So starting on the 26th of September, we had orientation in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
It’s a resort town that is fairly far from where I live, relatively speaking. For those visual learners out there…here is a map.
For all of the seminars and teacher-y things, they divided us into groups that were based on our geographical regions. Since Vorarlberg is pretty small, they combined us with Tirol. Making a super group called TV. We are rockstars. TV is made up of some of the coolest people from all over the U.S. and Britain. Oh yeah, the British Council also sends TA’s here, too. So needless to say, I learned a lot of British English in a couple of days.
Orientation was basically all about teaching us how to be teachers, which I thought was kinda funny. Mainly because…I thought I already did that?!?! And it took 4.5 years not 4.5 days. Oh well, it’s still nice to get an idea of what is expected over here as opposed to back home.
Orientation was also a big intro to Austrian life. In other words, we went on a hike. Herbert, the totally awesome little grandpa-like Austrian in charge of orientation, told us it was going to be very cold on said hike. Ha! It was the exact opposite. This was a problem for me because I took Herbert seriously. Being a Georgia peach, if someone says it’s going to be cold and they are not from the South, I take that to mean I need layers and layers of warm clothing. So I dressed in long pants, warm socks, long sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt, a cardigan, and a scarf. Who was I kidding?
I must also tell you what they fed us before this hike.
Schnitzel and fried chicken!
Overwhelmed with excitement at the offering of fried food goodness, I enjoyed multiple servings of both…most likely grossing out the people at my lunch table. Honestly, I ate an obscene amount of schnitzel, chicken, and potatoes.
Then immediately afterwards....hiked up a mountain. In hot weather. Dressed for frigid temperatures that never came. Let’s just say it didn’t take long for the meat sweats to kick in. Gross, I know. Thank God a fellow Vorarlberg girl named Amanda was going at my pace. I made it though and even did the optional climb to the very top (after a long rest and fresh alpine water).
Here are some pictures from that lovely hike…. notice my silly layers around my waist.
It was really beautiful!
Anyways, I made some super sweet friends that are in different places all across this beautiful country. Hopefully, that means I’ll have tour guides and free lodging in a variety of cities.
I’ll leave you with the great words that Herbert spoke to us over the P.A. system the last morning to wake us all up after celebrating the end of orientation the night before:
Read in an elderly Austrian accent
“Good Morning! I know life is hard sometimes. Arise from your beds and come downstairs and eat something from our breakfast. It should renew your spirits.”
P.s. I may or may not have been shanghaied into teaching everyone at orientation the electric slide.
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