keeping myself warm...

outside my front window

So, if I had to endure such cold indoor temperatures, you might ask, how did a pansy like me survive three snowy Japanese winters?

Well...

I learned to ski.

In the fall of my first year, Mike (the 外人 from the next town over) took me to a ski shop he had found on the highway on the outskirts of 前橋 Maebashi. All of last season's ski gear was on sale; the Japanese would only ever be seen on the slopes with the newest skis and ski bunny wear.

For us non-fashion conscious 外人, the cheaper the better!

So I went and bought my first pair of 180 cm skis (having never been on downhills before, we figured that would me an adequate length), my poles, my boots and a pair of ski pants. Nothing matching, of course.

At the first good snow of the season, Mike called and he, Chris (a gal from Montana who lived up the mountain from us), John from Perth and I went and hit the slopes. By the end of that first day I was going down the 初級 shokyu beginner's level slope decently well.

thankfully, not my house

That winter, as we lived within 45 minutes of wonderful ski slopes, I went skiing at least 10 times. It was expensive; easily $100/day for lift tickets alone, but as I didn't have to rent any skis, the discounted price I paid for them was validated.

Over my three year's stay I became a decent skier. All speed, no grace. I came close to kissing a few trees here and there but somehow always maintained. Once I went skiing at 草津 Kusatsu and went in jeans, not in ski pants. Some of my students were there and, every time they saw me they would exclaim "かっこいいい！kakkoiii! How cool-looking is that!" Apparently only Japanese who are *really* good skiers would ever go in jeans...they are the ones that never fall.

I was also invited to teach ski school for my jr. high schoolers my third year, which was exciting just to be asked. I had my girls "quack-quacking" down the hill with me as I blew my Oregon Duck call whistle (this was the year they had made Rose Bowl, after all...) to guide my little flock down the white shoulder of mountain.

my rockin' ski school students!

I had two favorite pasttimes that followed my ski adventures. One was going to eat hot ラメン ramen. The salty soup would replenish all fluids lost in the exertion required to ski all day, while heading the body from the inside out. When possible, I loved to visit the 温泉 onsen hot springs. The hot water would warm me, body and soul, washing away all the impending aches from overexertion on the slopes.

More on the hot springs in the next post....!