Wooooweee I am here

My first official day was hardcore. I arrived late last night and the place looked like an old village in pakistan. Salina, a bit like samnabad in lahore but 10 times worse than it. I was really overwhelmed and I have to say a bit disappointed because once again I felt I could live a five star life rather than be stuck in some dilapadated village that looks like it is crumbling every two minutes. Its raw!\

My first day got better, I woke up and saw some dusty houses and the sea beyond them which made my heart feel a bit better. I seem to be a hit with some of the gyptians who are pleased i can speak some grumbling arabic. I already have the usual banter 'You are not english' (whatever gyptian!!). I have to say there are no men here, sorry if anybody thought that there was going to be marriage material here, its pretty dire unless salina wants me to be married to the local taxi driver or local help! :)

I found the sessions in the pool really hard this morning, getting familar with the weight belts, the dive suit, the breathing,its all tricky stuff and my fear was so lodged in my throat that i would panic instantly but kept saying to myself it will be ok. Straight away after lunch it was announced that i will be diving in the sea, oh gawd how awful did i feel. For one thing, I find it difficult putting on that dive suit which everyone laughs at because i am the only one, i swear I had tendinitis, I couldn't even lift the damn suit.

It is an interesting thing diving, although i dived to 10 meters it was lovely but really frightening, i was perpetually trying to master my skills of remaining afloat/buoyant/calm and breathing carefully. At one point, i added another cause of humour for everybody when i clung on to a huge cliff like coral with the tip of my finger, head facing down, legs akimbo trying to push myself to a stable position. It was a hilarious picture and I looked so ridiculous. Its certainly going to be a very trying experience which is going to test my confidence and faith so much that in itself is worth every moment. I will continue exploring this new world that I have decided to open.

By the way, I picked up my first piece of rubbish as I dived since i thought it would be an ethical thing to do as it floated amidst the most bejewelling coral and fish. The fish I saw were beautiful, parrot fish, some spiky fish..names to come later and pictures. All in the making I hear! So this week is about finding my diving mastery.

Exciting and I can't believe I am here.