Christmas Ski Trip
December 26th, 2008
Merry Christmas and happy New Year! This Christmas, several PAS students went on an unforgettable ski trip to Hokkaido, Japan. After the plane landed at the New Chitose Airport, the students embarked on a three hour bus ride to the Rustsu Resort. They arrived late in the afternoon, and just as they got off the bus, snowflakes began to fall onto their faces; some of them even opened their mouths. That was their first taste of snow in Hokkaido. After a long day’s journey, everyone was hungry and tired. They filled their stomachs with a scrumptious dinner of unique Japanese dishes, ranging from sashimi to fried chicken.
On the first day some PAS students who had skied before had an intense review session on the basic skills, such as braking, turning, and making s-shaped figures. After the review session, some students hopped onto a gondola and undertook a fervent quest to conquer all of the slopes in the resort. The formidable mountain slopes were dotted with coniferous trees that were covered with sparkling white snow. That is what you call a white Christmas. There are three main mountains at the resort and the PAS students conquered them all, even some of the black diamond slopes!
Sitting on the ski lift and looking down at the landscape was a breathtaking and astounding experience. To some students the most enjoyable part of skiing was the extraordinary feeling that they got when they zipped down the slopes at top speed and felt the adrenaline rush up their bodies. The speed at which one can ski down a hill can be compared to the speed of a formula-one racing car.
After a long day of skiing, the students relaxed by going to the Japanese spa. Relaxing their bodies at the Japanese spa after a whole day of skiing was the best reward ever. However, the day was not over yet! The student enjoyed a couple of games at the arcade before turning in for the night.
Skiing in Hokkaido is a truly amazing experience, one that will last for a lifetime.
By G10 Amy Jeng