Afro-hiking Internship

Living as an Afro-European has it's ups and downs, just like every other situation. In this Blog we try to document some highlights in our lives, telling our stories raw but with a touch of lemon.

So the day started with the wish for the rain to show its best sides and flood the streets so i won't be able to go to work and therefore not go hiking in the mountains with my Co-workers (i'm just an intern) ;-)

My Grandmama used to say to my father: Mmadu choro ihu eligwe, o ngboaha ka mmiri ga na ga nje -The only time you want to see the stars, the rain will show it's grace-. The rain showed it's grace, but in a fairly measured amount so it was a trekking day picked out by the gods of Amadioha themselves. Amadioha (the god of thunder and lightning) is one of the famous gods of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria.

After what seemed like a two hours drive up to our destination, we were privileged to be given a grand tour of the house of a major artist and explorer of the 20th century Paul Kassecker. During the first world war, he had worked as a War illustrator and taken part in a lot of other creative press publishes. He also received a lot of accolades. Funny enough he had gone  to the same school I attend now. *____*

Paul Kassecker himself.... Source: http://www.st-ilgen.at/web/seiten/Hochschwabmuseum/ausstellung%202012.htm

http://www.bergfex.at/sommer/rund-um-den-hochschwab/highlights/1893-hochschwabmuseum-beim-bodenbauer-in-st-ilgen/

http://www.bergfex.at/sommer/rund-um-den-hochschwab/highlights/1893-hochschwabmuseum-beim-bodenbauer-in-st-ilgen/

Oh and the guy was also a stone collector. 

This place is basically where the water for the city I live in comes from. One just gotta love miniature works.

Kassecher's home which is now a museum called: Hochschwab museum

A miniature topography  and Kassecher's hiking equipments

Visiting goats before you start a journey this death defying is very much vital.

 I still can't believe I spent my afternoon surrounded by mountains and these splendid views.

 It was such a nice opportunity

This is a mountain goat

 And finally reaching our destination at the Häuslalm, we had a drink and got back our energy to walk back down, with each and everyone of us with a mesmerising awe of nature. Getting down, the network bars got their strengths back and took us to our digital worlds.
Afterwards, we had a colorful dessert and drove back to the city.


I am so grateful I got invited, and despite my being african and don't get all hikecited like the Austrians, I must say it was a very eyeopening experience and I do see myself doing it again in the nearest future. *____*

This is Georg. He likes hiking and obviously facial hair. Georg has misplaced a lot of his phones; What he said about that was: "It is because of people like me that smartphone companies are profiting". However many phones he has misplaced, he has no favorite music genre, he is open for news... Two years ago, Georg visited Lagos, Nigeria to research on his masters thesis, there he had a lot of life changing experiences, which we have on tape. We are so excited to have a great story as his and can't wait to share the outcome. 

Thanks Georg!







Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!