Just because I speak a language, doesnt mean I understand it!

It the past several weeks, life in Sweden has felt somewhat easier. One of the biggest changes I have noticed, and which has contributed to me enjoying life more, is that I am more daring. I dare to go to pilates in swedish, I dare to speak swedish (when I have to) even though I know that between my accent and my poor vocabularly, no one understands me... Generally I dare not to care anymore! This has been a very liberating experience in itself - to no longer care how Sweden treats or views me! Unfortunately, (and for those who know me well, they will surely attest to this character flaw of mine) once I get on a roll, I tend to get, well a little cocky, a little over zealous if you will.
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As I mentioned, I have been attending a pilates class for the last few months, which is taught in Swedish, and I have no problems following the class, as I have done pilates for years, so I generally know where the class is going, or it will only take me a few seconds to work out what move the instructor means (because often I have no idea what she is saying!). So I decided that it was time to bump it up a little. Try something new - it was time to try the abs class (notice I keep taking the classes with english names, somehow I think this will help!). Luckily this class was just like "pilates on speed". I again had NO PROBLEMS following. I already knew all the moves, it was just 10 times faster with really cheesy top 40 dance tracks playing!

So the next day I dared to try something else. I decided that POWER/ABS 75 looked like a good place to start. My zeal and enthiasm lead me to believe that a) I knew what the class was. and b) I could handle it.

You know whats comming dont you.

I thought I would never survive. I did not walk into a Power Yoga and Abs class. I walked into a 75minute boot camp style Power - as in POWER building class. Let me just tell you after the first 15mins of cardio with weights when I felt like I might just vomit - and then I realised the instructor still hadnt taken off her jumper.... Well you can imagine. I am now also very familar with what it must feel like to be yelled at by a Swedish Staff Sargent!! Lets just say it has taken me 3 days to be able to walk up the stairs without wincing in pain...

so now I'm starting to wonder if I am up for another class tonight??



I survived it once, do I dare to try it again???????