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Published: December 5th 2007
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Who would’ve thought that I’d end the year of 2006 flying down the Austrian Alps with a Finnish Flask?
To end my ‘whirlwind exchange year’ 6 exchangies and myself road tripped down to the Austrian Alps for Christmas week and made house in one of the cosy cabins up on the snowy hills. This was my first White Christmas- no thongs, bikinis, beaches or Santa wearing a Bonds singlet with a stubby in his hand- this was a true blue, fair-dinkum, fully legitimate White Christmas. We had the snow, the sleds, the fireplace, the personalised stockings, the Christmas carols including Jim Reeves, the presents (my KK got me a Pearl Jam DVD and a Dr Seuss Book- thanks Loz!) the “white” tree (a fresh one with fresh snow that was ripped out from the side of the road) hot chocolate, board games, pancakes, mimosas & a never-ending flow of alcohol. Each morning I had to pinch myself as I woke up to the looming Austrian Alps, the stark blue sky and the white slush outside our door.
In a word, Austria was charming- clichéd but true. The cosy ski cabins, the snow-topped mountains, the traditional Ski Inn beside the
ski slope & the tiny little chapel we visited for Midnight Mass in the little Austrian village of Annaberg reminded me of the ‘old-world’. Cobblestone paths lead to quaint dilapidated cottages and stores while dimly-lit aged lamp posts line the streets and the all-pervading Alps envelop the whole village into a neatly oval-shaped snow globe- I felt like dressing up in the dirndl and performing a husky alto rendition of Edelweiss.
By far the height of my trip to Austria (and quite possibly the whole year) was skiing. Ok, who am I kidding? All I did was roll down the mountain. But I have reasons, genuine reasons why I could not master the art of sliding down the snow on a set of wooden planks. Firstly, lack of experience. Ski-what? This was the first time I’d ever seen snow. I don’t even know how to make a snowman let alone ski down a ski-slope! Secondly, lack of enthusiasm. Like I said it was the first time I’d seen snow, I would’ve been just as content to sit and play with the snow then use it as a death wish. Thirdly, lack of any real skiing skills. I was learning
on a Blue Square Trail, for all the Aussies reading this that means it was for skiers at an intermediate level. Who puts a person who hasn’t even seen snow on a Blue Square Trail on wooden planks and wishes them goodbye and good luck? I can’t even walk properly and they want me to co-ordinate two huge planks of f*cking wood connected to my feet? Sh*t. I gave it a go nevertheless and in the process nearly killed Lauren by pushing her off a cliff, virtually strangled Szaba as I tried to regain my balance, almost sliced off Sarah’s fingers with my skis, nearly hit a parked car as I zoomed down the mountain, almost lost my eyesight as I plummeted into a barrage of pointy branches and obtained countless amounts of bruises on my ass, knees and elbows. Needless to say, I was the laughing stock of Grand Alps, Austria. But despite all the zigzagging down the mountain, shifting weight from one leg to the other, digging my skis into the mountain and forming slices of pizza with my skis- I enjoyed it. I saw the pleasure and the adventure in such a sport. What made me realise
this was when I put my life in the hands of the Finnish Flask and he whizzed me down the mountain like a pro. When we got to the end of the mountain I realised that the muscles in my cheeks were strained and hurting- I had been grinning the whole way down.
For Sarah, Jan, Szaba & Lauren- thanks for having the patience to teach me the basics of skiing. For Szaba thanks for being a travelling flatulence-bomb on the road trip home. Apart from the fact that you nearly gassed me to death, you were good company. I enjoyed the drive home and the subsequent nights that followed when we smoke, drank, passed out, talked sh*t and fell asleep (not necessarily in that order). You’re one in a million & one of my best mates. I’ll call you about house sharing when we’re working in London in the next few years- stock up on those hankies, coke cans & polish sausages.
That being said a huge thankyou to everyone who joined me on my 2006 rollercoaster ride. Big thanks to Idoia, Miguel, Stephanie, Beranger, Laetitia & Mo for showering me with your generosity and hospitality over
the summer holidays. For Stephanie & Beranger I wish you guys all the love & luck in the world. Show the world that Tilburg couples can work! And hopefully I’m invited to the bloody wedding whenever and wherever it is…cough South of France cough cough. Did somebody say a 2008 wedding in the South of France? Brenda, did you hear that? For Dee, my best friend Down Under thanks for making the trek to Italy for my birthday in July, Rimini was off the hook. Dom, it was pure luck that we could rendezvous in Dublin. Even though you and Par bullied me the whole 10 days in Eastern Europe I never laughed as hard as I did in Krakow, Budapest & Prague. Vince, you’re a sweet soul- thankyou for taking care of my drunk-ass & for being helpful & generous & for giving Tilburg an extra-something. Par, I have never really recovered from your constant abuse & cruelty. All you did was pay out on me, drive me into the ground & slap me around. On occasion you would chaperone me home because I happened to be slumped on your shoulder by the end of an LG night. So
thanks, I guess. To my partner in crime, Bren: Gee, Bren, what are we going to do tonight? The same thing we do every night…..no one understands the “fly hands”, or “please do not yell in the casino” or “you’re a Bastard, don’t even know who your father is!”….. ahhh, help me, I need Trailer Park, Russell Peters or Arrested Development quotes soon, I need to recharge….I’ll look into Mexico for this July, here’s hoping for a Nat, Par & Bren Reunion. Cheers.
Merry Christmas and Have a Happy New Year!
Love Natalia, xox.
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