Day 1 at the Pool

It's unbelievable! There are a few cultural things here that absolutely drive me nuts. My road rage flares up here more than in the States. The thing that gets me the most is when people driving stop anywhere in the road if they see a friend so they can say hello. If you are right behind them, you need to swerve around them so as not to smash into their backside. Another difference is the lack of staying in their lanes.

Crazy me believed that a pool would actually be any different. The first day I can go is on Tuesday night from 9-10:30. The manager told me it would be crowded, but I held out hope. I arrive to a parking lot full of cars and men mingling all over the place. Oh boy! Let's get this over with.

After I change in the women's locker room, cuz the men's was way too full and women weren't allowed at this time of night, I venture into the actual pool room to see at least 35 men getting ready to swim in only 8 lanes. That's an average of 4.5 people per lane. Way too crowded, like the locker room.

I then to start my laps, which are pretty slow-going due to the lack of space. You probably guessed what happened next. Men aren't swimming down one side and back on the other. We are zig-zagging all over the place to get to the other side. And then, as I am following someone at a safe distance, I run into his feet. Not because I am too fast! Oh no, it's because he has stopped in mid-lap to say hello to one of his buddies standing on the side. Ludicrous!

Suffice it to say, my evening ended much earlier than expected due to my frustration. As best as possible, I am going to avoid the pool in the evenings and just hit it on Tues & Thurs afternoons from 12-1:30. Since it's 11:30 now, I need to sign off to get ready.