Getting paid to study German? How can that be a thing?

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In between raising a child I’ve taken on another challenge: learning German… again.

You see, there is a thing in Austria called Ausbildungskarenz. Which translates to something like training on leave. With the blessing of your company, you can take time off work to do some kind of further education. There are plenty of courses available, the caveat being that it has to be relevant to your line of work. For this you get the time off (can range from months up to a year) to study, as well as a bit of cash for doing it.

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The garden summary 2023

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vegetable garden 2023

It was a bit of a weird season this year. Things didn’t really go to plan. But they never really do, do they?

Since time was scarce having to run around after an almost one-year-old, I decided to work smart this year. I started early with the radishes in a small free standing garden bed to reduce the amount of weeding. I watered them and I remembered to put the lid on every night. Except one night.

And then this happened. Snow.

snow on radishes
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What’s your favourite spot in the aeroplane?

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aeroplane seating plan

Every traveller seems to have one. There’s not always a reason for it, but most people will pick a similar place every time they fly. Hubby and I clash because he likes to sit on the left of the plane and I prefer the right. There’s no rhyme or reason as to why we prefer these sides… it just is what it is. So what are you? A window or an aisle person? On the wing for less turbulence? Toward the back because statistically that part of the plane is more likely to remain intact upon impact? (I’d be lying if I said the thought had never crossed my mind) All I can say is that it really does seem to come down to personal preference.

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Weird things Austrians… eat… Herring Salad

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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, and if you find yourself in Austria on this day it’s highly likely you will be served… Herring Salad. The main ingredient is obviously herring (often pickled), and though there are different versions, think of a creamy texture with things like apple, gherkins, potatoes and beetroot mixed in.

How did this tradition develop, you ask?

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My favourite baby products 6-12 months

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baby pen

Following on from my previous posts of favourite baby products from 0-3 months and 3-6 months, read on for my picks for 6-12 months.

The pen

Yay, Sam’s started crawling! Uh oh… Sam’s started crawling. Time to invest in a safe place for him to hang out when I need to prepare his food or go to the toilet. We were lucky enough to get a hand-me-down, and even though it’s more like a big cot than a grand play pen, it’s enough to keep him occupied and safe for those inevitable moments.

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Back at work… for 5 weeks

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Back to work

As mentioned in my previous blog, the Austrian maternity leave system is generous. So I opted to go back to work for two months while hubby stayed home with Sam. During this time I also took all the holidays owed to me, so the end result was a brief five week stint of work for me.

I’m not sure how ideal it is for businesses – to gain an employee back for such a limited amount of time, or to lose one, but it did me a whole lot of good, and in the end, that’s the most important thing.

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The Austrian maternity leave system – giving me a break

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baby shoes

I was told when I moved to Austria that if I planned to have children I should definitely do it here because the system is so generous. And yeah… it was hard going through pregnancy and postpartum in a foreign country… but the advice was right… the maternity leave is generous. The system is good to parents.

Starting with eight weeks of paid leave before you even go on official maternity leave, it’s pretty standard to take two years off as a stay at home parent. During this time your workplace cannot fire you. And they must take you back in a part time role.

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Tick… tick… tick… boom

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tick

I am Australian. I come from the land of dangerous animals… of deadly crocodiles and sharks and jellyfish and snakes and spiders… all of which I never really worried much about when I was in Australia.

But here in Austria… the ticks freak me out.

Tiny little creatures, they are. Innocently bumbling around in grass and foliage on the forest floor. Not too smart, not too fast. But since you don’t feel them bite, they just hang out on you for a while… gorging.

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