Day 13

Happy 1
After much persuasion, I agreed to go on a two-day snowboarding trip. It is only my second time. Although I vaguely remember having some fun last time, I was really dreading the bit where I had to come off the ski lift without fallen over and stopping the whole thing from running. I am incredibly clumsy and do not take much risk on most things. My friends might say I am way too practical and grounded. To try something like snowboarding almost sounds absurd. It was still beyond me that I actually did it once, almost a year ago. We had planned to go again but the earthquake suddenly hit Japan. I must admit that I was a little nervous given the terrible things that had happened the last time we tried. Despite all that, I arrived on the same ski slope again. I almost freaked out when they told us we could not have a lesson as all the instructors had been booked out! I could not even remember how to put on the board! A very slow start. But it happened. I finally made it on the ski lift and I did not fall over… straightaway that was! The lesson was that it was an incredible feeling to overcome some real fear and be able to come out the other side feeling stronger. I was also inspired by all the little kids that were just going for it. And I felt chuffed – for I had defeated fear today (on a small scale)!

Happy 2
It was snowing sooooooo much! My face was covered by snow. I could hardly see a thing with my rather low tech googles that I had to abandon in the end as the visibility was just too low. My hair got really manky and the bits that stuck out were frozen. I was so sweaty and smelly that I would not want to stand near me. I fell over many many times, on numerous occasions I had to do the less than elegant action of rolling over and trying to get up again while falling straight back on my butt. Yet I persisted until the ski lift was closed for the day. I was still really bad but I was proud of myself. I also found thinking aloud help with my manoeuvre. I wonder if I could still stand up tomorrow…

Happy 3
Back to the hotel and headed straight to the hot springs, the rotemburo was in the middle of the snow. I had never been in an outside hot spring while it was snowing. It was snowing so heavily that you could hardly see the face of the person next to you. It was this wonderful in a hotel hot spring. I wonder what it must be like in a real outdoor bath in the mountain. Wearing a straw hat, soaking in an outdoor hot spring while it was snowing – Japan has not stopped to amaze me.