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This is Happo One, Hakuba, right where are ski lodge is.

Hello from Hakuba!

Kon nichiwa!

The journey to Hakuba went well even though i had to go by subway to the train station.. When i finally got down to the subway after been running up and down to get my bags a man helped me all the way to my platform. Another kind Japanese... From now on i'm going to ask everyone i see with heavy luggage if they need a hand, directions.. anything! Especially foreigners, cause there is nothing worse than being in another country and feeling totally helpless! Anyways, i'm going to be a nicer, kinder and more helpful person!!!

These are the trains here, hi-tech eh?!

Here they are.. everyone looked at me like i was walking around with a bomb..

In Nagano they came to pick me up, thank god for that! We got to Hakuba a bit later that evening after been shopping lots of things for the lodge and went out for dinner. Luckily one of us was speaking (..and reading japanese)... However it seems to be more "japanese" here than i expected it to be, which is even better! I love exploring new cultures, and this is definitely a totally different culture from what i'm used to! I have a feeling this is going to be a great season!

Today we've picked up my lift pass! Yeay! And after lunch i got to drive the car, just to practice being on the "wrong" side of the road. Wasn't that hard really..

Dancing on my own.

Yes, today i've been exploring Tokyo on my own and i manage to not get lost even though it's like sixteen different subway lines to choose between. Good job Sofia! I started off with the Imperial Palace, followed by Zojoji Temple, Tokyo Tower and the area Ginza. 

Imperial Palace

Zojoji Temple

Tokyo tower.

Endless...

Ginza

Tomorrow i have to drag all my stuff back to the train station, apparently it's very hard to get a BIG taxi. We've called SEVEN different companies, non of them accept ski equipment. Damn! So i have to walk, again, but it'll be worth it because i get to ski this week!!!!!!!

Don't forget.. There's more to explore(!!),

/Sofia

Kon nichiwa!

It's been a looong day since i woke up at 4.30am this morning... I tried to go back to sleep but it was impossible so was studying some japanese and reading a book. At 7 they started serving breakfast, i was starving from last night when i just had a yoghurt so i went down and all they was serving was different rolls of rice, other combinations with rice, a tiny yoghurt and miso-soup. Not really what i was excepting to have for breakfast..

At 11 the japanese lady, Kimiko, came to pick me up, she was adorable, so kind!! We went to Senso-ji Temple which is the biggest temple in Tokyo. It was crowded but beautiful. We made a stop to have matcha ice cream which is ice cream with some kind of green tea leaves in it. Our next stop was Meiji Jingu, a big shrine that was surrounded by an amazing park, right in the middle of Tokyo. We also had Tempura on rice for lunch, one of my favorite japanese dishes! I'm glad i learned how to use chopstick during my past years in Canada while having a lot of japanese food there.. I didn't have to embarrass myself hat much by eating awkward with them..lol After been walking around in the Shinjuku area she walked me back to my hotel at around 6pm. I went straight up to my room for a much needed rest before heading out for dinner...

Kimiko, my guide for the day.

The Thunder Gate at the Senso-ji Temple.

I think i'm the tallest girl in Tokyo, almost..

A cute girl in a kimono.

The Meiji Jingu shrine.

Make a wish...

So many crossings!!

At 8.30pm Jen and Luke, who i met through Watson that i visited in Scotland a bit over a month ago, came to pick me up. By the time i met them in Scotland both of them got a job in Tokyo and moved over even before i came over. The world is so small sometimes, but it was so nice to see them again! We went to a restaurant, had a couple of beers and a whole bunch of different japanese dishes, including mackerel sashimi, salmon, fried rice with meat, edamame beans, grilled squid... The food was amazing!! Hopefully they'll come to Hakuba for skiing anytime soon!

Tokyo by night. The city that never sleeps. Even if it's Sunday night it's crowded every where!!

Jen and Luke.

A weird sign saying, "Smoking prohibited on the street".

I'm off to bed, proud of myself for staying up this late, might been that one hour rest who did it.

Night night!

Ps. They opened a couple of lifts in Hakuba yesterday so when i arrive i'll be able to ski! Yeay!

Let me introduce you to...

... the Japanese phrase book & dictionary, my new best friend.

Jet lag.

I've been awake for an hour now and the time is not even 6am yet.. Buhuu, i hate being jet lagged. Might have something to do with that i was going to bed at 8 last night, but i was so tired that i couldn't stay awake anymore!

Five hours to go till i have my date with my grandmas friend and then at 7pm i'm going for dinner with Jen and Luke from Scotland. So i got plenty of time to study japanese in my new "Japanese phrase book and dictionary" that i got on the airport in Gothenburg. 

I made it.

Finally i'm at my hotel room, i had a pleasant (read; AWESOME) flight between Finland and Tokyo. Just before boarding i checked my boarding pass to see what seat i had. I was in the front which i thought was weird since it's always business class in the front of the bigger planes. I got on the plane and a lady showed me to my seat which was in business class!! If i was rich i would fly business class all the time, my god i slept for three hours in a row in a BED like a princess. So nice, probably the best flight ever!

When i got my luggage (which btw is so heavy.. two pair of skis, one boot bag, one overweight suitcase and my backpack with computer. My hands are so sore!!) i got on the train to Tokyo. Everything was fine till i got off the train at one of the worlds biggest train station. There i was, right in the middle of hundreds of thousands Japanese running around me. I tried to get a cab big enough to fit all my luggage without success.. I have to say that most of the Japanese people's english skills are poor. Today i've wished a couple of times that i was fluent in japanese.. But they are so kind, everyone tries their best even though they don't know a word in english.
A girl called a bunch of taxi companies for me but couldn't get a bigger cab, she showed me the direction for my hotel, a good 15 minutes walk. It took me almost an hour with all those bags... Halfway to the hotel i asked a man if he knew the way, he called the hotel for directions AND WALKED ME to the hotel door. So kind, he saved my life, almost.. I don't think i've ever felt so helpless, my phone didn't work, no one understood me and i had no idea in the world of where i was going.. And i was dragging around bags who weighed at least 70 kilo all together. I got a big boost of confidence today cause i made it! hah I say like Kanye West, "That don't kill me can only make me stronger!"

Tomorrow morning my grandmas Japanese friend who lives here in Tokyo is coming to pick me up. I've never met her before so i'm really looking forward to see her. She just called to my hotel room and we're going to a big temple tomorrow!! Amazing to get a private guide who lives in Tokyo. I'm so excited!

Right now i would prefer to go to bed. Kind of wan't to be awake for at least two more hours or else i'm going to wake up in the middle of the night, ready for a new day! It's not even 6pm yet..

Thumbs up for my hero who walked me all the way to the hotel. You saved my life and made my day!!!

There's more to explore,

Sofia

ONE SLEEP LEFT!!

.. and i'm sitting here, yes by the computer and my bags aren't even packed yet(!!!!!!!!) I'm getting used to pack last minute by now, it's something that stops me from packing in time and that's freaking me out! It doesn't matter what i do, i always end up running around an hour before leaving to the airport. Don't know how i do it but i guess that's who i am. It's not that i'm unorganized, i have all my papers, tickets, insurance papers, passport etc under control. So don't worry! lol

Well i'm gonna try to pack everything in the next hour, then go to bed and prepare myself for a week, month.. with only myself as company. Lucky i'm such a nice person to spend time with.. Jokes! Hopefully i'll find a bunch of people to hang out with soooon, i'm not worried!

There's more to explore,

Sofia

Ps. IT'S A MONTH LEFT TO CHRISTMAS!!!!!

A swedish Christmas.

I've spent the night with my family, celebrating christmas. People who knows me well, also knows how passionated about christmas i am! I bet you half of my iPod is Christmas music... We've been eating "christmas dinner", listening to christmas music while drinking Glögg and eating homemade christmas candy and just enjoyed each others company. I just realized that christmas is a lot about eating...

My little sister.

My grandma and i.

Me and my godmother.

My little sister again (who is growing up.. she always gonna be my little sister though..)

 

Santa came to visit...lol

I'm so grateful to be able to spend time with people i love, i really am! Those days when everything feels like shit (believe me, everyday isn't a walk on powdery snow, even though it's not many of those shitty days..) and your homesick it's so valuable to be able to think about all these lovely days and times you've got to spend with your family and friends!! But i guess that's the whole point, to be able to appreciate things in life you have to go through shitty things as well.

So.. 1 month left till next Christmas celebration. I'm excited to see what Christmas is like in Japan!!!

Merry Christmas folks!

.. or Merry Christvember (which is like Christmas but a holiday in November.. Maybe not that believable..)

Today is the day, just a month and one day early though.. Whatever  if you tell yourself enough times that it is christmas you start believe that it actually is christmas! Believe in yourself!!

Right now...

...i'm trying my new ski gear in our living room. You know, you got to see what it feels like.. lol I wasn't allowed to go down the stairs though.. Which probably is good if i don't wan't to walk with crutches while running between the different gates on the airport! Don't think crutches and traveling is such a good combination so i stayed to the living room.

And to answer the question you might have, it felt amazing! And even better on a mountain with SNOW!

Christmas eh?!

Christmas wrapping and christmas music on top volume, tomorrow our family are celebrating CHRISTMAS!

Magazzzzine.

Got something to read on the flight over to Tokyo!

... and got a free dvd, The Sunny Side. Couldn't stop myself from watching it though, but i'm pretty sure i'll be able to see it again.. Amazing amazing amazing, what a movie!