I have got settled in to 167 Joaquin...an apartment complex set out just like Manzanita is....i live with 3 americans and 1 Irish girl and there is another kiwi on the way....so far we are all getting on really well and have been partying together and getting to know everyone else in town....
I started work last week and have got past the thanksgiving holiday "crazyness"..*because it wasnt*...no snow equals no guests...meaning my first American thanksgiving was quite low-key...consisting of a free mountain turkey dinner in my lunch break from work...however our little apartment complex (4 x 6 person apartments) had a communal dinner at night with turkey and potatoes and stuffing and pie etc...more a get to know everyone kind of thing....
Everyone here is pretty much just killing time, waiting and hopeing and praying that we get some big snow soon....there was a little storm last week but it was coupled with 100mph winds so not much stuck....but i must say the mountain has been working hard blowing snow, even during the day, to get as much open as they can....Main Lodge is still the only lodge operating at the moment meaning there are a lot of people in town without any hours yet, so im thankful for the few i am getting, the upside is that there is a lot of time to ride right now its only apity the snow isnt the best (after all i was sooo spoilt last season its hard to be happy with conditions right now).....the mountain is putting on free dinner every night until Canyon Lodge opens to try and support their employees...it feels a lot like being back at university waiting for 5pm to roll around so we can dash to the dinner hall and eat pretty crappy meals and socialize before going out for the night....in fact having no money rings true of being a poor student too...lets hope for snow soon!