It is a massive relief that we have started the programme, it feels like I have actually achieved something now rather than wandering around the place like some giant red stranger, now I am the strange giant swimming lady. On the personal front my tan lines are coming along a treat, there is nothing I can do about it, I am slathering on the sun block but still have a lovely t-shirt mark. Having to cover up all the time is actually not too much of a problem, wearing shorts and t-shirt to teach is probably what I would do by choice and swimming in leggings is not too bad either, maybe wearing a vest top every now and then might be nice but all in all it is a very small price to pay. The clash of tourists and local beliefs was really highlighted during this afternoon’s lesson as a lady paraded along the beach in a bikini much the amusement of all the students, they all found it reassuringly hilarious, luckily one of the more tactful student instructors had a word with her. Hulhumale is a slightly strange place as it is trying to encourage tourism with small hotels and dive shops but as an inhabited island (as opposed to the resort islands where anything goes) there are strict rules on dress on the beach and general standards of dress elsewhere. The problem is that although the majority of tourists respect the rules some are either unaware or ignore them and the locals do not know how to enforce them. The police are uncomfortable trying to enforce them for fear of giving the island a bad name; however they have to field all the complaints from locals. I feel the hotels should take some responsibility to explain the laws to guests on arrival but in the end as a tourist somewhere you have understand something about where you are going.
On a lighter note I joined the student instructors for their big 1kilometre swim test and managed to beat them all despite getting lost on my second run (yep definitely possible) although I suffered badly for the rest of the day, I am as (un)fit as I thought I was but I am definitely not able to do much exercise in the heat. I also went to one of the schools for their inter house sports festival, it was brilliant, but I was gutted to have missed the Under 9’s boys musical chairs and the Balloon Burst which had taken place in the morning. I did get to see the three legged races and obstacle relay which involved one of the children getting dressed in more clothes, I felt very sorry for the boy whose socks would not fit and his team came a distant last.
Currently I am in my room watching possibly the worst film I have seen, which is now a close run thing with all the terrible films on the only English language channels I have, anyhow “Shark Attack 2” comes highly recommended if you enjoy, giant plastic sharks that roar like a lion when they attack and terrible, terrible acting!
Bye