The Shirking of Work (or Mad Snowboardery)

Upon return to work, I decided it would be prudent to engage in a little peer mentoring. Thus it came to be that after working a scant 2 days, I made arrangements to sneak off and go snowboarding with the gym teacher from my school. 6 o’ the clock on a cold January morning, we met in the dark for a 2.5 hour trip up into the mountains.
There are perhaps few things as invigorating as watching a range of mountains begin to loom closer and closer in the distance as you drive towards them…save hopping on a snowboard and sliding down them at great speed (which was soon to come).
The conversation was of course interesting, my mangled Japanese bridging the gap between Mr. Makiyama’s complete inability to use English and 0% rate of comprehension. Interesting, to say the least.
As we began to make our way up the winding mountain roads towards the still far-off ski slopes, it began to snow. My dream of (and complete and utter need for) winter had finally been fulfilled.
Chains securely fastened on the tires, we slid dangerously down the final few kilometres of road until, in the middle of a fabulous blizzard, we arrived at the foot of Daikura ski resort (located fairly deep within the Azuma mountain range), whereupon boarding and happiness of all kinds proceeded to take place.
Apres le boarding, we made our way to a nearby onsen, relaxing in the outdoor baths as the snowflakes fluffed down from above.


Winter simply kicks the shit out of summer.