Carolin's Blog - I miss those sunday nights

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continuing our series of what sthoee means to you our friend Carolin sent us on this from Gerany ..... enjoy 

Hi!

I didn't know much about Sthoee when I came to DCU for the first time in november 2012. I was new in Dublin, but not new in lifesaving.

I have done lifesaving in Germany for as long as I can remember. Starting with what you call a “Rookie-Lifeguard” when I was ten, moving on to the real Lifeguard qualifications at the age of twelve. I am working at the pool and I am doing swimming and lifesaving classes for children for at least five years now and I even got my Lifeguard-Trainer qualifications done lately.

But I really didn't know what to expect from Sthoee.

In the first place, I was pretty much impressed by the facilities and equipment you have. I think I have never seen that much livesaving-equipment in one place ever before.

I quickly recognized that lifesaving in Ireland seems to be a bit different to what we are doing in Germany, it's a bit more practical I'd say.

We did quite a lot of things at the pool that I've never done before and some things actually didn't make much sense to me at this point.

I have never been much of a talkative person and some language difficulties really made it hard for me to fit in. I wouldn't say that I hated those sunday nights in the beginning, but until Christmas I really had to force myself to keep going and I wasn't sure if I'll come back in the new year at all.

Well, I came back.

Simply because I knew I would regret it if I missed this chance to learn something new and different about lifesaving and because I hoped that things would get easier as soon as I get to know people a bit better.It took me a while and I wouldn't say that I really made friends with anyone, but for some reason I started to get along with everyone a lot better than before.

Doing the Beach Lifeguard class was the best decision I made, I really got a lot more confident in all that lifesaving stuff. It was almost summer by then and not only did things start to make sense to me, I also realized that I found a place where I could simply be who I am and I always felt welcome.

For the last couple of weeks, I spent every sunday night at the beach and I really started to love it.

If you'd ask me now what I think about Sthoee, I'd say it's not only a lot of fun, it is probably the best way to spend your sunday nights at all! There was not a single time when I regretted letting my friends go out without me because I was heading to the beach or pool instead. It was always worth it.

I am back in Germany now and I miss those sunday nights already.

Thanks to Keith and Simon who never gave up explaining things over and over again if I still looked confused. I am sure it wasn't always easy having me in your class...

Ihr macht die Welt jeden Tag ein bisschen besser, macht weiter so! *

Carolin

I really had a great time with you guys and I miss Ireland already :/

So I'll definitely be back next summer ;)

*You make the world a little bit better every day, keep it up!

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