Working Out and Dancing

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 – Working Out and Dancing

I’ve probably lost about ten pounds since I’ve been here, just eating better and walking more I suppose, but that certainly doesn’t mean I am getting in shape.  I did yoga today after school, and was absolutely exhausted after.  Definitely the best work out I’ve had in maybe two months.  I know yoga is hard in general, and I was keeping up for the most part (obviously not to the same extent that people who are actually good at it), but I still need to get myself moving more.  The guy who led it is a friend of mine from training.  He definitely knows what he was doing, and honestly his flexibility is impressive.  Plus the way he leads it is really friendly and encouraging, giving options for doing it easier or harder – I am going to try to start joining them on a more regular basis.    

I think I am going to go out for a run tomorrow morning.  I doubt I will make it very far, but we’ll see.  Luckily I still have my Zombies, Run! game on my iPod, which increases the motivation.  I just honestly hate running, and I always seem to be so tired anyways, so getting myself to wake up and do it is difficult.  One day maybe I’ll actually learn some discipline. 

I hate the wife on Breaking Bad, I have from the beginning.  I won’t give any spoilers, but she really frustrates me. 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Well, the best laid plans of mice and men; I definitely didn’t go running this morning.  I woke up around 4 AM (as usual) and it was raining.  Even though it had stopped by the time 6 AM rolled, I knew it was going to be muddy as hell, and I wasn’t going to try to run in that.  Plus I was so exhausted.  At least those are the excuses I’m giving myself. 

I really just need to start bringing a pair of shorts and a shirt to school.  After training today, some of us started practicing these dances we are going to do for both Diversity Day and our Swearing-In Ceremony.  We’re going to do some sort of salsa and then transition into a swing dance.  Unfortunately, I’m not exactly what one would call light on my feet.  Just learning the basic steps to the Charleston was really hard; I’m definitely the worst in the class.  Plus it’s just so hot here that I was sweating like a pig after just an hour of practice. 

It’s going to be a really busy next week and a half.  Saturday we have our Open Doors thing, where we have to go around to different ‘local businesses’ and things like that, played by our language trainers.  This one will have a delegate, a chief, a technician, a tailor, a landlord, and the post office.  That night we have our Halloween party.  Sunday I have a lot of laundry to catch up on, which I am dreading.  Tuesday we will have to go in to schools and do presentations and activities for the children, in French, which is going to be difficult. 

Thursday we finally find out our posts!  I’m getting really excited to find out where I’m going.  Then on Friday, we have our individual language presentations, where we have to speak for at least 20 minutes in front of a panel, completely in French – it is probably the biggest test of our training.  Saturday is Diversity Day, where we have to present on different aspects of American culture and learn about Cameroonian culture from our trainers.  Plus the whole time we will have to be practicing our stuff for Swearing-In.  Not going to lie, I’m a little overwhelmed by it all, but basically after that things should be pretty easy until we get to post.  

A village, viewed from our bus to the West.  

Sometimes during training the shorter people sit on the laps of the taller people.  

Another small village viewed from the bus.  

Outside the orphanage with the kids.