By Dyota Vidyadhari, Indonesia, YES 2016-2017, hosted by AFS in Washington, D.C.

Who knew that skiing is a very fun sport? Well, maybe not for all of you, but definitely for me. As a tropical girl who had no experience with snow before now, going skiing was one of the biggest achievements of my life.

On January 18, I went to Liberty Mountain Resort with my school ski team. I took ski lessons for approximately 2 hours with a great trainer who has been skiing his whole life. I learned basic skills like sliding, climbing up and down, and most importantantly--how to stop. I am pretty sure I'm the only beginner on my school team. I did the easiest track a couple of times and then climbed up to the medium one. I did fall a lot, but it didn't stop me from climbing to the highest mountain. The view at the top was incredibly beautiful and made the climb worth it. I (of course) fell again, but I am so thankful to have friends who always help me get up.

For me, skiing is an analogy for my exchange program. Why? It's like doing something you haven't done before in your life. You have to prepare safety props like helmets, gloves, boots, skis, and even advice from your trainer. You might fall a hundred times, but you'll get up a hundred and one times.

When you're going down from the highest mountain, all you have to do is be brave and believe in yourself. Remember, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, enjoy every second you have. Afterwards, look behind you at the path you've followed with pride, because you know that you've learned something with every step. And always remember, when you're skiing, you leave tracks in the snow. You never know, it might help others who follow behind you. :)