Swimming, a Software engineer’s perspective! (Certified ‘A’ Stuff! Read through, if you really like to…)

After a long wait (almost 23yrs), we decided that it is time to learn the art of mastering ‘Walk on Water’. For me it was so, but for my friend (let’s call him Shortso…) it was more than that, he had to show that while on treats-given-by-others at a resort, he too can swim (even though two feet is deep for him!), or to do a soft song such as ‘Pen onru kandaen, pen angu illai…’!

• The Kick-off for the same occurred yesterday (By this time next week we would have a Mile Stone Party for successfully completing one week!!!). There were almost 30 of us (all freshers).
• Induction was given to all people on what it is all about and how we should approach as a team by obligeing our Team Lead (instructor).
• It was a huge team and thus was divided to three parts, each having their TLs.
• The whole stretch of the project (pool) varied, depth wise, from 4feet to 16feet.
• All the worried were advised not to as none will ever lose their life (Important of the whole training).
  

We had been waiting for this moment for a long time. The new swim trunks that were bought and never worn before (Liar! It was worn once to check the feel of it. WOW! Feels like heaven… Raymonds?! No no no… The feel was similar to our school days, when we would buy the new uniform, shoes, bag, pencil box and other stuffs and we would do a rehearsal of going-to-school-act by dressing up; arranging the pencils, eraser, sharpener, and ruler in our pencil box; neatly juxtaposing the books in our bag…). The idea of swimming made me think of perfect tutorials to master it – Google – Teach Yourself Swimming in 21 days, Swimming and beyond, O Reilly’s Series on Swimming, Strokes and Strokes++ and Finally, Swimming for Dummies!

Just like any other subject we were thought and made to practice the basics – blobbing and floating. Blobbing, hmmm… that term was impressed in my mind when I was 5yrs old (First swimming coaching. I had to discontinue it due to epilepsy!), I do not know whether the word is correct or not! Blobbing is at art of holding breathe under water or releasing them properly?

That went sooth, next came the art of keep-your-body-afloat, which too went OK. Next was lean-against-the-wall-with-one-leg-down-and-the-other-ready-to-give-you
-a-thrust-forward tutorial. I tried, but could not get enough momentum, which ultimately put me into imagination of Crazy-Frog. He gets a thrust because of the Forward Acceleration Ricochet-less Technique in simple terms F.A.R.T!

Next one was a variation of the above (No! Not the F.A.R.T!!!), this time we shouldn’t lean on wall but should reach the wall from a distance. Well, everyone could have used Crazy-Frog technique, but restricted themselves as they might embed themselves on to the wall due to excessive thrust generated, a side effect of that days ‘Dum Alu Biriyani’! This meant only a gentle push using legs. Our friend, Shortso, entertained us with his outstanding ability to frantically move both, his legs and hands and desperately trying to make an effort to stay put the same place where he had started (Sadly, he realized it only after lifting his head from water, but I noticed a guy who was standing next to him all the time suddenly disappearing, catching his groin? Man down! F1 F1 F1).

Allotted one hour duration came to an end and we left pool, warming it. I leave it to you to think on the number of ways of how you can make a pool of water warm! No nasty thoughts!

Finally ending with this ancient saying (Some great saint!)...

Namma thanni-la irunthalum, thanni
namma ulla irunthalum, thalladrathu namma than!