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Sunday, 11 Nov 07
I grew up in a nice place in south of France, close to the sea and not far from the mountains. My family are mountain dwellers from a small village in the middle of nowhere, but so nice views.
I spend part of my summer and winter in Austria, when I was much younger. Back when I was a kid, my parents, my brother and myself used to travel around Europe in an old car and a tent; we met so many interesting people, lovely place.
Thanks to my father to share with me, his sense for the adventure and his passion for the mountains and everything, which go with it (hiking, climbing, skiing, mountaineering…). We used to be inseparable but unfortunately when I was 18 years old, life called him back, he died in a mountain accident (it was difficult cause we had to look for him during 2 months: bad weather, at this time I was supposed to go hiking with him instead I went skiing in Austria…). For me, it was a shocked, I didn’t believe it and during few years I was in deny. Inside of me, it was like I was dead also.
I forget everything that remember my father (skiing, hiking, the mountains), I kind of stopped living. One day I realized I will never see him again and I never told him goodbye and I love him. I went on big depression (suicide attempts, anorexia, cutting…).
After for and back to the hospitals, at 23 years old, I decided to take some fresh air and went for 2 weeks in NYC by myself and stayed over 5 years in Manhattan and Colorado. I had to put a space between France and me. Knowing nobody in the states, I found a job as waitress (I have a diploma in hotel and restaurant management), and made so nice friends.
Here I started to feel better to see life with a different view, went back on ski, and raced as Master. During this time in USA I traveled around the east coast, skied in such nice places :Jackson Hole, Vermont, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oregon. When I lived in Vail, I met some ski teamers, like Sarah Schleper and Lindsey Kidlow, since then I’m a big fan and supporter of the Us Ski Team‘s Girls. They rules!!!
I had to come back in France for family matters, but before leaving I rented a car, and went from Colorado to San Diego and then from San Diego I drove to Washington state: a magical road trip. I miss the states!
Back in France 2003, I started slowly to going back hiking, and skiing, even climbed the Kilimandjaro: memorable experience, went to Thailand, and starting to enjoying the mountains and its beauty. But I was still in deny through my father’s death I thought I was ok, but not I still didn’t accept his depart. And my grandfather who took my father place died as well, so one more time, I had a depression. I had a job, not I really liked it but it made me live. My boss was kind of asshole, and I always said ‘yes’ when I needed my help, and for what not even a thank you one time, so I quitted last year.
So I decided after some reflections that I will be better, if I’m doing good in my life: helping others. I found an address on internet of an orphanage in Nepal, emailed them if they needed help. Here spring 2006, went for 5 months in Nepal, working as volunteer with children in Nepal. Can’t explain my experience so powerful, Nepalese people are so wonderful, they have nothing but they give you everything. I tried to stay longer but tourist visa are only for 5months/year. During my time in Nepal, went on small trekking: Annapurna Base camp, near the big mountains you fell so small.
After that I took a bus and a train to India and went to Laddak, where I made a 23 days trekking in this beautiful place on the earth, met so kind and generous people. After that I spend few months in Dharmasala ( where the Dalai Lama lives), teaching French to the refugees Tibetans, learning Reiki, yoga, Tibetan massage, and taking classes on Buddhism.
Through the Buddhism I finally made the mourning of my dad. I know now, I have a dad who watching over me. And my vision of life has completely changed, seeing these people who have nothing, lost some family, came from Tibet through the mountains : they never complain, and they appreciate life
We had so much to learn from them. The wisdom of Buddhism thought me, that death is part of the life, we are just visitors in the planet. It’s not because someone died , it’s over, his soul is still with you. And nothing can take away the good moments. I came back in France, as a changed person, for me it was hard to come back (harder in south of France, where it’s only about money and fashion) cause it’s not my vision of life.
This winter enjoy and appreciate my life, I decided, I need to do something I like. As I like to be in mountains, I said why not sharing my passion (that my father gave me) with others. So since June I’m back in school, and studying (geology, fauna, flora, history…), hiking, racing to become a mountain guide. My 1st exam is in few days, if I pass I have 2 years before the certification. I ‘m stressed, lots of questions if I don’t pass, what to do next with my life…
But I have to think positive, and it just a test, they will be one next here. As the Buddhists say: Always put worries in there proper place, out of your mind. Believe in yourself, if you won’t nobody will. The world is round. The place you may see like the end, may also be the beginning.
I do a lots of thing by myself. why? Cause if I wait after others, nothing is never done. I will always stay here. I prefer met new cultures, new peoples, new countries, even if it’s by myself. Beside these, Now, I try to appreciate and enjoy life as more as possible cause we never know, what life is made of. I like to laugh, to make stupid things.
Speaking of the ski teamers, I never met them (beside Sarah Schleper and Lindsey Kidlow), but went on a lots of races of cheer them up but to shy to say ‘hello’. They are so cool, especially, the funny Resi, always there where the fun is. Hopefully this year, I will have the courage to say ‘Hi‘. Hope they all will kick some ass at the races!!
Profile: Cecile Giuge
Comment on this Post CECILE GIUGE is SheJumps’ first international “Jumper.” She is an avid outdoorswoman and ski racing fan. Life hasn't been easy, though. At 18 her dad died, and she lost hope and battled deep depression. She coped by traveling the world, meeting new people and studying Buddhism. Now she always has a positive outlook on life. And she is everyone’s No. 1 fan and supporter. Here’s her unedited story directly from France ...
I grew up in a nice place in south of France, close to the sea and not far from the mountains. My family are mountain dwellers from a small village in the middle of nowhere, but so nice views.
I spend part of my summer and winter in Austria, when I was much younger. Back when I was a kid, my parents, my brother and myself used to travel around Europe in an old car and a tent; we met so many interesting people, lovely place.
Thanks to my father to share with me, his sense for the adventure and his passion for the mountains and everything, which go with it (hiking, climbing, skiing, mountaineering…). We used to be inseparable but unfortunately when I was 18 years old, life called him back, he died in a mountain accident (it was difficult cause we had to look for him during 2 months: bad weather, at this time I was supposed to go hiking with him instead I went skiing in Austria…). For me, it was a shocked, I didn’t believe it and during few years I was in deny. Inside of me, it was like I was dead also.
I forget everything that remember my father (skiing, hiking, the mountains), I kind of stopped living. One day I realized I will never see him again and I never told him goodbye and I love him. I went on big depression (suicide attempts, anorexia, cutting…).
After for and back to the hospitals, at 23 years old, I decided to take some fresh air and went for 2 weeks in NYC by myself and stayed over 5 years in Manhattan and Colorado. I had to put a space between France and me. Knowing nobody in the states, I found a job as waitress (I have a diploma in hotel and restaurant management), and made so nice friends.
Here I started to feel better to see life with a different view, went back on ski, and raced as Master. During this time in USA I traveled around the east coast, skied in such nice places :Jackson Hole, Vermont, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oregon. When I lived in Vail, I met some ski teamers, like Sarah Schleper and Lindsey Kidlow, since then I’m a big fan and supporter of the Us Ski Team‘s Girls. They rules!!!
I had to come back in France for family matters, but before leaving I rented a car, and went from Colorado to San Diego and then from San Diego I drove to Washington state: a magical road trip. I miss the states!
Back in France 2003, I started slowly to going back hiking, and skiing, even climbed the Kilimandjaro: memorable experience, went to Thailand, and starting to enjoying the mountains and its beauty. But I was still in deny through my father’s death I thought I was ok, but not I still didn’t accept his depart. And my grandfather who took my father place died as well, so one more time, I had a depression. I had a job, not I really liked it but it made me live. My boss was kind of asshole, and I always said ‘yes’ when I needed my help, and for what not even a thank you one time, so I quitted last year.
So I decided after some reflections that I will be better, if I’m doing good in my life: helping others. I found an address on internet of an orphanage in Nepal, emailed them if they needed help. Here spring 2006, went for 5 months in Nepal, working as volunteer with children in Nepal. Can’t explain my experience so powerful, Nepalese people are so wonderful, they have nothing but they give you everything. I tried to stay longer but tourist visa are only for 5months/year. During my time in Nepal, went on small trekking: Annapurna Base camp, near the big mountains you fell so small.
After that I took a bus and a train to India and went to Laddak, where I made a 23 days trekking in this beautiful place on the earth, met so kind and generous people. After that I spend few months in Dharmasala ( where the Dalai Lama lives), teaching French to the refugees Tibetans, learning Reiki, yoga, Tibetan massage, and taking classes on Buddhism.
Through the Buddhism I finally made the mourning of my dad. I know now, I have a dad who watching over me. And my vision of life has completely changed, seeing these people who have nothing, lost some family, came from Tibet through the mountains : they never complain, and they appreciate life
We had so much to learn from them. The wisdom of Buddhism thought me, that death is part of the life, we are just visitors in the planet. It’s not because someone died , it’s over, his soul is still with you. And nothing can take away the good moments. I came back in France, as a changed person, for me it was hard to come back (harder in south of France, where it’s only about money and fashion) cause it’s not my vision of life.
This winter enjoy and appreciate my life, I decided, I need to do something I like. As I like to be in mountains, I said why not sharing my passion (that my father gave me) with others. So since June I’m back in school, and studying (geology, fauna, flora, history…), hiking, racing to become a mountain guide. My 1st exam is in few days, if I pass I have 2 years before the certification. I ‘m stressed, lots of questions if I don’t pass, what to do next with my life…
But I have to think positive, and it just a test, they will be one next here. As the Buddhists say: Always put worries in there proper place, out of your mind. Believe in yourself, if you won’t nobody will. The world is round. The place you may see like the end, may also be the beginning.
I do a lots of thing by myself. why? Cause if I wait after others, nothing is never done. I will always stay here. I prefer met new cultures, new peoples, new countries, even if it’s by myself. Beside these, Now, I try to appreciate and enjoy life as more as possible cause we never know, what life is made of. I like to laugh, to make stupid things.
Speaking of the ski teamers, I never met them (beside Sarah Schleper and Lindsey Kidlow), but went on a lots of races of cheer them up but to shy to say ‘hello’. They are so cool, especially, the funny Resi, always there where the fun is. Hopefully this year, I will have the courage to say ‘Hi‘. Hope they all will kick some ass at the races!!
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