Saturday, December 24, 2011

A Readheaded Santa

Merry Christmas from Hokkaido Japan!


Seeing as Niseko's resident Santa had fallen ill (poor Brian…), Pete took over the part. The role included giving out gifts, posing for photos as well as riding in a reindeer pulled sleigh (!). Though lacking the traditional white beard, I thought he made a pretty convincing Santa; he was cute to boot. Though maybe not as cute as all the Japanese babies. I might just take one when no one is looking. Just kidding. No, not really.


Much love to family and friends back home. I miss you all even more this time of year.



Wonderland Chair: "The pizza box"


Santa & the Hokkaido Potatoe

In Santa's Sleigh.

Katsue, Santa & Satsuki.

The lovely choir of instructors.

Redhead Santa.

Arriving on his reindeer pulled sleigh.

Handing out gifts.

Choir having a few cups of Christmas cheer.

Candlelit snow.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Pow, English Fun Nights, Pete's Birthday & More Pow

Thus far, Japan has not been short of surprises, fun and new experiences. We've spent nights with japanese high school kids with next to no english skills, skied in new places and celebrated like the best. All this as we embark on the busiest time of the season; the holidays.

"English Fun Night" is put on by the hotel for high school students on ski holidays to have an experience with us gaijin (foreigners). We enter the room to theme music, introduce ourselves to approximately 300 students and proceed to eat a meal in front of giggling teenagers. To make it all the more awkward, they've all eaten already. They watch, point and laugh and whisper things in japanese. As if they needed to whisper. When one of them can muster up the courage, they aways ask if a boyfriend was in the picture. Answering yes to a table of girls is always followed by applause, blushing and laughter: best reaction ever. Answering yes to a table of boys is always followed by oohs and ahs, then dissapointment. Brilliant. The funniest is when they walk around and ask to take pictures with you. It's as though they shop around for the foreigner they find the most attractive. All in all, an interesting if not good time.

Apart from the cultural evenings, the everyday has been more or less the same. We "shovel" in the morning, ride pow, teach a few lessons, ride more pow, then fall asleep. The whole being punctuated with copious amounts of eating. Not a bad life.

This year, my read head turned 26. We celebrated with beer pong and flip cup in the communal kitchen followed by a night of karaoke. A good time was had by all, especially Pete.

Skiing in Hirafu, our neighbouring resort

Coffee in can. Gotta love it.

Sun set in the birch trees.

Full moon in the pine trees.

Poutine! I can smell it from a mile away...
Engrisho Fun Nito!

Flip Cup for Pete's Bday.

@Ezo

Karaoke with Tom & James.

The boys rocking out.

"Shovelling"... spot the westerners?

Me ripping up the pow. Nipple deep!

Danno in the gondorra.

Pete shredding.

With my cutie-pie student, Sydney.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Naked in Japan

Did I get your attention? The funniest part is that I'm actually not lying. I frequently find myself naked in Japan, with many other people. Let's explore this.

Though we've only been here less about a week, it feels as though I know everyone really well. It's amazing how this industry of shared passion brings people together. Stories just seem to mesh, as though we've all just been waiting to come together in this incredibly unique country. It does help that we all shower together; being naked helps the "getting to know you" process speed along.

Now then. Getting to the, ahem, naked part.

The whole concept of an Onsen is just pure genius:

Step 1: Strip off your clothes and your shame.
Step 2: Scrub down.
Step 3: Step into the natural hot spring tub and chill.

It's essentially a giant hot tub full of spring water naturally heated by the nearby volcanic activity. You get over nudity quite quickly. Following suit with japanese customs, men and women are separated.


No men in the women's dormitory. Got it.

Beautiful blue bird day revealing Mt. Yotei (active volcano...!)

Niseko Village

Big Bang.

Another fantastic idea, courtesy of Japan: nomi-hodai. Roughly translated, all you can drink.

Beards unite.

The result of cheap, out of a plastic bottle vodka.

Danno, myself & the travelling gnome.

Les boys: Danno, Petah and Sebastian.

Katsue in a turban

In le snow.

Sessioning with Brian San.

Sitting the SAJ (japanese skiing association) exam

Still snowing

Bonnichiwa in the Hilton Onsen. Definitely an illegal photo.


The crew in the shuttle home.

So... go for a ski, chill in the Onsen and hang out. Life is tough.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Conichiwa Japan!

24 hours of travel and we finally arrive in Sapporo. Another visa, another plane ticket and a new country for our travelling gypsy duo. Japan it is for winter 2011-12; Pete and I are barely containing ourselves we're so excited to ride the legendary powder!

Accommodation is interesting to say the very least. Ladies and gents are separated, rooms are shared and showers are open. Quite the shock for our westernized souls. Apart from that though, Bonnie (room mate/good friend from NZ) and I lucked out. We got a fairly large room with our own sink and toilet; a huge score!

Just two days here and I've already managed to get my foreign ID card, my hanko (signature seal in japanese characters) and a bank account. Pretty well sorted indeed. It must be said that all us foreigners have been held by the hand every step of the way. We were picked up from the airport, accompanied and driven pretty much everywhere and explained everything in vivid detail.

We might be skiing tomorrow...


A tired Pete in Narita Airport

Michelle in a crammed, overpacked car during the airport pick-up

Our walk-in pantry.

Le boudoir avec Bonnichiwa

View from the Bedroom

Home sweet home: The Sansou

Le Ski School @ Niseko Village

Ball room in the Hilton

A snowy scene

Fluffy champagne powder!

The Crew

Niseko Village ski area as viewed from the Greenleaf Hotel

Bonichiwa or Bon Weasley. Your choice.

The Green Leaf Onsen (natural hot springs)

Le transportation