In recent years, I've been yearning to learn how to swim. You may call it a deprived childhood or easy going parents, but complaining about swimming lessons in grade two led my mom to withdrew me from swimming lessons after passing level I.
I never had a fear of water, or so I thought, but little things about public pools did irk me. Bacteria, babies/kids peeing in the pools, the idea of so many bodies sharing one big tub (how could germs not be passed around??) and so on and so forth. But why let my fears stop me?
So finally, I decided that during this 'Golden' year of mine, I had to learn how to swim. I think one major reason I have this urge to become a swimmer was so I could learn to do water sports (ex. scuba dive, long board), and it definitely does not make sense for one to accomplish that without knowing how to swim first.
However, when I finally browsed lessons online and made multiple calls regarding adult classes, I found that the most affordable and practical option for me was filled up quickly. I was put on the first waiting list and never got a call, got put on a second waiting list a couple of weeks ago and was fifth, so I didn't think I would have a chance.
Well, obviously since I'm writing this blog, I miraculously got in! I received a call from an unknown number on Tuesday during work that I was hesitant to pick up, but thank God I did because a spot had opened up for me for the following day. I didn't expect this to happen so even though I took the spot, I wasn't prepared at all to learn to swim as excited as I was to even have a spot. On my break, I bought a swim suit and after work, I researched neccessities for swimming (I honestly haven't been in a pool for so long), got goggles the next day so I don't infect my eyeballs wearing contacts, and drove myself to my first lessons in ages.
Once changed and showered, I enter the pool area to see groups of kids and teens learning to swim. I saw adults in the hot tub, and lineup of parents watching their kids from the viewing area, but where were the adult lessons? I felt out of place (I felt old basically) and then a friendly lady approached me and assumed I was in the same class, and I was. Fast forward and it turns out that I'm the 'youngest adult' in the group, technically I am an adult, but being in a class with parent-age adults made me feel like their child.
Anyhow, I had a great time learning to float, glide, and even attempt some strokes, although I am in need of practice. My swim-mates were friendly and I actually had a lot of fun from learning to blow bubbles to just being in the water.
Best moment of the night: one fellow student, a father-like-age was like " I can't stick my ass up" when learning to back float... I couldn't help but chuckle and laugh on the inside. Our swimming instructor was like, "you mean your butt". HAHAHA
Anyhow, that's my (beginner) swimming story.
Like Dori's mantra from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Reunions Schmunions
Two weeks ago I had surprised family in town. When I say "surprised", it was literally a phone call the day before telling my family to expect them the next day.
Here's the short version of the story.
My uncle who use to live in Cali moved to China for work, has a family there, and the family of five flew to the States earlier this Fall so they could get green cards to better the kids' future and have a better education and all. They've been wanting to visit us across the border and tickets were quite expensive for a while, but with the temporary shutdown of the US government and other interferences, they decided to come up earlier than they had planned on a relatively cheap deal they found.
Twenty-four hours later they've arrived and I see my dad side almost everyday (and almost every dinner), for like 6 nights straight. For me, this was quite unusual as other than birthdays, the extended family hardly comes together. When we do see each other, conversations are surfaced level and short and the sense of 'family' seems distant. Having my uncle in town meant that all my grandma's kids were in one place and that is definitely a rarity. The last time this reunion on my dad's side occurred was seven if not eight years ago for my auntie's wedding. Not only that, but this uncle is the eldest, and as Chinese tradition goes, my granny didn't show it, but I knew she was definitely ecstatic to have her eldest son and all her other children and newest additions of grandchildren in one place.
One thing I love about Chinese (or Asian) etiquette for that matter is the willingness to treat (and even fight for the bill) as all the siblings of my uncle took turns treating the family out each day. I think this is a strong value to have as it's a simple way to show affection and respect to another person/family/friends. With the whole "Going Dutch" version of paying these days (splitting the bill), it feels like the higher significance of treating another person beyond its monetary value has been lost.
For me, I have to admit that I initially felt annoyance to the arrival of my Uncle as the possibility of having to share my room (read all about my previous initial selfishness here), lend my car, and rework my schedule to be accommodating was not something I was looking forward to, especially when I was in the middle of my nine day streak of work. I really just wanted things to go my way! Wow, I do sound so self centered there...
Anyhow, things went better than I thought as they always do (PTL!). I didn't have to give up my room, my uncle and his family had rides provided for them each day, and I actually wanted to make time in my busy crazy schedule to spend with my uncle's family. Personally, I had my initial reservations about my uncle, but turns out, God really changed my heart to display love and care to this side of my family. Why be bitter when I had less than a week to cherish this blood bond?
Lord, help me be more self sacrificing.
P.S. I also survived my nine day streak, but another one (and longer) is just right around the corner... I don't know how I get myself into this.
Here's the short version of the story.
My uncle who use to live in Cali moved to China for work, has a family there, and the family of five flew to the States earlier this Fall so they could get green cards to better the kids' future and have a better education and all. They've been wanting to visit us across the border and tickets were quite expensive for a while, but with the temporary shutdown of the US government and other interferences, they decided to come up earlier than they had planned on a relatively cheap deal they found.
Twenty-four hours later they've arrived and I see my dad side almost everyday (and almost every dinner), for like 6 nights straight. For me, this was quite unusual as other than birthdays, the extended family hardly comes together. When we do see each other, conversations are surfaced level and short and the sense of 'family' seems distant. Having my uncle in town meant that all my grandma's kids were in one place and that is definitely a rarity. The last time this reunion on my dad's side occurred was seven if not eight years ago for my auntie's wedding. Not only that, but this uncle is the eldest, and as Chinese tradition goes, my granny didn't show it, but I knew she was definitely ecstatic to have her eldest son and all her other children and newest additions of grandchildren in one place.
One thing I love about Chinese (or Asian) etiquette for that matter is the willingness to treat (and even fight for the bill) as all the siblings of my uncle took turns treating the family out each day. I think this is a strong value to have as it's a simple way to show affection and respect to another person/family/friends. With the whole "Going Dutch" version of paying these days (splitting the bill), it feels like the higher significance of treating another person beyond its monetary value has been lost.
For me, I have to admit that I initially felt annoyance to the arrival of my Uncle as the possibility of having to share my room (read all about my previous initial selfishness here), lend my car, and rework my schedule to be accommodating was not something I was looking forward to, especially when I was in the middle of my nine day streak of work. I really just wanted things to go my way! Wow, I do sound so self centered there...
Anyhow, things went better than I thought as they always do (PTL!). I didn't have to give up my room, my uncle and his family had rides provided for them each day, and I actually wanted to make time in my busy crazy schedule to spend with my uncle's family. Personally, I had my initial reservations about my uncle, but turns out, God really changed my heart to display love and care to this side of my family. Why be bitter when I had less than a week to cherish this blood bond?
Lord, help me be more self sacrificing.
P.S. I also survived my nine day streak, but another one (and longer) is just right around the corner... I don't know how I get myself into this.
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