My arrival in Aizu Wakamatsu is now 12 days ago and there is still much snow. I have never seen so much snow before. Amazing. As we don't have much snow in Northern Germany I don't know how to Ski. BUT... This bad situation just changed last Sunday! My first trail to ski! I think nobody wanted to believe me when I said I've never skied in my life before. Yamadera-san promised me, Kato-san will show me because he is a great teacher. He did! And also Kaida-san! Great Job! Otsukara sama deshita... But they didn't know how hard it is to teach me ;) So they just go with me up to a very big hill and all I was thinking.. OH MY GOD!!!! I cannot do this! But somehow... I have to go down ... by ski. So Kaido-san and Kato-san had a really HARD job!!!! Fortunately my first try to ski was successful: no broken legs or arms! But skiing??? No... I'm not made for this... After my first try we decided it would be better (for everybody) to take lesson! So I had 2 hours lesson and was surprised! It's still strange for me to ski but somehow it works a little better than before. Nevertheless I had a great sunny Sunday. I enjoyed very much...

Oh... and ... I want to thank Nakamura-san for this very very beautiful portrait of me!!!! Thank you very much!!! It has a special place now in my room :-)

Rebecca