In which the Traveler Takes a Bath in the Snow

 

First news first! I cut my hair!

I haven't gotten it cut in seven months. The vast majority of the blonde is gone now--most of my students actually asked me if I'd dyed my hair, rather than cut it, and it's a great deal shorter and differently shaped now. They all really like my real hair color, too--a dark brown color--so they told me not to dye it again. xD I took a photo in with me on my phone to show the hairdresser, and after she cut and pretty much shaped it, I was satisfied. Then she took the texturizing scissors to it, the razor scissors, you know? And she kept cutting and razoring. And then she went away to ring someone up, came back, and started razoring again. X_X I was like, .... uh...? So actually now the vast majority of my hair is gone. But it looks really, really cute, and it frames my face really, really well! Apparently I look more adult now.

I realized that I didn't post last week. Sorry! I was kinda busy. Friday I left for a business trip to Niseko. Niseko, for those who don't know, is a conglomeration of onsens, hotels, and ski resorts/shops masquerading as a town. 

It's also a snow globe. 

A bunch of us girls decided to go to an onsen on Saturday, since the weather closed a bunch of the ski places. 

It didn't stop snowing the entire time we were there.

Look at all that snow!!

It's actually colder here in Taiki, though. They just get a metric crapton more snow than we do here.

Yes, that's a snowmobile

run up a tree. No, I don't

know why, unless it's to save space. 

 Look at all this snow!!

 

It was my first time at an onsen, actually. ^-^ An onsen is a sort of "spa," but with less emphasis on massage and self-pampering and more on relaxing bathing. You sit on these stools and wash yourself at this row of sort of almost sinks, then when you're all nice and clean, you get into giant baths with everyone else. The vast majority are separated by sex, but you can still find some mixed baths. Some onsen are natural hot spring mineral water, some have other chemicals and additives, some are saltwater, some are even cold water. I've heard of some that have a minor electrical shock to them. And then there are in my opinion, the best ones--the outdoor ones. Some outdoor onsens have excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Apparently Taiki is famous for one from which you can see the ocean while you relax in the bath.

Oh, you're also naked with everyone else. You get used to it.

I've been to a sento, a bathhouse, before, but never to an onsen. Also when I went to the bathhouse last time I went with a guy friend, so I didn't know any of the other women and I could pretend I was in my own little world. This time I went with a half dozen other girls I know. I was actually really anxious about it and almost didn't go out of sheer embarrassment. But I'm glad I did--it was fun, and you get used to the naked thing after about five seconds. So no worries.

Ours was an outdoor bath. In other words, you were in nice hot water up to your shoulders, and then the snow was falling on your head and shoulders. It was so awesome! (^-^)v

It's super windy tonight. o.O It's like being at home again.

I bought my tickets to Kyoto next month, and I booked my hotel a month ago, so I'm pretty much all set! ^-^ I'm excited to get back to Kansai, and I'm going to spend a bunch of time with Jun-kun. I haven't seen him since spring two years ago, last time I was here.

Short update, not a whole hell of a lot going on. Graduations start next week, so there should be more coming in the next few weeks. <3