From the Principal’s office …day 9
Remember the scene in Bruce Almighty, that old Jim Carrey Movie where he wakes up as God and his day goes perfectly, from the traffic lights all being green to having a parking spot in the front of his office… well that was my day today. Everything was perfectly timed.
The day started before my alarm went off, by about two hours. Go figure. I used that time to get caught up on work related stuff. We had a delicious breakfast of our favorite muesli, and went to the bus stop to meet the students for the day’s adventure. And what an adventure it was!! We took 7 Austrian students and one awesome Austrian mom with us to Stubai. We rode the gondola up to the top where they have the most amazing children’s play park. Our kids played on it for two hours and had so much fun! It is all constructed from natural elements- wood, rope, and rocks- but included an obstacle course type area and a raft that the kids could use a rope to pull themselves from dock to dock on a small pond. They spent hours catching tadpoles and newts. This type of play structure would be so easy to recreate, minus the water, at sharp park, the kids really enjoy it, and it would be so good for their physical fitness!
After we lunched, we left the park and went to descend the mountain…via individual roller coasters. Yes, we strapped ourselves into an individual little roller coaster with our own hand break and sped down the mountain. Some of the kids were a little hesitant, as was Kathryn, but everyone was a risk taker and it was SO.MUCH.FUN. The kids wanted to go again but unfortunately, we had to catch the bus back to the city. After the kids got picked up, we went and got a coffee and browsed in some shops.
This was first and foremost a mistake because I wanted to buy clothes, but also very enlightening. The Europeans are once again ahead of the curve on the whole shopping experience. The shops have these little courtesy bars where you can sip an espresso or a proseco while you shop. They also have a little comfortable seating area where spouses can sit and sip as well. This is pure genius. I’m sure my husband would love to shop with me if he had a nice complimentary beverage to sip while I try stuff on and browse.
I am super impressed with myself for three reasons today. First, my navigation skills are excellent. I have figured out the layout of the city and can get around and use the public transportation system. Second I walked out of the boutiques empty handed (which means my wallet is still ‘full’, or at least my credit cards are not maxed). Third I am beginning to understand the language a little. I can’t produce the language, but I know the gist of what is being said in some circumstances. 🙌🏼
After leaving the shops I navigated us through a shortcut to thebus stop, we waited 5 minutes, hopped a bus, came home and ate schnitzel for dinner. I am loving the traditional food I am trying. Ok, everything except the fat toast. Fat toast is not like Texas toast which is a fatter slice. It is actually toast with fat spread on top with thinly sliced onion. Imagine if you will, cooking a few pounds of bacon, and letting the fat get cold and then spreading it on like it was jam. The thought is completely unappealing, but, you never know- it could be an amazing delicacy. So I ate it. It was NOT amazing. But the schnitzel….oh yes.
Tomorrow is our last day. It is bittersweet. I am sad for the adventure to come to an end, but I can’t wait to see my family!
