Heebie Skibies

Back in Tomakomai (at John's research station again). Spent the last 4 days at a ski resort called Niseko skiing with the Fulbrighters - and I made it out without any injuries. The snow in Niseko was downright amazing - fresh, dry powder everywhere everyday to ski on. People kept saying it was as good or better than anything they had skiied on in Canada. Too bad my form was poor and my legs were tired - I could only half enjoy it while half-praying my muscles wouldn't give out from under me.

We stayed at a little bed and breakfast called 'Cisco Moon' and it was really cute and the owners were really nice. The food they served us was delicious and we had plenty of space to spread out and be messy in our rooms. The guy's room had a little loft above it, kind of like an attic, where we played cards together one night. Every evening after skiing, we all went to an onsen across the street to take a shower and sit naked in a steaming pool of hot spring water (yes, guys and girls are separate). It smelled slightly of sulfur, and after the bath you had to take another shower to wash the yellow off. But it was nice to sit out in a hot rotenburo (outdoor bath) with the snowdrifts on the wall and snow falling.

It's nice to get to spend time with some of the Fulbrighters I haven't had the chance to get to know better. I feel like we're all getting closer - and not just because we've seen each other naked.

Tomorrow we're off to Sapporo, and then five days later I'm down in Fukuoka. Gotta go eat dinner.