The Rain Disconnects me from Şanlıurfa...for a bit.

6-3-2021

Istanbul-Şanlıurfa-Zoom

The Rain Disconnects me from Şanlıurfa...for a bit.

I felt like I somehow cursed or rather jinxed myself today. But not for speaking ill about someone, being too proud of something, or arrogant.

Though I have been teaching self defense now for at least seven years, due to the pandemic I’ve experienced the new learning curve of giving online seminars. Each time is a new learning experience for me, and though it causes some stress I appreciate pushing myself to do, give, and be...better.

So how did I jinx myself? Or how do I believe that I did? Well, for the past few seminars I have one of the lovely volunteer facilitators share the PowerPoint, while I talk. In this way, I could more easily stand up quickly and move to exercises. This time was to be different as I had tested my new setup, finally desiring to attempt and use my USB fancy webcam, as my laptop’s webcam is lazier than I am on a bad day on my laptop, taking more of an active role facilitating my own workshop.

I made a comment at the start of my workshop about the nice rain that had added to my general excitement right before the start of my workshop. Ahhh the plans... J I began, and made it to the agenda. And then....it froze. J Oh and it froze badly. J

I quickly connected through my phone, and phone’s internet as the lightning crashed. My laptop, that fancy webcam, and my PowerPoint were all inaccessible just frozen somewhere between Zoom land and the rain, I lost Şanlıurfa ladies for a few minutes.

What does one do then? React...Adapt... It is of course true, when one teaches, two learn. I heard this while researching martial arts over the years. Now, after quoting it, I wondered its origin. Robert Heinlein? C’mon, I’m sorry but I doubt this fellow was the FIRST to say it.....it sounds much older than his name would indicate. A quick search doesn’t reveal more at the moment, but I am sure I will find it at some point.

So I call back in quickly, without really being able to see my PowerPoint, my notes on the computer that restarted itself, or myself so I take a breath and begin to talk...as I sit in a chair with my arms kinetically moving through the explanations of how to make a proper fist, where to put your hands to protect yourself and a few other general points that make up a first day workshop. I noticed I explained more personal things today then usual. I also tried answering more of the questions in other workshops I’ve watched multiple times from our talented ladies of Kadın Öz Savunma Academy.

It is all a learning process. For the participants, and for the instructors. Thank you ladies, Mr. Heinlein, though I suspect you had inspiration, and thank you rain that blessed the grounds of Istanbul.

#sijemaya #mayanmusings2021 #onlineteaching #womensselfdefense #kadınözsavunmaakademisi #empoweringtogether #istanbuldayasam