Learning Curve

I just embarked on a new adventure this week, a new job working for KNPR radio as their online content coordinator -- whew what a title!

The people are nice enough, the hours, benefits, pay, etc etc are all well and good. It's just that suddenly walking into a totally new situation with new people and new tasks is like being beamed onto another planet where up is down and down is up. It is enough to make the smartest person suddenly stupid.

It's not just learning the job that is the challenge (like starting with what am I supposed to do, exactly?) since there is no one around who did what I did before or if there was someone, he isn't there now to show me. Dealing with the people is a challenge. Again, everyone is nice; however, trying to time the questions, making sure I am asking enough questions and asking them in the right way is the challenge.

Of course even the most basic tasks require a brain transplant. The programs I am used to using are slightly different (it has been so long since I have set any preferences) enough that a task as simple as training my email box to remove junk email so I don't have a slew of penis ads staring me in the face on my work computer every morning has been daunting.

Add to that sheer memorization involved of suddenly having to know who does what even though we have only met each other once (so what if they knew I was coming for three weeks).

So back to school I have gone. It is a good thing. I would rather feel younger than older. They say work keeps a person young. Whoever they are aren't kidding when they say that.

Actually the experience has been motivating so far. I want to learn new programming languages and perhaps a new field (I have always been interested in journalism/writing since HS newspaper days). So here we go. Be careful of what you ask or wish for.

On the health and fitness front... I am channelling this "back to school" feeling into "back to basics" behaviors. So far I have used my brand spanking new WW mug everyday (I wander the halls carrying that thing) and brought my healthy lunch in my WW insulated cooler. I stocked my desk with healthy snacks and eat them only when I feel a physical need, believe it or not. Amazing how that whole snacking thing changes when you are busy and feeling "under the gun" or "stressed to impress." I also plan on bringing my walking sneaks as I work on the community college campus near a residential area so I see a great opportunity to gain some AP's. Other positive steps have been to go for a short run before work.

So there, you see. I don't have relive the old stressed-out no time for me days of my workaholic youth. I have learned something. And what I learned is that this new return into corporate work-dom will offer a new opportunity to put into practice what I learned!

inTENSE-ive

For the last 36 hours life has been all bellydance all the time. This morning I woke up to sore legs and back muscles from taking six classes non-stop since Friday. I don't think I take six bellydance classes in one week! And the last two nights have been a blur of fabulous dancing, one act better than the next and all beautiful.

This experience has been inspiring, uplifting, motivating and frustrating all at the same time. I go from feeling, "I just don't get this at all," to "Wow, this is neat," to "I can do this forever," to "Huh?" to "I've got to learn this style on my own," all within the span of an hour and a half class.

So far I have taken Turkish style, Moroccan and Tunisian Dance, travelling steps, Flamenco fusion and Creating and Destroying rules not to mention Suhaila's evil combination class (without the all-important layering technique class beforehand -- it was full up).

Of course the teachers that I like don't teach classes (they just charge an arm and a leg for privates) or they live far away -- oh well. And how in heck am I to remember all their steps from a class I took once sandwiched in between classes of someone else's style so I can practice at home. It is very overwhelming. So I am just taking this weekend for what it is, a great workout in my favorite dance style along with a new moves tossed in that may serve me well in the future.

Timing of meals has been intense too. I forsaw this with the crazy schedule of one class starting after the next that I packed a lunch and brought several liters of water. Lunch would be just one hour. I shared that hour with a couple nice ladies in one's AC-ed car. I could have gotten fast food (they got greasy stuff), but I enjoyed the satisfying turkey, avocado, babygreens wrap that only took me a few minutes to throw together this morning. Snack was a two point bar furtively eaten in between classes.

I did skip the last class though. I already know beginning zilling (finger cymbals) and needed that time to shower and eat a healthy dinner (wasn't going to leave that to the whims of the potluck gods at that night's Hafla dance show) at home, especially since iconoclastic Amara had us rolling all over the dirty dance floor on our heads "breaking rules" in that last hour.

But wait, there is more! Today I return for more punishment, I mean er, FUN! I sit hear trying to get myself hyped up to learn and to move more. Yesterday was like running a marathon. Today will make it an ultra. My running partner is going to get her "long run in" before she shows up to take a class. She will be sorry. I feel no guilt about skipping running this weekend, especially when these classes have been more like back to back aerobics classes.