Hakuba Ski Trip 2011

A while back (January 14-16), Shizuoka Prefecture ALTs and Yamanashi Prefecture ALTs met up in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture for a weekend of skiing fun! The drive took about 4 and a half hours (forecast for almost 6 hours) thanks to good directions and generous speeding on the expressway. Shh! Don't tell!

We arrived about 10:30 at the Lady Diana Hotel in Hakuba. There wasn't much snow on the ground, but it was forecast to snow all night and all weekend.

This is what we woke up to on Saturday morning!!!!
Talk about a Winter Wonderland!

Sophie, Drew, and I are ready to hit the slopes!!!!!

Making some new friends with the Yamanashi ALTs.

My apologies that I didn't get any pictures of me actually skiing this time. The snow was coming down VERY hard and it was difficult to maneuver poles, gloves, cold fingers, and to keep my lens from fogging up all at once. We're meeting again in February so maybe I'll have better luck then!

January Photos

For most of the pictures, please check Facebook
The Nagano Ski trip didn't make it to the Facebook album so those will be included here.

Starting off at the Bunny Slope

Brian, my ski-buddy!

Yes. With my short legs, my skiis stuck straight up when I sat on the lift. Fun times... fun times...

FRIENDS!!! Andrew, Brian, and Jaime!

Goings On: Too Much

Perhaps I bit off more than I can chew.

There has been so much on my plate that since arriving back from Christmas vacation, I have had little time to sit down and type out anything unrelated to work, Shizuoka AJET, or sumo.

This past weekend, I thought to take a time out for myself and go skiing in Nagano. It was an eventful trip with many "memory moments" when you have to be optimistic and just chill, reminding yourself "We'll get home, when we get home". After a small accident, lots of snow on the roads, many missed turns and detours, and a dead car battery, I finally got home at 1:30 am this morning.

Recently, I have stepped in as an officer for Shizuoka AJET, an organization that plans events for all the JETs (and any accompanying friends) in Shizuoka. My job has been to finalize all Sapporo Snow Festival payments, rooming, the charter bus, and money. I've already dealt with people who are making changes to their plans, want refunds, drop-outs, a hotel change, charter bus meeting points and leaders and overall BAAAAAAHHHH!!!
On Friday, I am meeting with our travel agent to make the final payment for everything. I am counting on everyone to send in their money to the joint AJET account so that I can pay the travel agent. I hope people do not procrastinate too long. The actual trip is February 5-8.

This Saturday, I am going to the sumo tournament with 4 friends, 3 of whom need to pay me back for the tickets that I bought for everyone. Usually, I am not a stickler on payback times, but as I see these friends rarely, I'd rather get that money back sooner rather than later. And since I hold all the tickets, I hope they show up on time at the designated place so that we do not miss any of the action.

An elementary school sent letters from the students to answer questions about Japan. While there hasn't been a deadline mentioned, I have become stressed that I need to get this done in a timely manner. Preferably, I'd like to wait until March to send my replies, but as a fellow teacher, I know what it is like waiting and depending upon someone else.

Class starts in 10 minutes. Maybe I won't lose my head.