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OUT OF LIFE.

LEON VON PIGAGE,

ELECTRICIAN

 

Leon is originally from Bremervörde, Germany, and is a passionate paraglider. It was his love of the mountains and dislike of the 1000-kilometre drive to get to them that convinced him to move to Lienz, where he discovered a whole new hobby.

"It often happens to get offered a coffee"

I did my apprenticeship as an electrician at home in Germany. After graduating, I went to Lienz for a three-week internship abroad through Erasmus+ , an EU funding programme. I chose East Tirol because it's a great place for paragliding. The company where I did my internship offered me a job straight away. Just six months later I moved here. It certainly made it easier for me to come here because I already knew the company and the other people I work with. I also feel that people here are much friendlier to tradespeople than where I come from – they offer you a cup of coffee, which was something I wasn't really used to before.

“You can always move back”

My boss also helped me find a flat. Before I moved here, I told myself: “If it doesn’t work out, I can always move back.” You just have to give it a try and allow yourself a little time to settle in. I was really surprised at how easy it is to move within the EU. I had expected more bureaucracy, but in fact it was no problem at all being allowed to work in Tirol with my German apprenticeship qualification. A few things are slightly different, but I quickly got used to them. One thing I like is the fact that my work has given me the chance to get to know East Tirol, especially Lienz. And next year, I want to do my master (“Meister”) here in Tirol.

"There are more hours of sunshine here"

When I first moved here, I would wake up every day, look out of the window and admire these beautiful mountains. It was also so nice to experience the different seasons here. When you're on holiday, you're just here for two or three weeks. I've been paragliding in Tirol with my family quite often, but this is the first time I've experienced autumn and the beginning of winter. When it snowed heavily and the mountains were covered in snow, it really made an impression on me. I was recently on holiday in my old home town and I really missed the mountains! And the weather in Tirol is generally better – there are more hours of sunshine here than where I come from in the far north of Germany.

"I expected more paperwork."

"Coming here was definitely the right decision"

From my first flat, I had a view of the Zettersfeld mountain, where most paragliders take off. That's where I did my first winter flight, in really cold weather. It was so special, and I remember it well. Nowadays, however, I cycle more than I paraglide. By chance, I joined a cycling group with people my age. Performance is something I am very interested in – in paragliding, you need the right equipment to improve your skills, but in road cycling, you have to invest in your physical fitness to get far, and that fascinates me. When I ride my road bike past houses where I've worked, I think to myself: "That light is on because I was there, laying the cables and wiring the circuit." That's pretty cool! Coming here was definitely the right decision – I hope I never move back.

About

Leon von Pigage is a qualified electrician and has been working for the company "Elektro Kühlung Duregger" in Lienz, Tirol, for two years. He is a passionate paraglider and has also discovered road cycling here.

 

Erasmus plus

Erasmus+ is an EU funding programme that offers apprentices the opportunity to complete an internship in another European country. The duration of the internship can be between two weeks and twelve months. It is also possible to do such an internship abroad up to one year after completing the final apprenticeship examination. The stays are financially supported and enable young people to gain professional experience, get to know new cultures and develop personally.

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