I’m a person without sports cells. Although I know the Snow Bowl in Flagstaff is famous, I did not want to go. Until one day, last winter, I raised my interest and courage and went skiing with my friends. The heavy snow had passed two days before but it was still cold. I wore my warmest and thickest clothes and they laughed at me because I looked like a panda. Actually, I should borrowed or bought a professional ski suit because the heavy clothes affected my flexibility. Also, I worehat,gloves, sunglasses water, chocolate and snacks. Everything seemed ready.
We drove almost thirty minutes from NAU to Snow Bowl. When I got out of the car,I felt the wind strong and my face hurt. The first stop was the rental shop, I realized then that there were two types of skiing: skiing and snowboarding. For beginners, it’s better to choose skiing. We rented ski boots, poles and skis .The boots were so, so, so heavy, it took me 20 minutes to put them on. You have to wear ski boots correctly and tightly in order to keep your legs safe. We got a free 2-hour lesson for
beginners and then I walked slowly to the beginners’ area. The Snow Bowl is divided into different parts according to the slopes. The beginners’ area was full of kids, so we looked like aliens. The teachers taught us how to use poles, wear skis and how to hold our posture Then he told us to try! You know, it’s easier to understand theories but difficult to put into practice. I kept screaming downhill, although it was a small slope, it was so fast I couldn’t control myself. I shouted “I can’t stop!!!” “fall down!” I didn’t know who said this, but I just said it. Oh my God! I stopped.
I didn’t want to try anymore but the teacher persuaded me to try. So I kept on falling down and eventually got better. I suggest to listen to the teacher carefully and then you can obtain the techniques quickly. After the lessons, my friends went to the higher areas by the lift. I chose to stay in the lower places.
We drove back that late afternoon. My friends had been talking about their “adventures” in the car. I
slept the whole way because I was so tired mentally and physically. When I went back home, I found my legs are red and swollen. My whole body was painful for three days. I said to myself : “I will never go skiing.” So I didn’t go to snowbowl since then. However, my friends became more and more interested in skiing. They even practice on the small slope behind our house after the heavy
snow. I was there just watching.
Tips: 1. There are small restaurants and shops there you can buy burgers, snacks.
2. There is a sport shop and you can buy ski suits and souvenirs
there.
3. Preparations before going there:
Reference:
First timer tips.http://www.arizonasnowbowl.com/resort/tips_for_first_days_on_snow.php
February 3, 2011 is the Chinese Traditional Spring Festival.I thought we should do something to celebrate it. Chinese people always eat dumplings during the Spring Festival, so I post my status on Chinese Facebook “Today is our Chinese new year. Come to my dorm to make dumplings tonight!” Emily responded: “Why don’t we make hot pot and eat together? I miss Chinese hot pot! Yummy yummyyyyyy~~” Then within half an hour, I found there are 50 messages on my Facebook. Some of my friends began to plan tonight’sthe night’s Hot Pot feast .
Undoubtedly, the most important part of Spring Festival is getting together. So eating hot pot isa good way to celebrate Chinese New Year because we need to eat around one big pot and share the delicious food together. There were no Asian supermarkets in Flagstaff so we went to Safeway to buy the fresh basic vegetables and meats.You can find Chinese cabbage, Shanghai baby bok choy (it is common in China and necessary in the hot pot) green leaves
(Shanghai Baby bok choy)
vegetable, different kinds of mushrooms, lettuce, potatoes. Flagstaff has different kinds of potatoes. But I feel that the big brown one is closest to our home flavor. You also can find Tofu here, sounds
great!
After the vegetable part, comes the meat and seafood part. I recommend you to choose pork because the taste of beef and chicken is dry and unpleasant. It’s better to choose the pork with bones because the bones can be used to cook the bottom soup which can add to the flavor of the hot pot. If you don’t want to eat meat, especially for those who are dieting you can choose
shrimp and crab sticks.
We took the vegetables, meat and seafood back home. My friends washed the vegetables and cut the meat into thin slices. I was responsible for the soup which was used to cook other materials. I took out my secret weapon—Xiao Feiyang hotpot flavoring which comes from the most popular
hotpot restaurant. I bought it from the Asian Supermarket in Phoenix. I keep a feast three of the flavorings in my storage. We used the electric cooker to cook because it is more convenient. I brought a bag of XUAO FEIYANG with 4 or 5 times amount of water to the boil. We put the pork first because it is not easy to cook. Then we added the seafood and tofu. When I put the vegetables into the pot ,took them out quickly because vegetables could lose their nutrients if it is cooked too long.
Everybody stood around the hot pot and I believed it satisfied everyone’s belly because we felt warm not only for eating the hotpot but also for getting together to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Tips: If you invite some of your American friends to enjoy hot pot, you should know that they may not be accustomed to share food with others. Maybe you need explain the hot pot custom
firstly.
