I do loved and hated this winter week more than other. Why?

Yup, last week is the important date for Hokkaido, especially in Sapporo. Starting from 5-11 February 2015, Yuki Matsuri or Snow Festival had been held in Sapporo-Hokkaido.

This event is starting from 1950, and it was developed until the 66th in 2015. On this year, the event held in 3 place, Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome. In Odor Park, beside seeing the snow sculpture, there are music concert, skate rink, park air jump (the snowboard and free style ski performance), light show, cross country skiing course, scrumptious food, and international snow sculpture contest. In Susukino site, we can see the ice sculpture and enjoy the hot drink in Ice Bar. For the last site, Tsudome, we can enjoy the winter game and sport, such as sliding. There are 3 sliding sites, they are tube slide, ice slide, and waku-waku slide. We also can play in other sites such as bamboo ski, snowman labyrinth, snowman making, snow rafting, snow zip land, etc. And, “yatta” I got my foot stamp in all 3 sites.

One more experience about winter, it is bout winter sport, ski. Yup! Finally I have this experience. I did country ski with International Citizen Association in Ebetsu. We passed the Napporo Forest Park in the shortest distance about 1 km (maybe just in the outline of the forest). But, we spent about 1 -1.5 hours to finish the track. The first time, I just thought that it will be easy, because we are not skiing from the mountain, but it’s not that easy. I was the first person that fall after just “sliding” in 2 meters from starting point. The hardest part is to wake up from the ground after falling down. Our feet were attached hard in the board, so it is difficult to move. The trainees was Japanese persons, actually they are just the member of the association, but they do really expert. They are coaching us very well with their limitation in English (but some of them are very major in English). So, after 7 times felt down, finally I felt that I am majoring country ski now and I was really enjoying it. After getting some sweat from country ski activity then we have warming party, takoyaki cooking, Setsubun festival, and enjoying Koto Music performance. Wohooo,, what a great holiday.

Not only that, in this winter season (although I still have many experiment in the lab), finally I can go to 2 the most places that I want to see in Hokkaido, they are Otaru and Hitsujigauka Observation Hill. In those two site, there also some snow festival and snow activities. Such as in Hitsujigaoka, it was held snowman making, cross country ski, snow bowling, snowball war, etc. In Otaru, there are candle fastivals. So, in the Otaru canal and some main road, some snow sculpture has made and they put the candle as the light in the night, and it is very beautiful. The candle festival in Otaru will be held until Februari 15th 2015. What a golden week! Now, I knew the feeling how to love and enjoy this cold season (sometimes I felt bad for this season), by having the snow festivalJ. The festival that will not held in my beloved country Indonesia.

Yuppie,,

Now, the hate point...

After having fun in 3 days, travelling and enjoy winter festival. This week also, some of PARE students come back to their country (They are just back on Feb 11th, 2015). From Indonesia, Caca, Mada, Ria, Rara, Dailami, Philip, Sugi had made their return to Indonesia. It is very sad. But, that’s the reality, and soon I, Nisa, Sofa, Ulfi, and Yeni will come afterward.

Hmhm,, yup, I hate to know this fact. Sometimes, you have to leave but you don't want..

But, this is the fact that I have to accept.. Ganbattene!!!

The 1-month left is very great chance for me, for completing the research and also for (still) enjoying Japan’s life. Hope I can do my best.

Keep “ganbare!” everyone..

Big hug from Sapporo..

Yeah, it almost 6 months, and I’ll leave Sapporo soon..

Many stories have been created, sad or happy, such as “arubaito” time. Who doesn’t know about “arubaito” or part time job? In Japanese teenager, working part time is a culture. In the immigration unit, first I was asked by the employee, am I going to do part time job while studying in Hokkaido University. At that time, I said no, just thinking that I will not be able to communicate well in Japanese and also I will not have enough time. But I’ve just started “my arubaito” a month ago.

Maybe, it is not actual arubaito, but it closed with volunteer working. Yup! It is very different from common arubaito that usually talked in Japan.

On Saturday morning, usually at 10 am, we started our “work”, cleaning the snow or in Japanese called as “yuki oroshi”. I and many friends (max 8 people) will “climb” up to the roof of a church in Kita 8 area. Ria, Jun, Yeni, and Ulfi (other PARE students) also ever joined our arubaito. It was a great opportunity, at least I have the experience of earning money in Japan and also feel what’s the real life in Hokkaido as artic of Japan.

In our living place (dormitory), our manager and also the “snow car” will kindly “clean” all the snow bed so we can walk easily. But, it will be different case for your “ship like” roof of your home. The church roof have shape like a ship or bowl, that’s why the snow will fill in, get thicker, and heavier and it will broke the building sometime.  That’s why, the roof have to be cleaned at least every week, and especially after heavy snow raining.

The priest is so kind, his name is Kohno sensei,, and we just call it sensei. Usually, after our working time (10 am- 12 pm), sensei’s daughter, Tsubasa san, will served lunch for us. They are so kind, because I am Muslim and I can’t eat meat or alcohol, they will provided us food without meat or alcohol. Tsubasa san is very great chef. The menus are pizza, sushi, spaghetti, miso shiru, inari sushi, fusion sushi, salad, macaroni and pasta, mochi, and cake.  I liked all of them.

When we have lunch, it is my practical Japanese class. At that time, sensei and also Tsubasa san usually try to talk with us in very simple Japanese. And we also try to reply with our limited Japanese skill. But, i was so wonderful.

Beside getting the salary, lunch, sometimes, sensei also invited us to come to some Sapporo tourist spot. Last time, we went to Mount Moiwa and Okurayama Ski Jump. Sometimes, we also got a little prize, chocolate and candies. Wooo,, it is more than arubaito.. ^_^ I will miss it so much...

 

Additional "Salary" --> Choco and Candy