learning to skate

i learned to ice skate in finland. my finnish brother matti was my teacher, and i learned on a frozen-over pond behind our school. i was 16 and had never before worn ice skates, so matti had to explain that i was american to the finnish kindergarteners who were laughing at my inability to stand up. the day after i learned to skate, we played ringette in my gym class in school. it is a girls' game similar to ice hockey. it was quite a challenge.