Above clouds

by Alena Karpova (Russia)

I didn't expect to find Japan

I arrived at 9:30 in the evening in Niseko, Japan. The temperature was below zero, thus it was fine as Russian winters are rather severe. All the streets were full of people, but as higher we drove as fewer people there were. All roads were in snow and I could barely see anything. Well, I came there for skiing, not for fun! I wished to learn skiing as well as possible as it was such a skill for me that makes me feel almost omnipotent... I woke up and immediately ran to the window. It was snowing. That amount of snow that I saw was a dream of any child ever lived. Every snowflake was unique, matchless, one-of-a-kind. The smallest ice practicles were slightly dancing in the wind and laughing with their lady friends. There were snowdrifts all-around. And once I carefully opened the window I fell out of it. Gladly, I lived on the second floor. A little boy came to help me and asked if I am right. I answered: “Of course, honey! But could you please call some adult?” I was stuck in the snow and couldn’t feel my legs. Then after a while, a Handsome Guy came to take me out of that white and cold sand. When I finally was free that handsome guy asked me if I would like to go skiing with him. Apparently, I agreed and at once ran up the stairs for my equipment. Though, then I did not know what was awaiting me... My handsome fellow traveler and I bought two tickets for the ski lift. There were four seats in the cabin so I decided to sit back-first. During the ride, my friend was telling me his ski adventures, and I was shocked as those things that he told me were dreadful. Well, everything was fine and dandy, but I didn't even notice how high we were. As I remember the height was about 1 kilometer. Yes, it was very horrible, but when I looked at the window I saw people skiing and snowboarding down the mountain. Just imagine an empty sheet of paper. Then take your paints and put yellow, red, pink, green and orange colores on your piece in the form of dots. That what I saw. And those dots were changing and playing around like in a game. We came off the lift and rode down to the map. The mountain itself was large enough to get lost. The Handsome Guy convinced me that he knew the whole track like the back of his hand. Anyways, I had no choice. We rode down to the first track. It was said that if we go right we'll be on the green trail, but the Handsome Guy went to the left one. I yelled him to wait but he was already far away. Panic and tears, here we go, but I managed to get up the courage and ride down the trail. That moment was my inside-revolution when I, at last, forget what did fear mean. My legs hurt a lot but I was standing. I didn't feel the speed. The only wish I had was to go down. I have lost my friend and one of my ski sticks. Suddenly, I stopped as there were three ways behind me. It was the last track and I had chosen the right door. The last door and I am home. But is it better to be at home when you can be in a maze full of amazing adventures and picturesque places? Well, this is another story to tell...