Journal 40 - It's All In Your Head - Including The Words

Journal 40

10-5-10

Lesson -

Was running late; ran to get there closer to on-time

Almost couldn't get in [I was at the other studio again]-- unhelpful guard -- "I don't know what that word *means*"

*****

Vitaly was late -- much later than I (about half an hour) -- so I was trying to be good and practice before he got there -- but I couldn't stop shaking from having run there (combined with the nervousness/adrenaline from thinking I was going to be late).

So, when we started my lesson -- I felt terribly anyway, and then when Vitaly took my hands to stand in front of me for an exercise, he stopped after a few seconds and asked:

"Why are you shaking?"

"I don't know! I'm not feeling it today..."

"You know, sometimes we have comps early in the morning -- don't feel like you can do anything. It's all up here. *points to head*"

This is very true.

"You have this "false" feeling a lot, don't you? You think something looks bad, but it is actually just fine…"

*****

New technique in Cha and Samba! Making things "more interesting" to watch. Love it!

*****

Curse words

*****

Vitaly asked about Hustle again, to my surprise.

*****

Salsa step -- "… But it's still samba…" Vitaly reminded me.

Elastic -- forgot the English word! Vitaly found this to be absolutely hilarious.

"Soon you will be Russian!"

*****

Bachacatas!

"In Place" work again.

*****

Vitaly also asked about a parnter for me -- told him everyone seems to be asking this all of a sudden…. Larissa told me she'd start looking, about a week ago

*****

Promenade Runs -- "You're doing it… every *other* one…"

*****

Worked on that tricky "fast footwork" step. It's like I'm putting the, "emphasis on the wrong syllable."

When we actually had it going, plus with some parts of the promenade runs, I was feeling like a Latin kid! Very cool

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, meeting

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Practice

(Masha [Volodya's partner - Amazing Masha!] - "Practicing by yourself? Good girl!")

group lesson/hw

(more chatting with kids ('I want to go to another country for a few years, and learn English that way.')

-- Russian Rhapsody -- "It's Hitler!" -- ;

Told Katya (from my university) about the Guys I helped -- she was incredulous!

Facebook from that event:

" I shared what happened with a Russian friend at the dance studio. She was stunned, in a good way, that I went back to help. She said, "No one would do that here!! ... I mean... Maybe one or two people here or there... But you went *back* to help them!"

Later, she finally said, "You're such an amazing girl! You speak all these languages, you solve Rubik's Cubes, and you'll help people for nothing!! You're a monster!"

(The monster bit was meant in a good way, as far as her tone went. I think that's like when we tell someone, "You're a beast!" as a compliment, etc. Or that I'm unreal. Ha ha. Basically, she was saying, 'They don't make 'em like you.')"

-- "This is not news." Lynn --> Love you Lynn!

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Hustle