 Poster: A snowHead
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Lizzard and Ordhan, Very well put. At the moment chopping logs sounds more productive than the dross we are engaged in. We'd move, but are probably the most indecisive, non-committent types and my worry would be that neither of us would get a job. It's all very well when the weather is fine, and you are on hols, but the bills, the crap and the politics are all the same wherever you go...
JFDI is probably what the Myers-Briggs would come up with... 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Libertine,
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EVERYONE is in a rush....
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Tell me about it, it's absolute madness round here - I just stepped out for a sandwich and nearly got mown down by a stampede of loonies covered in santa hats and shopping bags.
Maybe I could get a job in the alps chopping wood? Lizzard, require a wood chopper (erm..... )?
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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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2000overdrive, remember what I said about minimal income? I could pay you in cups of tea and home made gingerbread, but that's about it. 
Fortunately I start work on Dec 9, a week earlier than I expected. Hurrah and indeed phew!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyone thinking of just uping sticks and running to the hills /mountains should realize that British people who have a fair amount of experience in a ski related business along with a command of the local language often struggle to make ends meet.
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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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2000overdrive, remember what I said about minimal income? I could pay you in cups of tea and home made gingerbread, but that's about it.
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Right, that's sustenance sorted. Just need to find a job to provide a bed, one for a roof and walls, and one for a ski pass.
Maybe I could drive a piste basher or something. That can't be too hard, careering about on a mountain. In the winter. At night. In a giant plough. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
| stanton, and what are you doing to earn the money to fund this idyll? |
I put my feet up years ago. I let other folk work now. Fulltime Ski Bum is much better.
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| 2000overdrive wrote: |
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2000overdrive, remember what I said about minimal income? I could pay you in cups of tea and home made gingerbread, but that's about it.
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Right, that's sustenance sorted. Just need to find a job to provide a bed, one for a roof and walls, and one for a ski pass.
Maybe I could drive a piste basher or something. That can't be too hard, careering about on a mountain. In the winter. At night. In a giant plough. |
I'll fight you for that wood chopping job. I love gingerbread.
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It's true what Lizzard says though, about small villages. She lives in a metropolis compared to LDA. We have a permanent population of about 2,250 between the two communes (including the villages themselves), so it really is very small. Also there really isn't anything to do in inter-season, like now. Just the other day my firend Luca was complaining about being bored. I love it, but then I'm basically a country bumpkin anyway. If you are a real urbanite I don't think you could settle to it.
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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, easiski, I like the way you're both trying to put people off so you can have the place to yourselves. 
"Yeah, don't come here, it's rubbish..."
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 1-12-08 10:10; edited 2 times in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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paulio, I'm being realistic. I like it. However, I have a tolerance for the urban environment of about 40 minutes.
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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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| paulio wrote: |
Lizzard, easiski, I like the way you're both trying to put people off so you can have the place to yourselves.
"Yeah, don't come here, it's rubbish..." |
Go then, try and get a job. When you are considered against other applicants who have the same sort of experience as easiski or Lizzard you'll be looking for a long time for anything half decent.
If your love of skiing and the mountains is so great that you are willing to give up many other things then you might make it work.
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DB, why the aggressive tone? It looks like you're goading me.
"Go on then, I dare you... bet you're not good enough."
When all I was really doing was chatting and stuff.
Hard day at the office?
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You know it makes sense.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
| 2000overdrive, Fortunately I start work on Dec 9, a week earlier than I expected. Hurrah and indeed phew! |
Where is the new job for the winter?
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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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Anniepen, lift company at 2Alpes. More character-building Francophone working environment - hoping to reduce amount of time spent feeling like the village idiot.
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brian
brian
Guest
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Lizzard, a lady of loisirs eh ? Discounts for  s ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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brian, chortle. DAL are not known for discounting, unfortunately. Though Mr L will get his season pass for under 200€, which is something of a bargain.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anniepen, I certainly hope so - flogging lift tickets could get dull otherwise. I was in two minds about applying for cashier or lift op, but the cashiers are paid more and don't lose pay when there's bad weather and lifts are shut.
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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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| paulio wrote: |
DB, why the aggressive tone? It looks like you're goading me.
"Go on then, I dare you... bet you're not good enough."
When all I was really doing was chatting and stuff.
Hard day at the office? |
I got the same impression here Paulio.
What those who have 'done it' have to remember, they started out dreaming of the move and, because of their desire, they have made it work for them. There is nothing to suggest that others like us could do just as well (if not better).
OK, a lot are at that dreaming stage and it may never pay off. but its talking about our dreams that makes it become reality and closer if thats what we chose. Simply saying that we are not as experienced as Easiski is a bit disapointing....
Anyway, back to the topic..... whats it like
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What those who have 'done it' have to remember, they started out dreaming of the move
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Actually I just got a summer job in France while out of work during a recession. I switched to ski because I came back to the UK one October and had an irresistible urge to scream and run away.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
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What those who have 'done it' have to remember, they started out dreaming of the move
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Actually I just got a summer job in France while out of work during a recession. I switched to ski because I came back to the UK one October and had an irresistible urge to scream and run away. |
So all the rest of us need now, is a recession...
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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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| paulio wrote: |
| Lizzard wrote: |
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What those who have 'done it' have to remember, they started out dreaming of the move
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Actually I just got a summer job in France while out of work during a recession. I switched to ski because I came back to the UK one October and had an irresistible urge to scream and run away. |
So all the rest of us need now, is a recession... |
Now - I know I saw one somewhere.........
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Steilhang, Annecy is known for being one of the most expensive places in France. Very nice though.
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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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You know it makes sense.
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| paulio wrote: |
DB, why the aggressive tone? It looks like you're goading me.
"Go on then, I dare you... bet you're not good enough."
When all I was really doing was chatting and stuff.
Hard day at the office? |
What are you talking about? there's not an agressive word in there.
People are just being straight with you, people who have done it. There are two particular German programs about immagrating German familes on TV here. One program is about the people with dreams going out with all sorts of crazy ideas (sausage stands etc) the other program covers their return when it all goes t!ts up. Just because the world isn't rosy where you are doesn't mean a quick change of scenery will make all your dreams come true esp in a recession. Very few make it work.
After 8.5 years here in Austria things are a lot easier for me now but in the early days when I didn't understand the lingo there were times when I really questioned my decision to move here.
Most Brits who move out to the alps and make it work long time have something to offer (e.g. they can speak the local lingo and they have experience in a ski related profession such as ski instruction, the hotel industry etc) but even then very few make a comfortable living without having to work hard. Sometimes much harder than the locals for a lower pay.
It's a free world you can do what you want, but you are acusing the people who are trying to be straight with you as being greedy ("I like the way you're both trying to put people off so you can have the place to yourselves") - my answer to that is a very un-agressive "well if you don't believe us then try it".
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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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| Lizzard wrote: |
| Steilhang, Annecy is known for being one of the most expensive places in France. Very nice though. |
It's like the French Eastbourne, full of old dears pottering around. Would drive me mad. The old town is pleasant but very little in the way of work. The outskirts are the typical mix of jerry built flats and shopping centers.
I sometimes wonder what the French who live outside Paris/Lyon actually do for work, then I remember that most are working for the govt.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| easiski wrote: |
Steilhang, Yes - you can never 'belong' but it's no worse than when I lived in Aviemore - just with language problems to boot. However you can be accepted, but you have to prove yourself, and also prove that you're in it for the long haul - that takes about 10 years at least. However I was thrilled when one of the 'real' locals told clients that 'charlotte n'est plus anglaise, elle est une de chez nous maintenant' However, as Lizzard says: it's small village life. You have the same conversation with different people on a very regular basis - wow - when the Marche U closed for 3 weeks to expand two years ago that kept us going for at least 2 of the 2 weeks.
The point is, living in the alps is great, but you do need to be happy without many people around for long periods of time. |
My wife's grandfather was from Munich. He married an nth generation Walser girl back in 1920. The family is still considered suspect by the rest of the valley  That and the fact that they have made an economic success of their business is the source of much mistrust and envy! I do speak the language, and I even understand the Walser dialect ( not many people do ), I grew up in Austria but I will always be an outsider, and my wife who has lived outside of the valley for many years now is equally considered an outsider! It's the way it is unfortunately!
If and when I do finally move to the mountains it will definitely be in a town, like Garmisch or Innsbruck or even Oberstdorf! Alpine village life would just grind me down!
And besides, my liver wouldn't stand up to it for long 
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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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| Steilhang wrote: |
| I grew up in Austria but I will always be an outsider, and my wife who has lived outside of the valley for many years now is equally considered an outsider! It's the way it is unfortunately! |
The French are a lot friendlier than that.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I've lived in two British villages within Derbyshire & Shropshire (because I wanted to be near Mountain bike & walking routes). Other people who were not born there but had lived there for over 15 years but were still considered outsiders. The Brits were also a lot less friendly to outsiders than the Austrians who live around me now.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Fri 28-11-08 21:38; edited 1 time in total
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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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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| Libertine, Well said. I would not want to live anywhere else. I suppose I am lucky, living in the fabulous North Yorkshire, nestled between 2 National parks |
Too much information ...I'd have hoped you would have at least described your nocturnal resting place as National Assets. Mrs Frosty will be disappointed.
Snow out the back door.. Med out the front door, suits me!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We've been in Saalbach 5 years and like a lot of others in the mountains already, loving it.
I must say I have never had a view from my office like I have now
People say about missing the city and maybe living in a city close to the mountains. We can be in Salzburg in about 1 1/4 hours where there is a great cosmopolitan atmosphere and all the same pubs, restaurants etc you would find anywhere. If you live on the outskirts of london it could take an hour and the views into Salzburg are much better than on the tube.
The life in the mountains is hard work as many jobs in the UK are, but the life is very different. There are positive and negatives to moving abroad, its not all grass is greener (or snow is whiter!). I must say that I cannot see myself living in the UK for some time, if ever, and would say to anyone thinking about to give it a go. You can always go back if it is not for you, not met many who later go back though !!
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| davidof wrote: |
| Steilhang wrote: |
| I grew up in Austria but I will always be an outsider, and my wife who has lived outside of the valley for many years now is equally considered an outsider! It's the way it is unfortunately! |
The French are a lot friendlier than that. |
Yes, but ....
Talking to a friend in the village recently, about another villager, who had recently married. I asked
"who did she marry"
to which I got the reply, "oh, someone not from around here... an outsider..... from Courchevel"
Courchevel must be all of about ten miles away
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Move to Calgary. Good job opportunities. Fab mountains, for both summer and winter. Cowboy culture. No language barrier and cheaper to live.
Gryphea
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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: |
| .... I came back to the UK one October and had an irresistible urge to scream and run away. |
Exactly what I feel --when coming back to UK from France or Spain.
As I don't partake much of city life these days, I think it's crazy for me to stay in the middle of London, even though it's a lovely leafy part of the capital.
My UK friends would visit me if I lived abroad, and so would my grown-up son--he's my only close family now. I have a circle of local friends in the village I've been going to for the past 14 years or so. I do speak French. (a bit limited in vocabulary-- but fluent with what I have!)
I was thinking of taking the plunge and selling my flat here, and buying in the Alps-- but the recession hit just as I was mentally and emotionally ready to start things moving...
So where do I go from here? Just put it all on hold?... 
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Well, try the small villages in the highlands .... All small, isolated (at least in the past) communities are extremely protectionist - but that's hardly surprising.
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FAQ
! Our community's about 1600 and not much to recommend it!
