What I Learned From A Shocking Experience

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Aomori city is in the northern most prefecture of Japan and is the snowiest city in the world. This January, I wanted to be there to do my basic skiing.

To commit myself, I had signed up several months before with a local ski and snowboarding tour company that would conduct their activities there.

Due to my oversight, I had signed a hosted programme which meant they would bring us to special snow sites and there the action would start. It turned out to be an advanced programme.

The morning after our arrival, I found out that I was the only skier and the rest were experienced snowboarders, mostly young adults.

I was thrusted my skis and poles and boots and we proceeded to the gondola lift.

A gondola lift! It meant that it would bring us to a high vantage point to start. In the lift, I began to feel uncomfortable and unnerved.

I smiled awkwardly at my fellow mates, looking out at the endless ski routes and bawked, aghast at its steep slopes. I. tried to make small talk trying to destress.

There was no turning back.

I fumbled as I got out of the gondola and my fellow mates helped me with what I suspected were skis that were too long and broad for me. Later I found out that they were for faster speed.