Warning!
This is a book for the open-minded only!
If you feel that you already know all about the mysteries of our existence, your view of life is set and you would like to keep it this way, then this book is not meant for you. Don't bother reading...
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Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.
- Swami Sivananda
In Order to go to the skiing week all of the pupils from our grade, together with a few teachers, had to assemble early one frigid Monday morning in February in front of the school.
Having been sorted into the three waiting busses, we hurried inside as soon as the doors opened, everybody scrambling to snatch the best place. I eagerly pointed at a row of two empty seats when I spotted Sofi, happy to have found the perfect partner for the long bus ride: "Do you want to sit next to me?"
Looking slightly uneasy, the tall girl apologetically shook her head. "I have promised Jul I'd sit with her ..."
I felt a pang of rejection at her words, but tried my best not to show it. "It's fine, I shall find somebody else."
Quickly scanning the crowd, I searched for somebody I would have liked to keep me company during the bus ride. At the same time, I had to fight to stand my ground, as I was being pushed and shoved by people trying to get past me to the seats further back in the bus.
I was looking for Diana, but she had already settled down beside Lisa, who would have been my third choice. Soni was nowhere in sight.
Feeling defeated and slightly disappointed, I finally climbed into the window seat, leaving the space next to me empty.
"Great, a free seat! Can I join you?"
I turned my head towards the voice, cringing inwardly as soon as I recognized its owner. Sarah.
We did not have anything in common and her exuberant, chatty personality really got quite annoying after a while. Why, on earth, did it have to be her? I was so not in the mood!
Biting back a sigh, I nodded. "Go ahead."
The stout, big-eyed girl, whose dark hair was, as usual, fixed in a thick braid, happily plopped down in the seat next to me. "I'm so excited! I wonder what group I will get put into! I hope it's not with Professor Hausmann. She can be so strict and I think she does not like me very much ..." Sarah gushed.
I turned my face towards the window. This was going to be a long ride...
******
When we finally, after what appeared to be an eternity, arrived at our destination, my already frail nerves were tested even more: Herding a group of almost one hundred fourteen-year olds into one chalet - however big - took time. Lots of it!
After everybody had retrieved every single one of their items from the bus (which sounds much easier and faster than it actually was... How is it that there are always those, who realize that they have left something on the bus, just when it's about to leave...!), we were assigned and shown our rooms. Those were quite narrow and contained six bunk beds, three on each of the parallel walls. The other two walls held the small window and a porcelain sink next to the door.
