First day: Freestyle

Today I got up early to go to swim camp. Again, just like last year. But this year, it was different. Last year, it was an overnight camp. This year it would be a day camp, which was better because I got to go home, but not so much better on the drive to Harvard every day there and back. So, I got up early in the morning and we were off. My dad had to carpool, so we went to a supermarket parking lot and picked up the other kids. Their names were Allison, Bonita, and Elise. The way to Harvard was not bad. But there still was traffic even though not much. When we got there, I was surprised. Probably because I never thought of it so I was surprised.

We swam at Blodgett Pool. The Harvard University pool was being borrowed by us. And boy, it is huge! You can’t even ask how many lanes there were! I’ll try to explain it. So when you first walk into the door, you see eight lanes going horizontally. Then there was a deep end about the size of half a regular pool, and another eight lanes. Incredible, isn’t it?!

 The water was fine. My coach or counselor was Beth. She was nice, and directed us on the drills. The water was fine. But then came the nervousness came. We were going to get videotaped, then “criticized” on by the coach. So I swam meanwhile thinking of doing the right body positions. When it came to watching me, the coach told me to work on rotating more on my right side, and I would be fine. So when I got back into the water, I worked on it. And in my next video during the afternoon, it did improve! Now, about lunchtime…

We ate our lunch outside in the burning hot sun. I wore flip flops, which wasn’t my fault. I couldn’t join in the Frisbee game they were playing, not that I wanted to. So I went with the other flip floppers and went to play Drip, Drip, and Drop. It does sound a bit like Duck, Duck, Goose, doesn’t it? Well it’s just like it. So someone has a bucket of water. They go to the first person; they can drip it on them. They keep on going around dripping it, until, hmm; this person looks like they should get wet… SPLASH!! They are wet! Ha-ha- wait, you have to run! They are chasing you! Phew! You are safe when you sit down. So it is just like Duck, Duck, Goose. I crossed my fingers that I wouldn’t get dropped on- getting dripped on was enough cold water. Besides, the drips were quite big. So, I was getting dripped on. But then, someone decides to dump water on me! I am furious, I chase them, but water squeaks in my flip flops as I attempt to catch them. It doesn’t work. I dump on someone, and then we have to go. There is water dripping everywhere I walk. It feels nice to get in the pool, instead of being half wet, I am completely wet which is more comfortable. This time, when I got videotaped, I look much better!

At the end, we have relays. They are fun, just too many people. I swam as fast as possible, but the lane next to us seemed to have better technique, so they won. But we still had the rest of the week to try again. I was a bit tired, and definitely ready to head home, feeling satisfied about what I learned. Oh no! Tomorrow’s backstroke, my least favorite!