Cultural Submersion

Today's my work day, as a part of a Pre-finals birthday sandwich weekend. I'm taking tomorrow off from test prep to celebrate my birthday, and so today and Sunday are designated workdays. I like to start off my workdays with exercise to boost my brain productivity later. I went swimming today (this time without a "strike out" :-)!). It felt so good to be back in the pool after so long. At UF there's free swim but it's difficult to find space, impossible to find your own lane. You usually have to jump in with a few other swimmers. While it forces you to get in a good workout, the fact that most swimmers in the UF pool are hard core training makes it very hard to find your own pace and keep it. Here it was very much the opposite. With the exception of 3 or 4 20 somethings in the entire place, I was the youngest adult by a good 25 years. There were more decades of age in the pool than square mm's of spandex. Needless to say the single lane they devoted to "Sportschwimmen" was rather crowded with slow moving vehicles. Vehicles that you REALLY do not want to bump into while trying to pass. While it did cost 3 Euro for an hour, it was well worth it. The way from my place to the pool and back wasn't too long, and although it was pretty cold the sun was out, so I just went in shorts and long sleeve underarmor. Walking to and from and riding the train I got so many stares. Some were more of a "oh look that's kinda funny" while some people were a little more obvious with their "HUH?". You'd think the locals would be more used to and resistant to the weather than a Floridian but they were all bundled against the cold way more than they needed to. After I was done swimming and ready to clock out, I asked the lady what I needed to do. She incredulously asked me if I was ready, and motioned to my clothing. I told her the distance home was not so great. She allowed me through, but busted up laughing (very loudly for Germans) with her colleague as soon as I passed the turnstile. I was thinking about it, about how their laughter didn't really bother me, different from some times I am laughed at or made fun of. I think it's because I am secure in my decision. The object they find humorous, my decision to be colder than I could be, isn't an emotional issue for me. At the same time, it is quite an experience to pass a group of 15 elementary school kids and hear a bunch of little voices raise words such as "cold" and "why?"
I think this is a valuable exercise that I would recommend others take part in. Find something that is not morally wrong, maybe not even socially taboo, but rare to see nonetheless. Something that will attract stares and whispers in your direction. Go about your day and do your thing. It ends up as great practice with making the conscious decision not to let what others think bother you. It is a specific decision one can make, and there's not really any better way to grow in this area than to simply jump into real life practice. Just a few thoughts :-)


Ups and downs of the day:
Up: Swimming workout for only 3 Euro
Down: The laundry machine eating my THREE Euro wash coin, raising today's laundry trip's pricetag to 6 Euro (7.80 US Dollars)
Up: Being at Kaufland bread section right when the bread lady brought out the new batch of freshly baked and still hot rolls.
Up: Having already purchased (so in some ways free) jam to go with the hot rolls
Down: Having internet that doesn't work too well in the apartment
Up: Not being in my apartment while I write this.
UP: Lying in my hammock, relaxing suspended between two trees, bundled up and happily enjoying my internet's mobility.
THE UPPEST OF THEM ALL: Realizing that one week from now, I will be on a Grecian island, soaking up the sun in my hammock. All my fellow UF hammockers can eat their hearts out!