i do have some of the weirdest conversations with random people.

Doc: your nasal passage is inflamed. badly. does this happen often?

me: *shakes head* this is the first time.

Doc: has there been a lot of construction going over near your place?

me: no...

Doc: are people falling sick around you? family.. colleagues...

me: no...

Doc: oh. this is strange. i can't think of why your nose is acting up.

*pause*

me: erm. i have been sleeping for 5 hours for the past few weeks? does that affect anything?

needless to say, my poor doctor went into a frenzy as he nagged me about the perils of lack of sleep. then he continued on about 7 hours of sleep and how my immunity level was low.. i just stared at him blankly until he finally declared that he was giving me a mc to sleep.

at that point, i shyly replied, "but i've got deadlines tomorrow."

the poor man looked so exasperated with me, i could only smile at him sheepishly. he sighed and signed off on my mc. i stared at the paper, wondering what i was going to do with it. before i left the room, he looked at me:

"REMEMBER! TOMORROW. MC."

er. ahahahahahaha. yar right.

it's a strange rush. that despite returning home after 2 gruelling long days of 8 races and just one silverware to speak for the work put in, i'm glad. there's a sense of strange comfort in knowing that i never lost it. that same adrenaline i feel as i pant and try to catch my breath at the end of each race.

but for a rookie team to make the big guns sit up and notice our lead in the starts... sure, only our starts are amazing. we just can't carry the boat through hard enough to maintain the lead.. but just to know that we are making people notice us at our very first competition. to know that our personal best (56s!!) is an amazing feat especially when many of them are rowing for the first time.

coach was right. when he spoke of the team at the end, he asked us to see how far we've come. from a team of non-dboaters to one that within 10 mths can be discussing race plan strategies... it is incredibly heartening.

plus it felt sooooo good. to feel that water on my hand as i plunge the paddle head into the waters. to feel the splash from breaking still water. the team is definitely not as agressive as my previous teams. but they are working at it. at being focused. so much for being a "corporate" team, even more one from the Big 4 accounting firms. and the members are mad fun. my mandarin is definitely getting better.

there is room for improvement as with all teams. we're still trying. we're still fighting. it's a sport where seriously, the team is only as strong as its weakest link. the reason why i adore dragonboat sooo much. there's no such thing as "star player". I can't think of any other team sport that is like dragonboat. it's just.. amazing. :)

on a lighter note...

i feel "cheated". this being the only girl to have rowed all the races. at the same time, i feel a little guilty. that past experiences seem to have played a part, with coach knowing that i'm one of the more 'seasoned' female rowers without an alumni team. sigh. how?