It is not all play here in Taos Ski Valley. But the work is boring. Here I am walking to class, and therefore not working. My roommate Michael took this picture at my request, as I know mom will want to have some proof that I was actually here and doing these things.
There is a little sign on the wall that reads "don't wory, you're only looking at 1/40th of the ski runs. They run the ski lifts and for a nomial fee you can ride to some top of something!

 We worked hard for a few days then cut loose on Sunday. The cutting loose started with a dance party on Saturday night. It was very successful! We had an in-house DJ (so many talented students here), and carried on until midnight or so. Justin Bieber got about 14 seconds of play. Otherwise it was Cotton Eyed Joe, Joy Division, Dancing in September.

I stayed up until the wee hours playing Old Maid with some student friends and got to bed because the next morning we had a hike to hike! Here comes the link to the picture to the left. We set off around 10am

 We were destined for Williams Lake. Halfish way there is a Bavarian Restaurant where we stopped to rest.

On the way back we stopped for their apple streudel of renown, wurst, and beer. I later learned that the owner is a real Bavarian, as is the entire building and furnishings. Wow.

 We saw some snow far off on the mountain tops, and here was our first encouter with it up-close. I put some down Harrison's shirt. He was quick on the counter attack.

Michael and I strike a pose.

We arrived at the lake around 1pm; some people soaked--the water was too cold to comfortably stay in for a long time. I swam a little. The time was mostly  for relaxing by the lake, napping and conversing. There were in total approximately 40 people around the lake, many with dogs.

It was a moderately strenuous climb; a few turned back, overall a great way to take a break from non-stop schoolin.

REISE Hierher!

 We met next to the big blue pyramid at CSULB at 8pm on Monday night. Everyone showed up very quickly we were delighted to find all the bags fit just perfectly in the trunk. I drove, Cesar navigated, and Yanalte, Michael, and Karli took the first leg in the back seat. There was some very interesting and worth mentioning construction that slowed us a little. We drove and drove. We drove all the way to Needles, and stopped for gas around 12am. From there, Yanalte took the wheel and drove until sunup.



We started playing alphabet games at some point in English. It was good fun and it helped pass the time. The best one was when we played "name a song in ascending alphabetical order" where we had to sing it to count.

 We had such spicy numbers like, "I Need You (Like Water Like Bread Like Rain...)" und "Row Row Row Your Boat". It was bomb. The sun eventually rose and necessitated Michael's wearing some Sonnenbrillen. He needed some big enough to fit over his normal Brillen, Yanalte had the perfect solution. Behold! He rocked them for many miles. I navigated for a spell, but ended up sleeping a lot. He did just fine despite.

After ten hours on the I-40, we arrived in Albuquerque. I entirely forgot to get the right tunes for the trip, we shall see about righting this in one month. I talking about "Albuquerque" and "Santa Fe". Here's a shot of Santa Fe, near the school for the deaf. They have a special deaf person crossing with a big sign that reads "Do not stop in box". We saw some thought provoking signs, or just this one and the "Gusty winds may exist" signs. I got a picture of this one. Karli drove from Albuquerque to Taos.



Once in Taos, we found a little pub and had lunch. I ordered a local beer sampler, notably trying the Taos Green Chili Beer, the most novel of the lot. It was spicy. We stayed in the bustling artsy fartsy down town for about an hour, navigating through vacationers and the like. After lunch, Cesar took the wheel and drove from the city of Taos to the ski valley. It was uncanny, returning to such a familiar place. I was the only Sommerschule veteran.

We made it to the lodge around 2pm, welcomed and processed by the lodge staff. From there we good travelling buddies scattered to our respective rooms to prepare for meetings and orientations and dinner. Michael and I met one of our suitemates, Nick of Colorado--he had been in the valley for a week or two studying ecology and art, perhaps. He is a very talented violinist, oragami enthusiast, and german student. So far so good.

Dinner was chicken! carrots! and more! Then after a little break came our first getting to know you activity, interviews, then, keeping with the theme, we were asked when we had been deceived. Some Santa and Easter bunny stories, some sad ones about families not staying together, some academic ones. Over all not a bad start.