Class & My 24th Birthday

During orientation we were assigned our first reading and coloring assignment for Anatomy & Physiology. We began class the next day on Thursday January 6th, 8:00am-3:30pm. We have breaks from 10:05-10:25 and again for lunch from 12:30-1:25pm. 3 classes a day, Monday through Friday. I usually wake up around 6am, swim in the pool or walk on the beach before class at 8am.. everyone gets up around sunrise and does.. something!  In addition to class, I'm estimating about 3 hours of homework a day. This is the first time since college where there are not enough hours in the day! The first day of class was positive, full of quality information, and moved quickly. By the end of the first day we were setting up and breaking down massage tables, and then exchanging hand massages on the tables. We learned a variety of techniques and sequences, but there seems to be a lot of room for creativity.  By the end of the second day we were exchanging hand and full arm massages, along with draping techniques (keeping the client safe and covered with the linens).  After only two days of class, I felt confident, I had the urge to practice and improve, and I was relieved that I loved doing it. I had an Ah-Ha moment of 'this is what I'm supposed to be doing'.

My 24th birthday happened to fall on the first weekend of the program, Saturday January 8th.. I couldn't have planned it better. Friday night after our first couple days of classes, most of us went out dancing, at a bar right on the beach, it was reggae night.. so the music was right up my alley. It was fun to see everyone in a social setting and come out of their shells a little bit. When the night was winding down, we went swimming in the ocean.. buddy system, don't worry.. and walked back to campus on the beach. The next morning (my birthday) one of our instructors taught Zumba in our outdoor classroom. It was my first time doing Zumba and I had a really fun experience; smiling, sweating, and barefoot. I would say it's a mix between hip-hop, salsa, and aerobics.. I was moving the entire time and was totally sore the next day. When the class was over, everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' to me, which was embarrassing but nice.. ha. After Zumba, we all spent a few hours on the beach.. exactly where I wanted to be for my winter birthday. The tide was sooooo low that you could walk forever until you reached the water, it was beautiful and hot hot hot. I felt content.

After the beach, I made a yummy lunch of quesadilla with mozzarella and salsa, fried egg, beans, corn, and a salad with purple cabbage and pear. My meals have been creative to say the least, but super fresh and delicious.  I also hand-washed some clothes and went swimming in the pool until 6 of us went out for Thai food. I got pad thai with chicken, it was slightly different than I was used to, still with rice noodles but not as sweet, more flavor and spice, which I prefer, so it was a nice change. The restaurant experience is a little different here.. there is just.. no.. rush.. and no... water. So if you want to take your time and drink beer.. go out to eat! 

When we got back to campus, I got changed for bed and stepped outside to sit on my porch ~ and from the center of campus I saw some flickers of light.. everyone was walking towards me with a chocolate cake that had sparklers on top! Little did they know that I love CHOCOLATE and SPARKLERS! I also got a card and a bright pink, sweet smelling flower from the butterfly house.  I felt really loved from people who had I met just 4 days earlier.  

The next day, on Sunday, to end our first weekend, most of us went surfing! We compared 3 surf schools on the beach; 2 of them were charging $100 for 4 lessons and unlimited board use, and then we found $25 for 1 lesson and unlimited board use, so we went with that one. We figured 1 lesson would suffice.  It was a lot of fun and totally addicting.. you always want to ride just one more wave! ChiChi and CoPo had us practice safety, paddling, and standing up on the beach, and then we went into the water.. just before high tide, around 3pm.  They were very thorough instructors, we were split into 2 groups, they turned each one of us around and pushed us the first few times, and then we were on our own. I got up my first time - which was so satisfying - and everyone.. yes everyone.. was surfing on their own by the end of the lesson. I'm pumped about the unlimited board use for 4 months, when and if I have time, it'll be a great study/mental beak after class and on weekends. I hope to do it at least once a week. There I am.. in the blight blue bottoms and navy blue rash guard! Ready to go!

Yesterday, by the end of the third day we were massaging legs and feet, while practicing more advanced draping and tucking techniques (of the linens). This brings me to today; by the end of our fourth class, we were massaging head, face, and neck. Yes, we're moving as fast as it sounds. I've been here for 1 week today and we are already practicing the hand, arms, legs, feet, head, face, and neck! We're moving onto chest and abdomen tomorrow.. I'll keep you posted.