try new things

I got my first tattoo today and it was quite an interesting experience because I didn’t know what to expect. Of course I thought it might be slightly painful but it was hard to imagine how it feels like. Well, now I know it. :-)

It took for about an hour and sometimes it hurt quite a lot but thankfully not all the time. All in all, it was bearable but I couldn’t have taken another hour, even though my pain tolerance is quite high.

I had to end my Linux experiment sooner than I wanted. :-(

I had to remove Ubuntu because it didn’t work as it was supposed to and it started to cause problems on Vista. I really don’t know why, but somehow Linux altered something on my Windows partition, even though it shouldn’t have done anything to it. I guess the problem is that my laptop only has one hard drive and partitioning isn’t enough to keep the two operating systems completely separate.

Today I decided to try something completely new: I installed Ubuntu on my laptop just because I wanted to try how Linux feels compared to Windows. Well, at least it’s working since I’m using it at the moment and this sure feels faster than Vista. I’ll keep playing around and see which one I end up using more. :-)

This week I tried two different aerobics classes that my university has to offer.

The first one was a circuit training at the gym. We had 36 check points with different exercises and one minute per check point. In addition to that we did some ab exercises and stretching in the end. The hour went past quite fast and I was completely exhausted in the end, so it was really effective. Normally I don’t like going to gym because I find it so boring, but this time it was different, because it was instructed. I think I’ll try to start doing this regularly, because it would surely keep me in great condition. :-)

The other class was a slow-paced muscle training, which focused on improving balance and body coordination. It was relaxing and I will definitely give it another try, even though there was only one other male student besides me. :-D

I have seen stand up comedians on TV and they are usually quite funny. I’m sure it would be even funnier to see a live show.

During the two first years at the university I didn’t pay much attention to participating in the various activities that my university has to offer. From now on there’s going to be a change in it.

I already registered myself as an international tutor, who takes care of the exchange students who come to study at my home university. I am also going to try to find like-minded people through the various activity clubs that operate at the uni.

Last Saturday I saw a German folk/rock band called Schandmaul in Bonn and while watching the gig, I thought it would be cool to be able to play a flute of some sort, because the folk melodies are so beautiful.

When I got home I did some searching on the internet and found out that tin whistles are very simple and cheap instruments, but still capable of sounding really good in the hands of a skilled player (the aforementioned band uses tin whistles and so do some other folk/metal bands that I like). So I went and ordered a tin whistle and decided that I’m going to learn to play it. :-)

Last week I did something completely new that I had never even thought of trying: I sailed a sail boat.

As a background information I can tell you that it is a long lasting tradition in the student dorm where I live, that they go sailing every year in the late spring or early summer. I decided to participate and it was a cool new experience.

Sailing is quite complicated because you have to keep an eye on the wind direction all the time and adjust the sail accordingly. Then of course you also need to watch out for other boats and try to navigate so that you get where you are going to. Throw in some waves or currents, sandbanks to be avoided and a gusty wind, and you will find yourself really busy trying to keep the boat going steady!

I got stuck once or twice, almost collided with other boats a couple of times and was a little bit afraid of turning the boat over in strong side wind but anyway I’d say that sailing wasn’t as hard as feared it to be, and I guess that I did quite good for a beginner; at least one person in my boat told me so, and she had sailed before. I am interested in going sailing again but only after learning some more about the theory and rules of water traffic. However, I think I’d never buy a boat for myself, because it didn’t get me that hooked. Sailing once in a while might be a nice hobby but for me it probably would get too repetitive after a while.

Overall it was an interesting new experience and I got a whole new perspective on boating in general. Sailing was an eye-opening experience for me in many ways. :-)

Today I went to the first lesson of the rock ‘n roll dance course with my flatmate. The hour went by really fast and we only had time to practice the basic steps plus one acrobatic move but it was very much fun nonetheless. :-)

It was also surprisingly sporty, which combined with the fact that the room was very hot resulted in lots of sweating. Anyway I’m glad that my flatmate asked me to go with her and I’m already eagerly looking forward to the next lesson.

On Saturday I got lots of interesting new music from my friends. I haven’t had time to listen to most of it yet, but I’m always very eager to hear new bands or new material from the bands I like.