FERNIE - A PARADISE
(PHOTO: Marty Hafke, Hiroshi Furihata, and Satoshi Miura atop Castle Mountain with Fernie Alpine Resort in the background Note their "I am king of the world!" Titanic poses.)
Take a university student who has lived all of his life in Tokyo, transport him to Fernie for three weeks, and what does he have to say about it? Usually, “SUNGOI!!” A colloquialism that translated, roughly, means “awesome!” or “unbelievable”.
For the month of August, thirteen Kokushikan University students resided in Fernie, lived in local homes, studied at the College of the Rockies, and worked on polishing their English skills. They also worked on a few other typically British Columbian skills—river rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, alpine hiking, and horse riding. Not a bad way to learn English.
(PHOTO: Hirohsi Furhihata, Satoshi Miura, and Marty Hafke hiking Castle Mountain--the students' first ever mountain hike.)
The students are now home and back to more serious (i.e. less fun) study in Tokyo, but they are remembering Fernie fondly. “To the Japanese, Fernie is a paradise—a heaven. Every picture is a postcard. I will be back. This time in winter for skiing,” writes Satoshi Miura in a recent email.
So many of the activities Fernie-ites take for granted—canoeing, hot-springing, camping—are impossible or financially out-of-reach for the average Japanese resident. Hiroshi Furihata had been in Fernie less than twelve hours, was not even over his jetlag, when he found himself in a canoe on Koocanusa Lake. The very next day he did his first summit hike.
(PHOTO: Satoshi Miura preparing camp--his first time with an axe--and Dave Nicholls looking on.)
Winding his way though the forest and up the mountain, he smiled “Yesterday—aboriginal warrior. Today—Indiana Jones. Fernie is every day adventure.”Yes, it is. Thank you to the Kokushikan University students for the opportunity to see that anew through their eyes. It’s all too easy to get spoiled and take our piece of paradise for granted.
(PHOTO: Hiroshi Furhihata having a rest after too much mountain activity, Kootenay Lake.)
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