The Lesson from Playing Ski in Japan

As foreign students from tropical country, there is one important moment which cannot be just lingered: the winter. As much as other people from tropical country such as Indonesia, I expect the falling of snow. For those who come from four seasons countries, it may be strange that the coming of snow becomes one of attraction.  But for me, this is a moment in life that I can hardly find in my country.

In the winter last year, me and some of Indonesian communities were playing ski in Kotobiki. Before, I never knew how difficult it is to walk in the snow with ski shoes and ski blades until that day. I thought it was easy as I had seen in televisions, where even children can move, zigzagging and even racing with ski shoes and blades. Me and my friend rent the shoes at that time, but when I looked at the shoes I was surprised at that time as I look at the size of the ski shoes. It was so big and so heavy compared to my daily shoes. It was even very difficult to make a step with those shoes.

Though it was so difficult to move, I decided to try the ski blades. Holding the sticks tight to my hands I tried to make a move with the blades. It was very slippery. I fell to the ice many times, and every time I fell it was very hard to stand up. I have to call people around to help me fit my shoes in the blades and stands up. I happened on and on.

One time I was able to move more than 50 meters but, after that I could not make a turn and hit some trees.   After that I call again people to help me stand and fits my shoes. After three or four hours, I still could not make progress. I finally got exhausted and decided to go home. From that moment, I learn one thing. Playing ski seems to be easy. Yet in fact, it is very hard when you have to stand in someone else’s shoes.