Wednesday 3 March 2010

Envelope pushing

We could all do with it every now and then. A push. A change. A kick up the backside. For some it's a change of scenery, for others it's a new vocation in life. For me it's a new opportunity working as a ski guide teaching school kids about backcountry travel. I did a week of it before, working with the kids from the school I work at but now I've been asked back to help the senior guides deliver similar courses to other schools.

Thing is, I'm no highly trained professional. I'm an enthusiastic amateur at best. I'm mostly self-taught but I'm keen to impart the sense of freedom I gained from sticking a pair of planks on my feet and shuffling up into the mountains. I'm a bit nervous, the language issue will still need to be worked on but nearly every Norwegian kid at this age will speak better English than my Norwegian. And then there is the practical issue of teaching them how we move around on skis when some of them have been skiing since they were four years old. That'll be interesting. So I've been out on my skis a lot, pushing my own envelope, higher and further into the hills near my home. Sending myself down steeper and longer slopes. Plunging through deeper and deeper powder.

It's good to scare yourself every now and then.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm incredibly jealous, not of the kids thing [I'd be terrible at it, and can only tolerate kids in small doses], but to have that on your doorstep must be amazing...

Change is always good though, I must admit, I've been well within my comfort zone at work for a while now. Change is coming, in one form or another, and not a moment too soon...

Joe Newton said...

Fraser - until 18 months ago I had never worked inside a school! Working with kids has been eye opening for me, hard work but very rewarding. I spent 15 years before that working in local government, well within my comfort zone! Mt life now is a lot more uncertain but I'm enjoying myself more.

Anonymous said...

Aye, that's why it's called "rebooting". A kick in the pants pushes the reset button like nothing else can.

Change is Good.

Unknown said...

Change is good, I echo that. Working with kids can be rewarding (so I am told), and I am sure it will be a great adventure for you. learning on the go and coming out on top. That top photo, btw, is fantastic. I might need to come to Bergen sometime.

Joe Newton said...

Titanium - sometimes we to click our own ctrl, alt and delete!

Hendrik - Bergen is pretty in this very unusual amount of snow. In the summer I think she's beautiful!

Roman Dial said...

seems a bit ironic that a neophyte Brit's teaching Norwegian kids how to ski!

good for you. you'll learn so much faster this way, yea?

kate said...

what a fantastic opportunity! i'm sure you'll be learning lots too. if you approach it with half the amount of enthusiasm you did the last time, it will be brilliant.

here's to change and grabbing opportunities :)

Joe Newton said...

Roman - yep, we'll all be learning a lot of new skills together! I never feel that I've learned all there is to know. It seems there is always a new type of snow that requires some falling down time before I learn how to ski down it.

Kate - being enthusiastic about your job is a blessing. It makes getting up in the morning a lot easier.