JAPOW!

Woke up this morning to a nice fresh dump of powder....and it was my day off =)

Kokusai this morning

Helen

Smiley Helen

The lil' fella

A very happy Penny

Me :)

First taste of Japanese powder!

Today was the opening of Happo One's ski area. In the morning all the Evergreen Instructors headed up to the top of the mountain for our first ski/board of the season.

Bubble up to the snow!

The skiing girls

Roomies on the chair

Team photo

"I'm definitely the best skiier on the mountain"

 And when we came back for our lunch, we randomly met a Tokyo radio station (Nak) who recorded all of us saying Watashiwo hakuba ni tsuretette (meaning "take me to Hakuba") in mainly terrible Japanese accents! Maybe we'll be aired on Tokyo radio? Or maybe not!

Radio Nak

Amanda boarding

The cloud cleared for maybe 10 mins in the afternoon so we could see mountains and actually where we were going!

Helen

Toby

In and around Hakuba and Happo One

View from Happo One looking east

Hakuba 47

Temple in Happo One

Vege feast at EOC staff outing in Hakuba

Kate, Emma, Helen and Sam out for dinner in Hakuba

Master Braster in Echoland

Roomies!

Cute skiing buddah

A home from home

Here are some photos of the place I'm staying in whilst living in Hakuba. It's called Kokusai Lodge (meaning "international" in English) and right next to the ski slopes and ski school.
There are about 25 people living here so there is never a dull moment! Anyway here are the photos....

Hanna, Dave, Toby and Ryan in the common room...the warmest room of the lodge thanks to the kerosene heaters!

Kitchen artwork

Helen on our very own bouldering wall!

We also have a mini-ramp in the basement!

Japan: the first 24 hours

Well I made it to Japan with my 70kg of luggage! Was pretty jet-lagged but had an great transfer ride from Tokyo to Hakuba with beautiful sunny weather and great scenery. Met nearlly all of the friendly Evergreen staff and had a trip to the supermarket; wasn't too sure what most of the food was but it all looked interesting! There is no snow here at the ski school base yet but hopefully some is on the way. We started our staff training today, which lasts a week but we have a couple of parties planned too :).....and some photos of course....

Most amazing toilet ever. So many buttons!

A bit of Tokyo with Mt. Fuji

No snow yet! Hopefully soon!

Ski school office

Possibly the best room in Hakuba ;)

My Japanese style room :)

Japan bound...

Finally finished packing for Japan, so thought I should celebrate with a glass of wine (or 2) with the mother. Proudly wearing my "I heart Japan t-shirt"; an awesome xmas pressie from my Aunty Jane and Rach!

I arrive in Hakuba on Sunday, then I have an Instructor induction for 6 days, but I'll try and put up some photos when I can :)

Arty time

I've not painted anything in way too long of a time, so to pass some time between Switerland and Japan here is my first attempt in a couple of years! Taken from a photo whilst trekking in Ladakh