Sometimes I actually cringe when I think back on my first winter in this city.  I had always lived in tropical climates and was not really very outdoorsy.  My idea of athletics was walking on the beach.  I soon realized that most of my new friends were outdoor buffs and especially loved snowboarding.  The first year they had to explain everything to me.  I could not even grasp what burton bindings were and why I even needed them.  Fortunately my friends were patient and soon had me whooshing through the snow on chilly mornings.  Soon I not only became pretty good at the sport, but I found it hard to remember what I liked about living in warmer climates.