You know how I said I can't swim?

Wooo. We went swimming today because Boy decided that he's going to teach me swimming. He was planning to even when we went to Tunisia, but we were so busy there that we didn't even get the chance to hit the pool or beach, so ever since coming back, he said, "We'll go to the swimming pool on your next day off and I can teach Pei how to swim then."

Which just so happens to be today because I've been working another six-day week. T_T

Before we went there, I said that if Boy manages the impossible task of getting me to swim, we could look at going for a vacation to one of the islands off the coast of Terengganu, like Redang or Perhentian, since I've never been to either island despite living so close to it for so many years because I just can't swim and the whole purpose of going to those islands is either suntanning on the lovely beaches (which I don't do because it's too hot!) or something to do with water (swimming, snorkling, diving, etc) because it has awesome coral reef and marine parks (apparently). Unfortunately, all this will mean is that I have to first save up for enough money for the tickets to Malaysia and then enough money for a mini-stint in one of the islands as well. The problem is that I know the islands are pretty popular places to go to during the summer months, so booking a place is going to be near on impossible if I don't do it soon... :(

Boy was like, "Ok, sounds like a challenge!"

Anyway, the fitness centre that we go to for gymming is the only one in the city centre with a swimming pool in it, so we went there today. I had my black swimsuit from 3-4 years ago when M was trying to teach me how to swim in 6 weeks (that wasn't too successful, by the way). It was a 36E (from Bravissimo, on sale, I think it was a Freya swimsuit but I could be wrong) and it definitely doesn't fit all that well nowadays because the wires in the centre (of my boobs) are jutting out by an inch or so. :( I was going to get another one, but I cannot justify getting another swimsuit when a) I don't go to the beach that often and, b) I can't swim.

I would get a bikini (there are so many nice ones!) if I were skinnier and have less jiggly bits... um, nevermind! :P I shall spare everyone's eyes.

The pool is 1.36m deep. Getting into the pool was not a problem - I have no fear in getting into water, and the water came up to my chin. There were actually a lot of people there, families with their kids on a Sunday, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised since it was Sunday afternoon.

Lesson #1: Dead Man's Float

First thing Boy tried to get me to do was the Dead Man's Float. Even that is difficult because I kept tensing up and sinking, so he tried to get me to tread water. That didn't work either because I kept sinking and my feet kept hitting the floor.

So I clung on to the side of the pool and let the rest of my body float up to the surface. Then Boy stood next to me and supported me from underwater whilst I let go of the side and told me to relax repeatedly. Once he was certain I was fully relaxed in a sleeping position, he let go... and then I was floating.

I WAS FLOATING!!

I opened my eyes in shock, panicked and immediately went underwater with lots of spluttering after.

That was smart. :P Anyway, we tried that again, and each time I held the position (if you can call it holding a position when it requires no effort other than not to panic) longer and longer. After that, he said I was to get into the Dead Man's Float position by myself, with no assistance from him. Again, that took some doing. Actually, I managed it the first time, but then panicked after around 5 seconds and went under again. So that took some time to build up confidence to the point of just floating and not tensing up at all.

Lesson #2: Moving in one direction (Cheater's backstroke)

So the next thing to do was to try to get me moving in one direction rather than just floating around getting in everyone's way.

First he tried to get me to kick my legs, but only my feet without tensing the other leg muscles and going underwater, which was near impossible. Then he said I could use my calves as well, but when I tried it, he said I was moving my whole legs and there was too much movement and muscle tension to keep afloat that way. So we tried it with assistance again, and it was okay... until he let go and I was sinking again...

So he said that I should try it with arm movement as well. After experimenting with various types of arm movement and him telling me how much movement I should do, in which direction, etc, I finally managed to stay afloat and move in a specific direction!

YAY!!!

Oh, and after some practicing, I could do it by myself now, even though occasionally I still cock up by tensing far too much and getting a noseful of water in the process, but it's not too bad now. ^^ We spent some time in the jacuzzi as well, and that was weird. My back was really red and itchy after it.

After that, it was back to some more practicing, and I managed to swim almost a complete length of the pool just doing the cheater's backstroke. So now I'm not completely hopeless on this swimming thing, and back of my throat tastes like chlorine. Roffle.

Boy is a pretty good teacher. Very patient, and he didn't mind staying with me at all times to make sure I don't drown instead of going off on a swim himself whilst I drown in a corner of the pool.