5 Weeks Later – Summer Camp was a Success!

As a quick refresher, after I left NSR I spent a month in Mumbai doing my own version of a summer camp and then spent 5 weeks running around the US visiting everyone I know and attending some important life-events (weddings, reunions, etc) . . . . . you can catch up here and here

 

During my five week – and I hesitate to say this – vacation, I made pretty good use of 3 out of the 5 “lessons” from my Summer Camp.  To clarify, “using” a lesson means not only practicing or playing, but also talking about – is in cocktail party faire.  Leaving India directly after Summer Camp made it tough to actually execute on all the lessons.

 

Yoga was by far the skill that I used the most – both by practicing and in discussion.  I used Yoga routines in the place of a regular aerobic / weight lifting gym routine.  Since you can do Yoga almost anywhere, it is much easier to workout “on the road.”  It also makes a great topic of conversation! 

 

I unfortunately did not have a chance to go sailing or play a game of bridge during my travels but knowledge of both were great conversation topics and helped make a connection with some great people.

As for cooking and Hindi, both were utterly unused during my foray.  I had no opportunity (nor did I want to) cook a meal and obviously it would be tough to speak Hindi with people who do not understand it.

 

So it seems that I have some traction with at least 4 of the skills I tried to learn (Hindi is a given) even during a 5 week hiatus.  I would say that Summer Camp was a resounding success. 

Summer Camp has Begun – Maintaining the schedule without committing to another person is tough!

Instead of diving right into a new venture (although I am thinking about what to do constantly) I have set up a “summer camp” of sorts for myself for the next month.  The PLAN (and i stress plan for reasons I will explain below) is as follows:

- Conversational Hindi classes – three times a week for one hour

- Yoga classes – twice a week in the morning for one hour

- Cooking classes – 2-3 times a week for 1-1.5 hours

- Sailing classes – 2 times a week for 2-3 hours

- Bridge classes – 3 times a week for 1 hour

 

Only the Hindi and Yoga classes are actually paid for, fully scheduled classes.  Cooking “class” is with our home cook, sailing classes is regular sailing with a “tindel” on-board who does not speak a work of English and bridge classes are, as of now, non-existent (though I am spending time reading and learning online).  It has not been for a lack of trying though!

 

I am afraid that without having a set, committed, schedule with a teacher that i have paid for, it will be tough to maintain my motivation.  Having that monetary pressure plus feeling of responsibility to another person makes it more likely that I will learn.  Take bridge, for example – I started by scheduling an hour of time for myself at home.  First lesson was easy but with all the distractions I have on my computer it is easy to slip. 

 

If any of you have any other ideas of how to keep myself motivated please do let me know!