Home sweet home “Hoam kemmn”
It has been almost a year since I left my “home of choice“, or what I prefer to call my “Heimat” in Austria.
I fell in love with the Zillertaler Hauptkamm Alps as a young child, at the age of just six. Something unexplainable still draws me back to this beautiful part of the world. Giving up my job, and especially my cosy home wasnˋt an easy decision to make. I loved my job and living in this small, quiet village called Zell am Ziller.
After returning to my Australian Paradise, Swan Cove at Raymond Island, for another five weeks, the time had come for something new. My new challenge is waiting for me in Norway. More about that soon! But before that, I feel the urge to go back to the Ziller valley. Not only to collect some personal belongings, but also to hug my friends. A bit of “Hoam kemmn“, before I hit the road again.
Vienna
On 5th October, I board my plane in Melbourne. My bags are packed and so is my mind. Filled with precious memories of my last days in Melbourne at my couchsurfing place, while meeting Allon, Michael and members of the badminton team, as well as Renata.
The next day I finally arrive at Vienna Airport early in the morning, after a long but good flight, including an eight-hour stopover in Singapore – not the worst airport to get stuck for some hours!
How weird it feels, to suddenly communicate in German (Viennese) again! Everything is so familiar and yet so strange. I instantly receive loving messages on my phone from family and friends. How wonderful it is to be back again and closer to my loved ones.
My dad recommends that I have a Wiener Melange and, without hesitation, I follow his advice and add a Breze to it! Then I catch the tram and bus to Heidiˋs place, where I will stay for two nights. The circle is round again. I am right back from where I started exactly 340 days ago!
I love Heidi’s place, and my eyes fill with tears when I find a touching welcome note in the kitchen! After a refreshing shower, I head down again, to get some air, stretch my legs and have a look at vinted shops for some new clothes. Since I donated almost all my clothes to Ukraine before leaving, I now need some new things for Norway!
When Heide gets home, we catch up and she offers me an impressive variety of clothes to choose from. She organises a “swap” day with friends several times a year. How lucky I am, to be here, right now! I am thrilled with my new finds! A fantastic long winter coat, some lovely blouses and a sexy dress.
The universe certainly means well with me!
Zillertal
My train trip from Vienna to the Ziller valley is wonderful. Evything is very well organised and far more expensive than in Australia! I have a nice conversation with the woman next to me and share the compartment with a lot of American tourists. It is interesting to see the rustic landscape passing by, through the eyes of tourists. How well I know the feeling!
My dear friend Diana picks me up from Jenbach. Since the morning, I have been feeling quite under the weather. I am not sure wheather I have picked up a bug on the aeroplane, whether it is jetlag or simply my immune system is running down because of all the mental stress I am going through right now. I am trying to get everything organised in just five days without missing out on seeing most of my friends.
What I do know is that I am going to crash soon. I need a place to simply lay down and “cocoon” for a bit.
Diana is wonderful and treats me just the way I needt. she gives me a cuddly blanket, a big mug of hot tea and some snacks to go with it. Later, her son Dean comes home too. What a wonderful kid he is! I am grateful to be with them, especially since I am not feeling “too flash“, as Kirsten from Swan Cove would call it.
Fantastic friends
After a while Diana drops me off at Monika’s. How wonderful it is to hug her again after such a long time! She instantly acts the way a good mother does, Making me feel loved, safe and at home. About half an hour later, I have a bed, a drink and healthy food, and I instantly crash. I sleep for hours.
When I wake up, I find a sweet note from her next to a tray full of goodies! The world is a better place, when you have the best of friends!
The next day, I already feel so much better. It is wonderful to be part of Monika’s family for the five days that I am here. Later on, I meet up with Helga and her dog Bonny, who has decided to drive all the way from Germany to catch up. We are invited for a hearty lunch at Christl’s.
My following days are filled with visits. I hop from one house to another. Friends offer me lifts to get to the hairdresser and visit friends, without me even having to ask. I embrace hugs and love and indulge in spending quality time with my wonderful people while catching up!
I also manage to find some time to visit my old colleagues at work and even run into some regular guests I was hoping to see. Oh girl,… it feels so good to be HOME again!
Time is way too short. I cherish every single moment with Monika and Jos and their lovely, warm-hearted family. The shared moments with Diana and Dean, Helga and Bonny, Christl, Liz and Margit, Barbara, Andrea, Petra, Manuela, Diane and German, Thomas, Selina and Jasmin, Judy, Hermann and Una, André and Wiltrud, Stefan, Rosi and Katharina, Annemaria and Conny, Alexandra and Franz, as well as my ex-collegues at work, fill my heart with gratitude and love.
Kindness around the world
It has been quite a year. A year of the most wonderful moments. A year of laughter and meeting new friends. But also a year of grieving the loss of my closest friend, my border collie Tibor.
A year of new experiences, challenges and often doubts. I never felt afraid or lonely. I often hear people say, “How brave you are!” I cannot relate to that at all. I guess without fear, there is no bravery.
For now, I am still following my heart. I am still feeling the urge to continue my journey. It is simply too early to come HOME to my beloved Ziller valley. My mountains, my friends, my memories, my old life.
I am blessed with kindness around the world. In every single country I visited, I met friends for life! My family is still growing, day by day. For that, I feel so much gratitude and love.
I am still unsure what to expect from working in Norway to support and enable myself to continue this journey. But what I do know, is that I carry a heart filled with unconditional love and support from all of you!
And that is the greatest kindness of all!
