Week 1: Foxtrot, Piano Teapot and the Mysterious Blanket

This week a woman, next week a man

I had always wanted to learn some of the different ballroom dances- and after much searching I finally came across a 10 week introductory class to Ballroom and Latin Dancing for beginners- exactly the kind of taster class I was looking for. Unfortunately, and as I had expected, the women outweighed the men…. 7:1! So, this week I got to dance the woman’s steps, but next week I will dance the man’s steps. Today, we started off with the Foxtrot, first pacing out the steps, speeding it up, then coming together with our partner and trying not to stomp on each other’s feet. Once the music switched on, we were dancing to songs like Beyond the Sea and The Tender Trap. I hadn't been sure how I would find my first dance class, because I often find it difficult to copy dance moves, but I really felt I got the hang of it today, and with a bit of practice, I definitely think I will be ready for next week. 

Why buy one book when you can buy 10?

Books flowing off the shelves!

I called into the Irish Cancer Society charity shop to  ask about volunteering, and was told I could start the following week. My first task was to check price tags on items out in the shop, and I was immediately struck by how the donations are sold at such fantastic value. Take all these books pictured here, for example, the majority are priced at €1.50 each! So if you are thinking of getting new reading material any time soon, do consider going to a charity shop, because not only are you donating to a charitable cause, but you are also saving money and benefiting the environment in the process. After checking price tags, I was sorting through donations, which is always an interesting task to see what kind of items people donate. The strangest was probably a funky piano-shaped teapot! I really enjoyed my first day- learning how the shop works, and meeting all the other volunteers.

The "Tree Pose"-
fell over right after taking this

The Yoga Newbie 

This was my first ever yoga class. I was quite nervous going in, as this was not a beginner class, but rather a “Yoga all levels” class and everyone else seemed to know what they were doing. Nonetheless, in I went, and the instructor told me to get a mat, a blanket (??) and some blocks (???). At first glance the studio, with all the foam blocks, blankets and mats, looked like an ideal place to build a really impressive blanket fort. The instructor was excellent, easing us into the class, then the poses got progressively difficult, and by the end my legs were really starting to shake! We wound down at the end, eventually getting to use the mysterious blanket for the meditation part, called "Shavasana". Having never tried yoga before, I had been wary about doing it, but after today’s class, I think it would be extremely valuable to keep it up as a life-long activity.


I can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring!

The Beginning

"Find your passion, get active, and make a difference in your community"

This year, I am setting out to complete the Gold Gaisce challenge, also known as the Irish President's Award. I kept putting it off, BUT (as usual) deadlines are the best cure for procrastination- and the Gold challenge must be completed between the ages of 17-25, so I am actually starting to run out of time! In order to earn a Gold President's Award, the participant must complete 52 weeks of: a physical activity, a skill, and community involvement, as well as an adventure journey and a residential activity. For more information on the award, visit: http://gaisce.ie/ Also, if you are wondering what on earth Gaisce stands for - it is an Irish word meaning "great achievement"... but can also mean "brag"- I'll leave that for you to decide!

For this challenge, I have leaped out of my comfort zone and into...dance classes! I've never had the knack for dancing, my brother definitely got all the dance genes. Instead I mostly awkwardly bop around, never know what to do with my hands, try to look invisible and hope no one is actually watching. I decided against taking Hip Hop classes, because aside from coordination I probably lack necessary sass. Instead, I am starting ballroom and latin dancing - which so far seems set to include the foxtrot, waltz, swing dancing, tango and cha cha!

Having pretty much just sat at a desk for about 5 years writing essays -with minimal physical activity in between - suddenly going to the gym probably isn't the greatest idea. Instead, for my physical activity, I have decided to take up yoga, in the hopes of improving my flexibility. Finally, for my community involvement, I have decided to start volunteering with the Irish Cancer Society in one of their charity shop branches. Cancer is something which touches everyone's lives at some point, so I am glad to help cancer research funding in whatever way I can.

This blog, as you've probably realised by now, will be following me on my Gaisce journey, and while it would be great if this turned out to be a tale of "Clumsy Girl Becomes Great Dancer", "Sarah Can Finally Touch Her Toes" or "New Breakthrough thanks to Cancer Research Funding", I am not setting any particular goals, I am just really excited about the process. I hope that at the very least, you get enjoyment out of reading this blog, or, even better, I hope that you might be encouraged to try something similar- step out of your comfort zone, or give your time to someone who needs it.

If not, in the typical Irish way, sure just read it for an auld sneer.

Till next week!