 Poster: A snowHead
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| miranda wrote: |
YES YOU WILL! You will get a job in Annecy and like it, despite this advice |
And he enjoyed his year there by all accounts, well apart from the company he worked for, oh and the old dears pottering around the prom.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
Been reading all through this thread, something my wife and I have talked about lots, anyone know if there is an area of engineering along any of the Alps main Cities?
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Grenoble, but the old paper making mills appear to be dying
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I couldn't really see what mhemph01 posted that was bad or particularly suspicious? Unless it was edited it doesn't have any blatant advertising and it was actually giving a health warning about investing in the Alps? Still, bash the newbie........
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Whitters, it was edited.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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halfhand, Up the lifts and down the Slopes 
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Hells Bells, OK, in that case..... 
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Interesting thread.
Our dream is to pay off our UK mortgage, then buy a chalet just outside Bourg St Maurice (and a shuttle bus!) and offer SC accommodation - for skiers in winter and mountain bikers in summer. Not sure how feasible this is.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Am struggling to find am upto date topic on living in the Alps and moving to France. I'm well aware that when a new topic is posted, someone somewhere helpfully signposts to the existing thread. So here I am!
So here's us:
Currently in UK building a business, consisting of 2 elements...the first is one of a residual income in the coffee business. That's going well. I intend to build it up sufficiently so it runs with little input from me.
The second, is a new venture this year, with meetings set up in early Jan. I've an alliance with a ski company to operate a ski chalet cookery school. Though it will also be a generic cookery school, can't afford to capture the niche market just yet!
I teach, am Cordon Bleu, taught cookery for 20 years both in statuary education and privately. Cooked in chalets, yachts, villas.
Have taught English to French adults and taught cookery in French to primary kids.
I still speak French, have lived in the French Caribbean for many years....also the South of France, in the countryside of Bordeaux and a ski season in Courchevel. I converse easily in French and my son is learning.
I've a BA, a Masters, a PGCE Secondary and a few other bits and bobs.
The boy is 8.... We're looking to relocate to the mountains in the next year or 2. Either for a year trial, or possibly longer.
I've heard, and read that running a catered chalet is often a recipe for disaster. I get that. However I've also heard from direct sources that it can be a success. Depending on the level of service you wish to provide and the size of chalet.
So.....I'd like to know if anyone has suggestions for me.....and my son.
The residual/passive income is building here....the cookery school will be off the ground soon.....I speak French......have lived and breathed the lifestyle in both rural and suburban locations......we don't need British food.....we only need the odd British friend or 2 and mostly gravitate towards French friendships on holidays anyway. We both ski.....I'm adaptable and so is the boy. We have a house in the UK, owned outright (currently my only capital) which would make some rental income.
What do,reckon gang? I'm ready for the responses. Good and bad.
Happy Saturday!
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@alyefs, all depends on what you want out of life I think. It's unlikely you'll make pots of money in resort and if you're running a chalet then you won't necessarily get the lifestyle you want either. On the other hand, your son will.
I moved with my two boys last year and don't regret it for a second however I work for myself, managing my own hours and I've drastically lowered my expectations regarding the level of 'stuff' I can have. If you have any specific questions please feel free to PM me.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thankyou @MeMyselfandI, that's very kind. I probably will PM you.
I too work for myself, buts it early days in building any sort of financial security. I'm in the process of bringing my house upto rentable quality and have a great friend who is a letting agent too....so I'd have some income from the house which wouldn't be sufficient of course.
I speak French, fairly well....which seems to be the barrier I read about the most. A reasonable start! My son has some understanding of the language and a small vocab range. But they learn quickly I know.
The ski chalet cookery school will be getting off the ground in time for the end of the season if not before....and that's something being developed online too. I wonder if there's any scope to continue the school (on or offline) that through the season in the Alps, as well as the off season? Perhaps teaching in a local school would be an option too.
Do your boys go to local school? I might switch to PM....
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@alyefs, Go for it! I was in your position, doing the will I won't I, this time last year- I did..in November. Things are coming together- I work for myself, but am also starting a new enterprise in January. So far (with limited French) I have got myself a flat to live in, set myself up as a business, enrolled my son in crèche, got a bank account enrolled at the dr's, got WiFi!!...in other words, survived! Life is always hard, but made easier doing or being somewhere you love. It is also very short...@memyselfandI was really helpful to me last year- if I can be to you, I am more than happy to help!
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This is my second season "living" out here in Serre Chevalier and last summer I spent two months here. I'm in a fortunate position that I can continue to work whilst out here and manage things from here. My OH is freelance and once out here she is quite selective about any work should it arise. But should her agent ring up and it's a good project that she would want to do, then she would fly back, plus she goes home three times a season to see her Mother.
My two cents on people living and working here. They are so damn stressed trying to make a living and make the most of the really busy weeks. 90% of them hardly ever get out to ski apart from the true ski bums and or kiddy seasonaires, as those living here run businesses just do not seem to have the time.
Those that do ski, such as instructors always seem to be teaching and are never really able to take advantage of days like yesterday unless their clients are skiers of a certain level, this is the main difference between an instructor and a guide.
Others who live here and do enjoy life are those who have retired and they are a nice bunch of people. Though none do the likes of La Grave and ski touring etc
That's one of the reasons I joined the local Club Alpine. That said do have a hell of a lot of friends and friends friends who come out. There are two apartments in our block that I have access to, but don't worry I have no intention of renting them out as a business etc enough hassle just doing it for friends!
Plus should also add we have some very nice Italian neighbours who come up from Turin most weekends.
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You know it makes sense.
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@L_555, that all sounds completely amazing! What huge achievements and challenges you've overcome in such a short period of time! Sounds like just about all the pieces of the jigsaw are in place. Really happy for you....I think with your child being so young will make things a tad simpler. My boy of now 8 years old will be at least 9 or 10 by the time we make it there....permanently if we manage to do so.
@Weathercam, I think you're right, and @L_555, also about work. I need to be more established in my business before considering anything further. That's the tricky part. There isn't exactly bucket loads of lolly in my area of work. I teach cookery, write blog and recipes and write reviews. I have a small amount of residual from a coffee biz....which is growing....but needs to grow so much more!
The cookery school is in its infancy, and a, in the process of building an alliance with a small ski company..offering courses in chalet cooking. My vision is to see that progress and take me over to the mountains. Recipe books in my specialist are will bring some residual, but not massive amounts.
A lot to work on. Don't really want to end up working for someone else again....and I've no capital to speak of. Hmm....chicken and egg!
But what I've understood and gleaned from all your posts, and those of others....is that it's all entirely possible!!!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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@holidayloverxx, ah! How ironic....was literally just looking at their courses. They're based in Surrey, and do courses suitable for those keen to be chalet or yacht chefs. I did both. Though only one chalet season. An alliance? What might you suggest?
The guys I'm meeting first week in Jan own a smallish company...14 chalets of which approx half are catered. I'm a vegetarian/vegan and special diet expert/specialist....so have a lot to offer one way or another.
Oh, almost forgot....I'm on the Wirral, right by Liverpool. So very North!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Having been relocated to east of Lyon 6 months ago I've enough of the taste of life here to know that the lifestyle suits me. The French is improving rapidly, the work for the time being is fine and I'm close to the Alpes.
However, I think I'd much prefer the seasonal type work where we spend 6 months in the UK earning lots of money and then 6 months a year actually in the Alpes. I'd need to learn to teach skiing I guess though or something similar and have the seasonal work, though my wife would earn enough money on her own to support us for 6 months in France, let alone with me contracting in the UK too.
Much more difficult to do if/when kids come along though..
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@macgyver, there are a lot of seasonal positions which don't involve teaching people to ski.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Lizzard, yep..... Already. Have the child already (He's not in the slightest bit difficult!) He's said he'd be willing to try a year out there.
French is my second language, I was married to a French man in my 20s (now in 40s) who did to speak a bit of English...we lived in the French Caribbean for 5 yrs and also Bordeaux for a year. Worked with French, taught cookery freelance in a French primary school etc. Language isn't a concern , the work element is going to be the deciding factor. Again, feeling more and more it's about getting the business to a buoyant stage......I'll then have a little more freedom to choose where and how.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
My two cents on people living and working here. They are so damn stressed trying to make a living and make the most of the really busy weeks. 90% of them hardly ever get out to ski apart from the true ski bums and or kiddy seasonaires, as those living here run businesses just do not seem to have the time.
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You are so wrong weathercam, or simply moving in the wrong circles!
I've been out in the Alps since 1999 full time having spent many years commuting. I planned my move and am most certainly not "stressed running around trying to make a living" I have a full time job paying reasonable money, 30 days paid holiday plus public holidays per year and 10 extra days off in lieu of overtime pay (as a single person I lose most of the money in various taxes, so it is not worth it!). My last pay slip informed me that as of 1.1.2015 I would have 65.5 days holiday accrued and a little note from my boss asking me NOT to take it it all in one go! 
With good planning and the right skill sets, it is no different than "stressing yourself out" back in the UK wondering how you are going to finance your next step up the property ladder! I am so glad to be out of that particular circle of hell!
I ski every weekend if and when I want to, and also mid week by working a couple of days a week days at home. I can arrange my time off to suit me and ski for extended periods at Christmas/New Year and Easter due to the public holidays I have in Bavaria. I also take a couple of weeks off during the low season to have holidays with friends. I'm currently in the middle of an almost 3 week holiday taken at the cost of about 6 official vacation days due to the favourable way the bank holidays have fallen this year (again).
I have predominantly German and Austrian friends and spend most of my time speaking German (Bayerisch and Pongauisch both coming along nicely too!), downside of that is that I am losing some of my English vocabulary - not a good idea for a professional translator though!  I need a couple of weeks a year in France to maintain contact with my French, but it has suffered as I am not one of the mythical "Sprachgenies", I am no longer as fluent as I was that's for sure!
@alyefs, with the right kind of planning and realistic goals, you will never regret leaving the UK. I will never return other than for extremely short visits. Get yourself into a good local healthcare insurance scheme - forget about expat schemes sold from the UK, pay your dues to the fiscal system of the country you've chosen and make sure you build on local contacts. Relying just on the expat community is a sure way to depress yourself and most likely an early return to the UK feeling a failure. There will be frustrating times as you learn to cope with the idiosyncrasies of a completely foreign bureaucracy, it is a steep learning curve! But it is worth every trip back to the Mairie or Gemeinderat in the end, believe me![/b]
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Samerberg Sue, I didn't understand a word of that
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@Samerberg Sue, very interesting read indeed....I empathise completely re the trips back and forth to the Mairie! Even married in the West Indies I had to continue to do this....largely due to the fact I was legally married, but he wasn't! Boy that made divorce a barrel of laughs.
I rarely surrounded myself with expats, in fact only had 1 English friend...we're still good friends now 15 years on. I'll choose a French campsite over an English dominated tourist place....because I can very much 'débrouille' myself in French....and drive about the West coast in our VW camper with my son etc etc. It's unlikely I'll be able to work for someone else as an employee....and would prefer contract work. However your arrangement sounds marvellous! How on earth do you accrue 65 days leave? Plus a working from home arrangement.....even better.
I'm a firm believer in 'right lace right time' ethos....and keep pushing forwards, speaking to people, letting them know my intentions. The advise here is fantastic, and reading about other people's experiences is a perfect way to learn how and where I could 'fit'.
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What amazing bunch of people you Snowheads are! All coming forth with advice, support and most of all encouragement. Thankyou
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
| @macgyver, there are a lot of seasonal positions which don't involve teaching people to ski. |
I guess so, it would be nice to be out on the mountain though, no?
I mean I've never done it, and do not have a clue. Does one just turn up at a ski resort, head into shops/bars and start asking for work?
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Think I'd want a bit more out life than work in a shop or bar at my stage in life @macgyver,
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Samerberg Sue, I agree with most of what you say, but with the proviso that you have to know what you are going to be doing before you move out there. One thing is for sure, the French / Austrian/ whatever locals have not been waiting for you to move to the alps to open up a fish and chip shop on the piste, or an irish pub or an english barbershop... The good locations are all taken and they don't give them up easily! If you are doing something workwise which allows you to work from the side of the piste then everything is tiddly boo. Otherwise you may be in for a hard time.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Steilhang, I dare say a good fish and chip would be appreciated in some parts though I hear what you're saying. I think it's good to have a business that operates regardless of location. That way one isn't reliant on the desperate need and passion of the mountain. It's there....regardless. Something that appeals to skiers and non skiers alike is my approach
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@Samerberg Sue, as you state, you have a full time job with all the benefits that goes with that which is the cushy side of life.
Being employed is totally different to running your own business, Quote "as those living here run businesses" and most of the people I know will not see a day off till the season finishes, their "employed" staff fortunately, like your good self, are in a much better position as I pointed out.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Samerberg Sue, totally with you (though I quite like going back to the UK occasionally, especially Scotland ).
With a full time job, as an absolute minimum, you can ski every weekend and have 25 days (more often 30) of holiday. Some Austrian companies are starting to get into the flexible hours sort of stuff as well, where as long as you do enough 'core hours' in a day you can make the rest of the up whenever you want.
I'm super lucky in my current job and only have to do a minimum of 2 hours between 9-5 Mon-Fri, so I can ski WHENEVER I want. The flipside though is I have to make up 45 hours a week by the end of each quarter, but tbh the trade-off is more than worth it for me.
I also work in English btw, though most of my social life is in German (well, Tirolerisch) now. In the right parts of the Alps there are plenty of 'proper' jobs available in English that let you ski a lot, and some of them are pretty damn well paid (at least from my point of view)!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@clarky999, What job do you do out of interest?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yes @clarky999, I'm intrigued....what work do you do?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@clarky999, Intrigued too!!!
Also, what types of "proper jobs", as one who is seriously contemplating moving to the Alps.....
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Incidentally, if anyone's remotely interested I'll be doing live online and actual/real cookery school, with an accessible bootcamp tutorial programme plus Chalet Chef 911 under subscription format. That's in addition to being a healthy coffee distributor, UK currently but have team members opening in Holland. France next 
Think that'll be of interest over there?
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 30-12-14 18:06; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Seriously after my own heart @jellemr,
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@PaulC1984, @alyefs, @jellemr, I'm the content marketing manager for a ski/board and surf online travel agency/booking platform that happens to be based in a ski resort
It's great and I love it (and it's my first 'proper' job), but while I'm earning more than enough to live on as a 25 year old, as the company is still pretty small you couldn' raise a family or anything like that on my wages.
There are lots of marketing and engineering (from electrical enginnering for hearing aids to all sorts of 'big' stuff for energy companies) jobs in English in Tirol though, with some advertised in the €40-80k region. Med-El in Innsbruck regularly advertise English-speaking positions at €30+k
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@clarky999, you'd be surprised how little you need to raise a family. Depending how demanding they are of course
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| alyefs wrote: |
| @clarky999, you'd be surprised how little you need to raise a family. Depending how demanding they are of course |
Hoping I don't have to worry about it for a few years yet tbh!!
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@clarky999, sounds like a made up "proper job" .
Interesting though, I work in finance so will be googling med-El later!!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@clarky999, Have kid will travel Nothing stops, it merely changes.
@jellemr, kind of wish I'd studied something more sensible and viable than food teaching and writing! However, when it's passion what do you do!
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| jellemr wrote: |
@clarky999, sounds like a made up "proper job" .
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I think he means he's an unemployed blogger. They have fancy names these days.
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FAQ
QB pre-Austria days 
