Off to the Alps!

I was about to begin this entry by writing, “Well, I’m in my happy place,” but in the last few minutes circumstances changed. I’m still happy. Just not in the place, exactly, where I’m supposed to be. Moments ago I was comfortably cruising down the tracks, in my warm train compartment, watching Starnberg See pass by along my left and the Alps grow bigger in front of me. I had coffee in hand, pastry in my bag soon to be eaten and my bike propped up in the bicycle area of the train just a few feet ahead of me. As I was settling in, smiling to myself, getting ready to make the only transfer necessary on my Saturday trip to the mountains, I looked at the video screen only to realize – “I think I’m on the wrong train.” I checked my ticket, I relooked at my map, and sure enough, this train was not going to where I wanted it to go. I asked the ticket lady to confirm my suspicions, and yes, I had gotten on the wrong train. I’d made this mistake before in other countries, to other destinations, so you’d think I’d learned from my past. I haven’t. The lady on the train informed me to get off at the next stop, board a train for the other direction, then I’ll be fine.

So, now, here I sit. Alone at Bernreid Station, a one platform, tiny spit of a station. My coffee’s getting cold. I dug into my pastry. And I’m waiting. But… I’m still happy! And why not? It’s a beautifully sunny, Autumn Bavarian Saturday morning. The birds are chirping in the trees on the other side of the tracks and I’m only an hour off my original schedule. What’s to be sad about? My plan today is to head to the small town of Krun, near Mittenwald and Garmish, into the Alps, near the Austrian border, to take part in an event called an almabtrieb where the farmers parade their cattle from the high grazing pastures, through town and to where they’ll be spending the winter months. I’ll share some pictures or videos in a future post.

Today is a “me” day. I’m alone, and that’s how I wanted it. It’s been a fairly chaotic last couple of weeks, with three separate back to school nights, lots of schoolwork to keep up with, an internet issue that I’ve yet to resolve and numerous other hurdles to clear that sometimes make life here feel more difficult than necessary. We had a really fun event last night at the house of my middle school principal and tonight I’m planning on meeting some friends at a village near Starnberg for one of the many fall festivals that are taking place around Bavaria this time of year. But today is just about me.

When I accepted the job in Munich, I quickly envisioned myself on weekends and during holidays whisking away to all corners of Germany, to all corners of Europe. Getting on the train, feeling like a tourist, taking advantage of all the beauty, culture and history so close. I’ve had a few of those experiences – time in Munich, biking through the countryside, visiting small villages – but today feels like the first day of me living out that plan I dreamed about many months ago. Life, right now, feels good. I’m on vacation.

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, however. Times have been really tough, too. I had a particularly hard day on Wednesday. I had to go into town in the morning to file, once again, for a resident working permit. You might think this would be easy, but nothing here – I’ve found – is easy. I had to wait over two hours to finally sit down with someone and sign the paperwork. This put me very late to school, unprepared for my 11:25 class, and set me on the course for a very stressful, hectic day. By the end of it, I’d had enough. Unfortunately, Wednesday was also my only day I had free to visit the Telekom shop after school. I’d recently cancelled my home internet plan with Vodafone – because of their complete incompetence – and needed to sign up with another provider. Signing the contract went off without a hitch, but I’ve learned from experience that it’s not signing up that’s the problem, it’s getting these internet providers to actually provide the service they promise. I left the shop by early evening but was still a little “off.” I thought going to the lake with a good book might cheer me up, but it didn’t. Back home I took a long walk in my neighborhood, past the houses and into the farm fields, in the thought that getting my blood pumping and venturing into the quiet outdoors might help. And it did. A little. In the end, I told myself, “You’ll have days like these. It’s not all a big party. Back home you’d be having tough times, too.” These kinds of days are a reality – I’m learning – with most everyone who chooses experiences like this, who leaves the comforts of home, who makes a life for themselves in some far away, strange culture. I’ll definitely make it through the low moments – I think – because the feelings I feel during the “highs” far outweigh and far outnumber the lows. I’m blessed. I realize that.

Okay, update. I’m back on the train, heading in the right direction – I think! The mood and feel on this train is 180 degrees different from the one I was on earlier. This train is packed, with travelers and bike riders like me, with groups laughing, with families. There’s an energy on board, I believe because most of my fellow travelers are heading to the Garmish area to either hike or mountain bike in this alpine playground. Wondering how many of these folks are heading to see the cows? After we stop in Garmish and most of the outdoorsy folks disembark, I’ll probably ask someone nearby.

Back to the week… This week in my 9^th grade class, during a unit on travel writing, we discussed the concept of to what degree travel changes us. It was a lively discussion – fun because of the diversity in the class and the wealth of travel experiences my (mostly fairly privileged kids) have had. In the class I have students from Japan, South Korea, Turkey, China and Kazakhstan. And they’ve traveled to destinations all throughout the world. During the lesson, we watched a video. In it a vlogger preaches a message of “choose the life you want” while a flurry of images flash on the screen of him skydiving, ziplining, scuba diving, hang gliding, and cliff diving from exotic locations all around the world. The life this man “chose” was a life of adventure, a life of extreme sports in extreme places. I then posed the question to the class, “What if the life I choose is a life in a cabin in the woods? A life of solitude. A life of peace. One where I don’t see the world, but where I “choose” a life that truly makes me happy?” This was difficult for my students to answer. Sure, you’re happy, but are you living a full life? Are you challenging yourself? Are you stepping outside your comfort zone to allowing yourself to grow, to change?

This concept of a peaceful existence versus a life of travel and seeing the world is one I think about a lot. Which is better? Is one better than the other? What’s the purpose of life? To be happy? To stretch, to challenge one’s self? Is it everyone’s duty to push themselves a little, to experience cultures different from their own, or is contentment a noble pursuit in itself? Clearly, there’s no right or wrong. One can always push themselves more, and more. What is the limit of stepping outside our comfort zone? And isn’t that different for everyone? Anyway, while I’m on this particular adventure of life in Germany, I realize I’m lucky. And I do feel extreme gratitude. But I also realize the thing I’m doing isn’t for everyone. What I’ll gain from this are immeasurable experiences, I’m sure. That’s why I’m here. Life is good. As I end on a slightly preachy note, I guess my point is that no one path is life is “correct,” no one path is more “brave” or “daring” or, in the end, “better.” I’m happy now, and that’s what counts. I guess in the end, it’s finding that happiness that matters.

Okay, off to see the cows! Later!