I woke up this morning, cleaned the apartment, and wondered what I should do with the rest of my day.  I then remembered that I wanted to check out the swimming pool at the Gunpo Welfare Center.

About a month a go, Ras and I were on a walk and noticed a very new building next to a park and Buddhist temple.  I was curious about the building because I saw a child and mother go through the doors, carrying swimming caps and goggles.  Through our cell phone dictionaries, we found out it was some kind of government office, but couldn’t get an accurate translation.  I had forgotten about it until two weeks ago when I was talking to Peter and he said the building I walked pass was the Welfare Center, and his wife was taking a pilates class there.  I then proceeded to google the Welfare Center and do a little research.

I got pages from the website translated and found that the center was like a community center.  They offered yoga, pilates, swimming, and various adult and children’s educational classes.  I decided to attend one of the drop-in lap swim session, from noon to 3pm today.  One time admission is 4000 won, while a month’s pass is 50,000 won.

I haven’t been regularly exercising for at least six months, so I figured swimming would be a good way to transition to working out.  I made the mistake of hopping in and just going at it.  I was working muscles I hadn’t in a long time and I was starting to feel sore early on.  Still, I persevered and was in the pool for almost an hour and a half.  During my last lap, a cramp set in and it was the sign I needed to stop and go shower.

After the seven minute walk back home, I was so TIRED.  I felt as if I had just run a marathon.  My body was so sore and narcolepsy was setting in fast.  I barely had time to inhale a roll of gimbap before the sofa beckoned me into its arms.  What I thought would be a half hour nap turned into two hours!  Five hours later, I’m still exhausted.  Nonetheless, I’m vowing to wake up early tomorrow and go to the 8am swim session tomorrow.  I’ll try swimming regularly now… especially since I bought new goggles at the center’s swim shop as I was leaving.

Tomorrow’s schedule: swimming, spend the morning at home, then off to City Hall for the Seoul Friendship Fair and lots of good food.