almost three and a half years ago, when I was in the MTC in Brasil, we had one privileged day to go to the TRC (teaching resource center). We all looked forward to it - a day to not teach our fellow missionaries, but actual natives who didn't know the memorized forms of our lessons. We'd been warned that sometimes not enough volunteers arrived, but we would still get the chance to teach and be video recorded so we could see our progress. We showed up at the TRC to find out that not only were there not enough volunteers, but indeed, no volunteers. We were once again doomed to teaching other missionaries, even missionaries from our own district. It was a letdown, to say the least. (and no, we didn't even bother watching the videos after....)
Jumping forward to present day, up until a few months back (where did the time go, it was only February, yet that seems like it was just yesterday) I had never experienced the true TRC experience (we'll blame it on my "bad" experience in the MTC). I'd always known about volunteering at the TRC, but I never knew where to go or what to do. Luckily for me, my roommate would go sometimes on Friday nights and volunteer with the English as a Second Language (ESL) missionaries. As soon as I found out she was going, I joined her. It was life changing. I had been thinking for quite sometime how I needed to be doing more, needed to do service somewhere, and this became the most amazing solution. I love it. Instead of sitting around on Friday nights, wondering why I'm not on a date, I get to go be with missionaries, and sometimes even use my Portuguese, and I get to be taught the Gospel.
My goal now is to share some of the experiences I have, because they really are amazing. I have quite a few stories to catch up on until I'm up to date, but hopefully over the next couple of days I can catch up and share some of these things, and hopefully share the spirit of this marvelous work that these elders and sisters are a part of; that we are a part of.
27 April 2009
22 April 2009
Flippies
In the Winter semester of 2008 I took a beginning swimming class. I didn't know how to swim, but I could tread water and do a decent doggie-paddle. Breathing doing freestyle was awkward, and I often couldn't even swim the length of the pool without having to stop along the way to catch my breath. It was a rough, slow beginning.
After much effort, by the end of the semester I was able to swim the length of the pool without stopping, and I was able to actually breathe like a swimmer. I still had to breathe every other stroke (which isn't very efficient) and at the end of the pool I would have to stop and breathe for a minute before I could go another length.
After the semester was over, I decided I needed to keep swimming, because I did enjoy it, and it felt amazing after getting done. I went three days a week over the summer. When Fall semester started last year, I decided to keep going, but thought I'd up it five times a week. After two weeks of that, I was tired, and swimming wasn't enjoyable. So, I started running two days and swimming three. I got seriously addicted.
By the middle of the semester, I was up to swimming a mile, and running two miles. Any of you who truly know me, know that I am not athletic, and until this whole swimming craze, never was one to exercise. When I was able to swim a mile and not die because of it, I was incredibly happy. I felt such a great sense of achievement and pride. But yet, I was still lacking. My swimming, though much improved from when I first started, still needed help. When I would get to the end of the pool, I'd have to stop, turn around, and keep going. Not for a lack of breath, but more for a lack of technique on how to turn. In my class, my teacher had quickly gone over how to do a flip turn but I was still struggling with the breathing and the stroking all at once, that I couldn't grasp the concept of somersaulting in the water, and then to keep swimming....it was daunting. And, I couldn't even quite understand the concept of an open turn, which is by far easier than a flip turn. By the beginning of this year, I determined I was finally at the point that I needed to learn to do some sort of better turn, because I had reached a plateau in my swimming.
I started practicing my flip turn. I would go to the pool on the weekends when not many people were around, and I'd stumble along, getting gallons and gallons of water up my nose, and sometimes inhaling it. It was a brutal experience, to say the least, but well worth it in the end. I finally felt confident enough in my turn a couple of weeks ago, and decided I just needed to start doing a couple flips in my routine in the morning. So I did. They were very awkward, and often unsuccessful. Last week, I started throwing in a few more; they turned less awkward. By Friday, I did three decent ones at first, but as the end of my workout drew near, I started turning side ways and found myself not knowing which way was up. Frustration built. Yesterday, I decided to try again. Still sideways. (It didn't help that Army ROTC cadets filled the lanes next to me....)
Today was a new day, however. I was determined. I would win. I would defeat the flip turn. I started right off. First turn was a little sideways. I analyzed it as I swam to the other side, and I realized I wasn't giving enough forward momentum to flip myself completely over (you can watch this video if you have no idea what I'm talking about..and please, take note of the guy's hair, it definitely dates the video, and offers a good laugh if you think about how silly it looks). I continued, length after length, lap after lap. I swam 4 laps continuously (that's 8 flipturns, just so you know). Life was looking good. I kept going. I did more turns. My workout was so much more effective, and so much more enjoyable and satisfying. By the time I was on lap 30, and I only had 6 left before I hit my mile, I decided I'd go to 36 without stopping. I had the lane all to myself up to this point, and I was feeling confident. It would be more turns in a row than I had ever done. But I would do it. I started. I was stopped in my goal. As I approached to finish my 34th lap and start on my 35th, I suddenly realized someone was standing in my lane. I wasn't sure if I'd have room to turn without hitting her, I'd never tried before. My mind couldn't handle it. I had to stop. I said yes when she briefly asked if she could share my lane (what could I say, "No. I'm sorry, find another lane"? No. Share my lane. Seriously. (Plus I've shared a lane with this particular person before, and I knew she wouldn't be in my way). I still had to finish my laps though, and I was feeling SOOO good about my turns, I had to keep going, I was addicted. I went. I did turns with this woman standing a foot away from where I was turning, and I didn't hit her. I swam 38 laps. It was love!
And that is my story. I can now do flip turns. I can do flip turns with someone else in my lane. I can swim without stopping. I am happy. I am satisfied. For now.
After much effort, by the end of the semester I was able to swim the length of the pool without stopping, and I was able to actually breathe like a swimmer. I still had to breathe every other stroke (which isn't very efficient) and at the end of the pool I would have to stop and breathe for a minute before I could go another length.
After the semester was over, I decided I needed to keep swimming, because I did enjoy it, and it felt amazing after getting done. I went three days a week over the summer. When Fall semester started last year, I decided to keep going, but thought I'd up it five times a week. After two weeks of that, I was tired, and swimming wasn't enjoyable. So, I started running two days and swimming three. I got seriously addicted.
By the middle of the semester, I was up to swimming a mile, and running two miles. Any of you who truly know me, know that I am not athletic, and until this whole swimming craze, never was one to exercise. When I was able to swim a mile and not die because of it, I was incredibly happy. I felt such a great sense of achievement and pride. But yet, I was still lacking. My swimming, though much improved from when I first started, still needed help. When I would get to the end of the pool, I'd have to stop, turn around, and keep going. Not for a lack of breath, but more for a lack of technique on how to turn. In my class, my teacher had quickly gone over how to do a flip turn but I was still struggling with the breathing and the stroking all at once, that I couldn't grasp the concept of somersaulting in the water, and then to keep swimming....it was daunting. And, I couldn't even quite understand the concept of an open turn, which is by far easier than a flip turn. By the beginning of this year, I determined I was finally at the point that I needed to learn to do some sort of better turn, because I had reached a plateau in my swimming.
I started practicing my flip turn. I would go to the pool on the weekends when not many people were around, and I'd stumble along, getting gallons and gallons of water up my nose, and sometimes inhaling it. It was a brutal experience, to say the least, but well worth it in the end. I finally felt confident enough in my turn a couple of weeks ago, and decided I just needed to start doing a couple flips in my routine in the morning. So I did. They were very awkward, and often unsuccessful. Last week, I started throwing in a few more; they turned less awkward. By Friday, I did three decent ones at first, but as the end of my workout drew near, I started turning side ways and found myself not knowing which way was up. Frustration built. Yesterday, I decided to try again. Still sideways. (It didn't help that Army ROTC cadets filled the lanes next to me....)
Today was a new day, however. I was determined. I would win. I would defeat the flip turn. I started right off. First turn was a little sideways. I analyzed it as I swam to the other side, and I realized I wasn't giving enough forward momentum to flip myself completely over (you can watch this video if you have no idea what I'm talking about..and please, take note of the guy's hair, it definitely dates the video, and offers a good laugh if you think about how silly it looks). I continued, length after length, lap after lap. I swam 4 laps continuously (that's 8 flipturns, just so you know). Life was looking good. I kept going. I did more turns. My workout was so much more effective, and so much more enjoyable and satisfying. By the time I was on lap 30, and I only had 6 left before I hit my mile, I decided I'd go to 36 without stopping. I had the lane all to myself up to this point, and I was feeling confident. It would be more turns in a row than I had ever done. But I would do it. I started. I was stopped in my goal. As I approached to finish my 34th lap and start on my 35th, I suddenly realized someone was standing in my lane. I wasn't sure if I'd have room to turn without hitting her, I'd never tried before. My mind couldn't handle it. I had to stop. I said yes when she briefly asked if she could share my lane (what could I say, "No. I'm sorry, find another lane"? No. Share my lane. Seriously. (Plus I've shared a lane with this particular person before, and I knew she wouldn't be in my way). I still had to finish my laps though, and I was feeling SOOO good about my turns, I had to keep going, I was addicted. I went. I did turns with this woman standing a foot away from where I was turning, and I didn't hit her. I swam 38 laps. It was love!
And that is my story. I can now do flip turns. I can do flip turns with someone else in my lane. I can swim without stopping. I am happy. I am satisfied. For now.
16 April 2009
Reading Day
Yes, today is a reading day...blessed be. This means several things - #1, I don't have class. #2, I'm semi-free to do whatever I want and not feel guilty that I have homework I should be doing. #3, I have to study for four finals.
So far I've successfully studied for one and a half of my finals. I still feel like I have a load left, and I do. But I'm so excited for this semester to be officially over. There's something about the freedom of not being in school that is purely satisfying; a giant burden is lifted. It'll be interesting to see how I feel about the three independent study courses I have to take over the summer and if that will put a damper on my feeling of freedom.
Well. This blog is now on. I've now posted. I found the perfect background. Still tweaking some fonts and colors, but I'll get there. And yes, my goal is to get a digital camera before the end of May, which means that at some point, maybe I'll be able to post pictures. That will be a good day.
So far I've successfully studied for one and a half of my finals. I still feel like I have a load left, and I do. But I'm so excited for this semester to be officially over. There's something about the freedom of not being in school that is purely satisfying; a giant burden is lifted. It'll be interesting to see how I feel about the three independent study courses I have to take over the summer and if that will put a damper on my feeling of freedom.
Well. This blog is now on. I've now posted. I found the perfect background. Still tweaking some fonts and colors, but I'll get there. And yes, my goal is to get a digital camera before the end of May, which means that at some point, maybe I'll be able to post pictures. That will be a good day.
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