Next two weeks 2.2-16.2

Gym thrice a week:  I HAVE 41,5 HOURS OF GYM

This time around I am starting to feel stronger, even during some every day activities such as vacuuming, getting firewood etc. I have also increased weights on many of the gym equipment, and I’ve realized that I have to find my limits and then try to cross them every time, little by little, however without straining myself. I haven’t developed enough, at least not yet, because it is so hard for me to organize time for the exercise and because I live so far away from the town. I am going to solve this problem by getting the driver’s license, from which I will hopefully also get CAS hours.

All of the gym activities are mainly individual, but of course sports and other physical activities unite people and so I’ve occasionally talked to the other people at the gym. It is nice to hear about their sources of motivation, goals and other stories. Last week I had a conversation with a man about fitness TV-series and working out, and it made me happy to have found a person with so many similar opinions.

Japanese culture –course starts 9.2. 

           A course organized by Kizuku Hamashima
Getting to know Japanese customs, traditions, language 75 min lesson thrice a week

This course came as an intriguing opportunity to learn about a country that I have always been interested in; Japan. We have already had three lessons, where we have learned some basic facts and statistics, in addition to greetings and telling our names in Japanese. “Watashi no namae wa Matilda desu” is how I would introduce myself in Japanese. Kizuku does not speak English fluently, so it is sometimes challenging to make out words, or even understand anything what he’s saying, but this is a part of the learning process; the ability to understand non-native English speakers is a good thing to have, and it helps possible future trips to other cultures.

Plan restaurant day 15.2.  I HAVE 11,5 HOURS OF PLAN

- Selling pastries on the International Restaurant day è Profits to Plan

Our sales table was in a local park at the centre of the town, and since it was -10 Celsius there (because it was outside) it was really physically unpleasant to stand there for two hours. But still, I thoroughly enjoyed those two hours, and had the most fun I have ever had while working with Plan! At first when I arrived at our spot, I thought that no-one would be interested in us because of the cold weather, and it would be a struggle to stand there, even for such a good cause. However, as I realized that passers-by were actually interested in our pastries and in the cause we were raising money for, I got excited. There were five of us selling the pastries and our cooperation worked perfectly. Everybody helped each other with everything since there was no division of labor.

The people who stopped to our stand were all really polite and nice human beings. My friend Suvi had the Kamu-suit on, and she attracted positive attention. Children really loved her, and one Shetland sheepdog –puppy adored her because she was so furry, which was cute. Some of the people who bought the pastries gave extra money for us, and one older man gave us a lot of money but wouldn’t buy anything because his wife was expecting him for dinner at home. It was freezing cold at some point, but it didn’t bother me since I could meet new people and have fun with the other volunteers. I believe the others had fun too, because someone suggested we could do something like that again.