Gymnastics at a new Gym!

So, i didn't get around to posting last night since i was writing my university applications (only one offer so far, i'm hoping to get accepted at all five i applied for, but that'd take a MIRACLE!) and i was thrilled.

Anyhow.

I will now summarize yesterday's events although it is a day late. my apologies.

Anyway, i realize that this class runs on both Tuesday and Thursday (but i only do Tuesday classes) and we had a lot less students than original. This time we were down to about 8 people i think?

I like classes with lesser people more, cuz then we're more unified and it's easier to teach, instead of having girls (and boys) run around everywhere.

Like the first time, we started out by running in circles. ran and ran and ran until i was about to die, did chasses and high knees and all that stuff. i swore i was going to DIE.

and then long jumps and low bunny hops, and then we got into two lines to do skills.

One thing i can say about the class is that the skill levels are VERY spread out. it's not a bad thing by itself, but then it's a bit harder to teach and learn, IMO.

After doing cartwheels, one hand cartwheels, other hand, hopping, rolling, straddle rolls, back rolls, and basically everything except handstands (why not???) we finally got around to stretching.

the girl next to me told me that i had a very flexible back ;)

i am quite proud of that, since it's the only thing i'm flexible at. XD

and then after stretching we got some free time.

Everyone sort of gathered together at first to do back handspring drills…

but then everyone was very hesitant and didn't really want to go first.

Eventually, we migrated to the floor, and i dragged the big cheese mat out onto the big floor (and one girl helped me, thank goodness for her, that thing was so heavy!)

and i worked on back handsprings, and learned that despite taking nearly two months off, i can still do them with relative ease. the incline was a bit too soft, though, for my preference.

anyway.

I also did some front walkovers on a line, and then the girl with the highest skills asked if i can do an elbow stand and go into an elbow bridge.

and yes, i can. and i can also roll out of it, backwards.

so me and her and another girl i knew from summer classes played around doing elbow stands and stuff, and then (DRUMROLL) time for conditioning!

-10 burpees
-10 rocks on all sides (front, back, sides)
-10 crunches (using straddle and tuck, that's 10 for both)
-15 mountain climbers (two different types, 15 each)
-10 press trainers (basically, training to eventually do a press handstand)

and a few more that i can't really remember.

Basically, i was flailing around a lot since my stomach muscles are weak.

it was VEEEERY tiring.

but thank goodness, this time was very, very fun!! <3

And today (the day after) I am not even that sore! Isn't that wonderful?

Well, that's about it then….

Look forward to next time's post, onegai~! <3





~Re

Becoming an Expat?

Okaaaay~~~

So…. i've missed a post on Saturday. And it's now Tuesday. Therefore, i will do two posts today, as to keep up with the double post-one week schedule.

I'll try not to go back on it, although i am veeeeeeery busy as of lately.

I ended up getting Tumblr today, since i was bored, but i won't link it here. Maybe one day, if it gets popular. I can't seem to figure out how it works…

Anyway, that aside, today i am talking about 'becoming an expat.'

I don't know the first thing about becoming an expat, but i am hoping to become an expat one day, although i don't think that this would be the technical term for me.

If i do, though, i will definitely be keeping an expat blog ;) count on it~

but the thing is, if i were to become an expat, i would be travelling back to my parents' country, so technically, i am not in a foreign country, since i hold its passport. (although i have never been there for longer than 2 weeks and for anything aside for vacation purposes)

So today, i have some tips for becoming an expat, based on the situation that may just uniquely apply to me~! (meaning, it's utterly useless but i'm looking for something to say, as to keep my promise to post)

lets get started~!


---
1) Research

--> Although i am not yet sure if i will be given the oppertunity to go live there, one thing i know is that "researching" is always  a good idea. it's the first step - to find out about the culture of the country, the people, the customs. see if it's something you really like. watch some videos about it on youtube (documentary, travel, expat, or otherwise). you should have a good idea of the place even if you're just considering moving there.
---

~<3~


---
2) Make a List

--> Of things you like and dislike about the country. no country is perfect. (although weeaboos claim that Japan is…) and so you should be aware of the positive and negative aspects of the country, and see if one overpowers another, or if they are equally balanced. Personally, i think that if it is balanced then it's not worth it. you want to be extra happy in your new country.
---

~<3~


---
3) Decide your Reasons

--> Why do you want to go to this country? is it wanderlust? are you curious? are you dating someone who lives there? although it's not integral to becoming an expat to the country, it's generally a good idea to know why you're doing it.
---

~<3


---
4) Consider the Factors

--> In order to gain something, you need to lose something of equal value. Happiness is a choice, but in the end, you'll still end up losing something by becoming an expat. Are there people in your life that's too difficult to leave? are you ruining your childrens' lives? are you leaving your best friends? or is it a positive change for you? are you going somewhere to start fresh? all of these are important factors that should be deeply contemplated before going to the said country.
---

~<3~


---
5) Make it Happen

--> If you're sure you want to be an expat, then it's time to make it happen! find your way over to the said country. university exchange? overly extended vacation? job?
---

~<3~


---
6) Pack, Move, Settle In

--> another post for another time! Class is ending, my back is aching, so it's time to post and leave~!









~~till next time, then! I hope this little post has been useful (or utterly useless) for you~~


and honestly, i know what you guys want~ i can see the website stats. aren't you all hoping for more suggestive posts? 'cuz those are getting the most views.

drop me a comment if there's something you want to see me write about~!

Like… yoga maybe?

cuz i'm damn good at yoga ;)





~R~

Annnnnnnd…. We're Back!

So, winter holidays have passed - LAST WINTER BREAK OF HIGH SCHOOL! - and there's now a bit of time for writing, except i still have plenty to do, which is too bad.

So, here are a few updates…

I will now try to be writing every Tuesday and Saturday.

Tuesdays will be based on gymnastics and Saturday will be based on whatever comes to mind or entertains me most at the time.

And i do have to apologize for the huge space in my writing, but i'd say that is understandable, as i have been quite busy with university applications and schoolwork and procrastination and what not.

speaking of, i have an exam today and so why am i writing and not studying?

Calculated, my grade for this course is likely to be approximately 75% once i am done, which is disappointing at best, and it makes my hope for my second-dream university absolutely disappear like the morning mist…

Anyway, today is Wednesday, not Tuesday, but i will talk briefly about yesterday's gymnastics!

It was my first day - the first day actually was supposed to be two weeks ago, but i had been ill and therefore, yesterday was my first day.

It's really nerve-wracking to walk into a new place that i am not familiar with - and trust me, it is absolutely different from how i remembered it to be, back in the summer days.

It isn't unpleasant.

It's actually quite nice.

I could honestly say that i wish i had stayed at RGA, though, seeing that i already know the people there, know the coach, and whatnot.

Besides, if there's one thing that makes me uncomfortable, it's the fact that my class is made up of blonde, blue-eyed pretty girls.

No way i'd be comfortable in that setting, knowing that i'd never in a million years be able to measure up to them! They're pretty naturally - and i wouldn't be able to look pretty if i tried.

That's depressing at best.

But don't get me wrong - they were all so friendly! All smiles and niceness and sunshine.

Anyway, the day started off okay, we ran in circles for about a bazillion times, until i had cramps up my side and my lungs were burning but dammit, we had to keep going!

high knees, skipping, chasse's and what-not, the whole nine yards.

My favourite coach wasn't my coach but i saw him, so it kind of made me feel sad…

Anyway, we eventually stopped running around like headless chickens and got into two lines, and did the whole nine yards AGAIN - long jumps, straight jumps, jumping in general, rolling, cartwheeling, and so on so forth.

I can say it's a pretty intense warmup!

But nothing compared to what happens at RGA.

But hey, i'd taken over a month off, what'd you expect? Definitely not to breeze through the entire thing, ne?

So, warmups eventually ended with stretching in which i was pleasantly surprised that i can actually almost do splits, and my back is no less flexible than it was a month and half ago…

And then we had free time - DAMMIT !

Started out on the Tumble Trak, did random jumping around, and then got bored.

Went to the bars and asked a coach to teach me something cool… I didn't really learn anything. did some pullovers and back hip circles and squat ons.

Went to floor and worked on some bridge kickovers with a group and then branched off to work on front limbers, walkovers, and back walkovers.

Then we conditioned.

With the core.

the one thing i am terrible at!

banana-shape-hold for ten seconds, and then ten bicycles, then hold for ten more seconds, then ten bicycles, and so on so forth - no touching the ground allowed!

and then superman-hold, and then swimming kicks, then hold, then kick, then so on so forth!

then squat jumps and push ups and burpees and the whole nine yards.

And that was pretty much it..!

It wasn't 2 hours, like at RGA, it was 1.5 hours.

Not hardly enough time…!

Anyway, i can say this much.

i LOVE the gym, it's spacious and absolutely endearing to play in.

the coaches are pretty good too, quite friendly, no complaints here…

the girls are pretty great too. i didn't get to make any close friends due to my own shyness, but they're nice people and i think i like my classmates quite a lot!

So the only issue?

the ciriculum.

I can't stand free time.

I like structure.

Mostly because i'm not a very motivated person and i need people telling me what to do, or i'd just procrastinate.

Speaking of, my legs are a bit sore today but that's it.

And i'm contemplating dropping the spring course and taking an acting class instead.

We'll see.

Anyway, that's about it for yesterday's summary!

See ya'll next time then?






~Re