As you sow, so you shall reap, or Never in a hurry – always on time

I am remembering the last time – the time I wrote my last post. It was October, a month full of expectations and preparations for the second – hopefully successful – year at university. I felt the first year was the busiest year in my life, but I was wrong. They tried to scare us, and they succeeded.

The second year is supposedly the most difficult one. Happily, the academic pressure didn’t last long, as I organized my time and assignments on time and generally got used to the new regime quite quickly. We get twice as many written assignments to do as we did last year, and I have more classes in my schedule and the physical stress at dancing lessons. And since I always respond to the word challenge, I enrolled in the local gym and work out 4 times a week. I have a personal trainer who even oversees my proper diet, etc. And to make sure that I have enough physical stress, I go to capoeira lessons. Capoeira is a unique combination of acrobatics, dance and martial arts with a specific philosophy behind it. Our workshops are led by a major capoerist, who hails from Portugal but his father, a Brazilian, passed a wealth of experience in teaching capoeira on him. I definitely want to pursue this heavenly activity in the future. To get a picture, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxgFpK-NM

I thought I would like to pass my dance skills on. I did once in the past – in Písek where I had a modern dance workshop for children (aged 9 to 13) and adolescents (aged 15 to 19). The workshop went well; I was even offered a job in the future. I’d like to move this challenge to the next level here in England. I have combined dance with volunteering, and a mandatory part of the Dancing Communities module. I will work with disabled young people aged 13 to 25. I have to prepare 5 workshops that should be connected and unfold as a series. We’ll see how I do. At any rate, this is a great challenge for me!

Paradoxically, physical exhaustion recharges my energy. This year, I got a bike – an indispensable aid. I used to walk to the studio several times a day, and it would take me a good 35 minutes, but on a bike I get there in a few minutes. A big help! Simply put, there’s nothing in the world like going full-tilt all day and then dropping into bed at 11 pm, and enjoying falling asleep fast, which I have gotten to really appreciate recently.

I enjoy Spanish increasingly more. There are many new students at university – native speakers that we can communicate with twice a week. I try to make it to every session, as you can tell at Spanish lessons. Plus, they’re my friends!

Even though I’m quite busy every day, I never come late. Organization saved me from hurry and stress this year, more or less. I am also running on the joy of knowing that my sister is getting married and I’ll be an aunt soon. I’ll be the best aunt in the world!

Have a great time y’all and see you soon!