I was touched that the teachers at Saigoshi asked me to go snowboarding with them. We went to Shimokura, in Iwate, and it was beautiful, peaceful (namogu?) and by far the best day I have had boarding so far! The vice principal showed me how to get off the ski lift without breaking my neck...and I watched others to figure out the carving, turning manouevre I have tried to master many times. It worked!! After hitting my head on a fall and tearing holes in my gloves, we all went in and enjoyed chit chat over ramen. Despite the language barrier, I truly felt warm friendship with the teachers. A lovely day...