Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Being a novice

My life is busy, in a self-inflicted kind of way. I won't bore you with the details (because that WOULD be boring), but for the sake of my mother, who always loves to hear how I am, the answer is fine.

But enough! Today I am going to write about my new passion: skiing.

Do you know how much it costs to ski? To gear up and really ski? A lot.

In the last two weeks, I've bought a new ski jacket, ski gloves, ski goggles, ski shirts, ski socks, ski poles, ski boots and a ski bag. The only thing I haven't bought? Skis.

My friends are die-hard skiers. I suck at skiing. So, much like my life (sigh), I am faced to ski the green slopes by my lonesome. But, I don't mind. It's just another part of this routine I call Japan.

Have I ever told you how much it costs to live in Japan? It's a lot. (And what does this have to do with skiing, you ask? I'm getting to that...).

You see, when you live abroad (or maybe it's just me), it doesn't feel like you are really living, but more like you're on vacation. So, you spend money as if it were coming out your ear (really, maybe it's just me). Did I flinch last week when I did buy those skiing gloves for $60? Maybe for a moment. The ski boots for $300? I didn't bat an eyelash.

This weekend, in an attempt to NOT be such a novice, I am even having private ski lessons. It is my goal, now, to ski well by the time I leave Japan. I can officially say that I have been skiing this month more than I have ever been in my life, and I am loving it. Good thing too, for the sake of all my new gear. Seriously.

So, Nagano (yes, that's where they held the winter olympics!), here I come.

Small children, beware. I am taller, faster, and heavier than you (and my brakes don't work yet...)

2 comments:

YOuhadmeatasl said...

I think it's really easy to spend money in Japan because it's like.. "well it's just 6,000 yen... yen... yen..." (falling into a meditative trance as I hand over 6k yen).

Anonymous said...

I can't believe how much we have in common! I just started skiing too! And I too am terrible! I stay on the easy hills and I go back and forth, back and forth. I do not fly wildly down the middle out of control like some other people around me. I am bound and determined to get better. I have sweet goggles. I look like Peekabo Street.