I can swim!!!

I must announce this:

I can swim!
I can swim!
I can swim!

Praise the Lord!

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I had my second swimming lesson on Saturday, 22 December 2007. We went earlier to the club and arrived before 6 pm. The lesson was scheduled at 6:30 pm. I practiced on my own while waiting for the class to start - not much progress after 2 weeks.

The class started slightly late. The instructor – Jason was teaching the more advanced class – probably about 10 kids. Three of us waited for him at a different side of the pool. Nadia is 4 years old and Dylan is 6 years old. After awhile, Jason came over. He asked the 2 kids to jump into the pool with their float, swim to the other side, and then walk back. They were to repeat that 4 times. While the 2 kids were practicing, Jason came over to guide me. He observed as I tried my kicking. He noticed that my shoulder was still a bit tensed, and my legs were too straight. I needed to relax my legs and kick from my feet, and not the whole leg. I need to lower down my shoulders too.

As I was practicing, suddenly a group of kids came – probably about 6 of them. They also came to join the class. The class is bigger now but I am still the only adult. Hehehe! Jason asked them to do the same thing as the other 2 kids. I was still struggling a bit.

The breakthrough finally came. Jason asked me to do it slowly. I realized that I was rushing into it. He asked me to hold my hands straight and place them closer. Take a deep breath, and lower down my head slowly, and kick. I got better and better and eventually I float! My shoulders were not tensed. I was kicking the surface of the pool. I could hear the water splashing loudly. It was a beautiful sound indeed. Jason was encouraging and complimented me a few times. That was cool!

He asked me to practice a few more minutes, and then he would teach me how to move forward. I was thinking, “Wow! Sure or not?” (He went back to the kids.) One guy (an adult) later approached him. I think Jason was teaching him about breathing. Hmm….he may join the next class. He was still there when I left.

Okay, back to my lesson. I could float! Next, Jason asked me to walk over to a blue line in the pool. I think it was about 6 feet away from the side. I had to hold the edge of my float with my hands straight, lower down my head and kick. I did it! I couldn’t believe it. I could move forward with my float! I repeated that a few times, and tried to go further from the edge as well. Hehehe!

Next, I thought I was asked to do the impossible. Jason asked me to move forward without my float. “Without my float? Oh no.” I just need to stretch out my hands, lower down my head, and kick. He said just imagine that the float is there. Eh…okay. Just do it! And I did it, and I’m so amazed with myself. After trying a few times, I asked Seng Chor to come over. He was carrying Jordan. I swam for them. Seng Chor asked Jordan to clap hands. Hahaha!

I can’t breathe properly yet. So, I just swam after taking one deep breath. It was more than 10 seconds. It was getting late when I tried to practice on my breathing. Well, that will be the next lesson – breathe in before going into the water, and breathe out in the water through my nose or mouth. I did one last swim before shower – it was about 7:30 pm.

I am so excited. I never thought that I could swim at my age. The feeling is just so amazing. It feels like getting my PhD all over again. I felt a bit pressurized when one of my colleagues told me that normally people could swim in the third lesson. I was thinking to myself – “Wow! Can I do it?” “Maybe for me, it will be later because the first lesson was tough for me.” “I couldn’t even kick properly.” “I couldn’t relax myself. How am I supposed to float?” All the thoughts were negative thoughts. To prepare myself for the lesson last Saturday, I told myself almost the whole day this – “I can do all things through Christ!”

It was drizzling when we left the house. It also threatened to rain on my first swimming lesson. Hmm….I was thinking this is probably not the day. Hmm…nope…I shall not let the rain dampened my spirit. It didn’t rain when we reached there.

I really didn’t expect that I could swim that day. After what my colleague said, I thought maybe I could only swim after the 3rd lesson. Till now, I am still so amazed with myself.

I CAN SWIM! I CAN! I CAN! I CAN!

Praise the Lord!