Week two

So this is the end of week number two. Lessons with Nat (my coach) are going really well. I feel like I am making a lot of progress in learning new fencing tricks. It's interesting, I have been fencing for twenty years but I can learn something new everyday.

I also had a Russian language lesson today. Ira, or as it turns out her name is actually Galina, was full of laughs. She and I had a short lesson with her rattling off in Russian and pausing every once in a while to see if I was still listening. I would say "da" (yes) or "panyatna" (I understand) and she would keep going. Let's just say I'm not so sure about her teaching methods.

I'm renting a car tomorrow and going to Penn State University for a week. The coach there asked me help out with their summer camp. I'm excited to have a chance to coach young fencers but I'm also really excited to have a car to myself. I've been sharing the car with my Mom since I got back-it's kind of interesting having my Mom drop me off and pick me up from fencing practice. I'm fifteen again.

By the way, Floyd Landis has been doing some amazing things at the Tour de France. Apparently after having worn the yellow jersey for several days on the tour he ran out of gas and ended up eight minutes behind the leader. For most people this type of finish so late in the game would put him out of contention to win but, since this is Landis we are talking about, he didn't give up. He got on his bike the next day and left his opponents in the dust, making up seven and a half minutes and ended up in third place. Landis still has the time trial left to make up the rest of the time. Go Floyd Landis! This story is amazing-hope you get a chance to watch.

Have a great weekend!