 

 

 

 

Now I’m back in Vienna focusing on school and getting all the things on this crazy list checked off! I am heading back to Kirchberg for semester break in four weeks, and I couldn’t be more excited! Pictures will come soon, but my computer is not letting me at the moment!