Our group met at Černý Most metro station on Thursday morning, and after a few hours on the bus we arrived in scenic Špindlerův Mlýn. The afternoon was spent fitting skis and snowboards, and attending a presentation by the Mountain Rescue team.

After a night-time snow-hike we arrived at our accommodation, a lovely pension in the mountains, accessible only by foot or snowmobile. The meals at the pension included a range of different traditional Czech meals, and of course Czech beer.

In the morning the experienced skiers and snowboarders set off, and the beginners were taught the basics of skiing. As an Australian with no previous ski experience, I was very lucky to be with such a wonderful group of Czech students who displayed great patience when teaching me to ski and at some points literally held my hand down the mountains!

On the last day, the physical skiing and snowboarding had taken its toll on many people, so the bruised and tired took up the easier activities of bob-sledding, or simply relaxing outside in the sun.

The nights were busy, with games of pool, dancing, games and checking out the local nightlife in town.

The group was very diverse, with students from Italy, Spain, Mexico, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria and many other countries, so it truly was an international club – with conversations simultaneously occurring in many languages! I enjoyed getting to know other international students, which was faciliated by games and activities organised by the IC team.

I am not sure whether skiing will be a regular sport for me, although catching the chairlift to mountaintop bars was very enjoyable. Getting down the mountain on skis was the only issue for me.

The trip was very well organised, the team were incredibly friendly and helpful and I would not hesitate in participating in another International Club trip.

Jordan Lim