The first experience of tractor

Sorry I haven’t shared something recently since I was too busy on swimming tournament and my family’s coming. Those were all raining days. The low pressure had just passed by the east so we got couple week heavy rain. Actually, I love rain and I still remember when I was in Hue-Lien for junior high school, every single day in summer, I was expecting the heavy rain with lightning after the sultry morning. Virginia, in fact is not that humanity than Taiwan though it still close to the Atlantic Ocean.
The rain always washed the earth and the air. I think that is why I love the atmosphere after a heavy rain. The air always emits some grass smell and soil odor. Also, the soil became very soft and full of earthworm. Yeah! That is the sign of life and our young mother nature.
Since last month, we had started germinated many kinds of seeds in Agriscience class. Now, those little babies were all germinated with a little or a big sprout and couple leaves, reflected with the vivid sunshine. Our green house seemed to be too crowded to expend the plantation so our teacher Mr. G decided to move the seedling out and plant them into the ground after the frost season and even some of cold crop can go out first.
Yesterday afternoon, we went to the garage for tractor. I didn’t know how strong the tractor is when I first saw the light-green John Deere trade mark but after Mr. G operated it, the engine started groaning like a water buffalo. My Japanese friend J jumped on the tractor first. Mr. G taught him how to switch gearshift and use and speed the engine. He drove to the school’s backyard and stopped it. We helped Mr. G to install the steel plow on the back hook of the tractor. That thing is obviously heavy. We barely installed it and saw the tractor just gently lifted the whole plow. Amazing!
I drove the tractor back to the school garden. I didn’t know I was able to control that green beast. I push the bar, speeded the engine and then pull my foot back. The tractor then went forward slowly. As I pull my foot back, the tractor suddenly started running.
It was excited to drive the 1 yard-diameter-wheel vehicle in the muddy road. Although I was just a beginning tractor driver, I still tried very hard to control the tractor but sometimes I couldn’t really see what it in the front. Actually, I almost hit the school mailbox in a corner. I thought I would crash it with 1 inch.
When we arrive the field. Mr. G taught us to plow the land. He drove cross the field and put down the steel plow in the end of the field. While the tractor was driving forward, the plow behind started tilling the ground. I meant the plow was really big and can easily flip 1.5 feet deep of soil. Almighty technology.
Mr. G let me try to plow the land. I didn’t feel that nervous than my first driving. Instead of that, I just tried to do things like my teacher. On the right hand side of my seat was the control of the plow. If I push to the end, it will leave the plow, but I just drop the plow into the ground, shift the gearshift to the backward and pull my foot on gas pedal. The tractor smoothly tore the ground behind me without any noise. As the technology developed everyday, it changes our way to live, produce and consume rapidly. How people use the technology properly is an important issue. It is a good experience to get closer to the really applied technology.

PYSA Swimming Champ

Since October in last year, I have been swimming for YMCA Stingrays Swim team. During the spring season, I have joined many swimming meets won couple times. In the end of the season, my coach Ms. P invited Vini and I went to a YMCA Championship of Virginia. That was my pleasure to participate this great experience.
The meet was located in the Bedford where the World War One Memorial was. The day after noon, Ms. P took us to the Bedford. The Bedford YMCA Swimming pool was a 6-lane pool. Hundreds of people crowded in the rest area. I got a booklet of the list of events. Totally, we have 124 events. I had 12 events totally, the meet last 3 days. What a big meets. I couldn’t wait to swim!
My first event was 200-yard freestyle. Maybe I was a little bit nervous when I divided into the water, the water was extremely cold. Despite I couldn’t adjust the water temperature in the first lap, I still swam very hard trying to get abreast with others. Finally, I finished 200 yard. Good thing that I wasn’t the last one but my explosive force of my kicks was still needed enhanced. Later, I had 100 Individual Medley (Free style, Breast stroke, Back stroke, butterfly). I was doing pretty well. Although, I wasn’t very good at butterfly and backstroke but I could catch up by my breaststroke. I ended the first day with so-so performance but I knew the most important session for me was the second day.
The next day, I got up in the early morning, had a great breakfast and ready for the coming events. Afternoon, in my first entire breast stroke event (50 yards breaststroke), I knew according to the each seed times of my competitors, I was the fastest in my age group so everything I did was just helping myself to calm down and relax. I was humming the song “ You are my sunshine “ right before diving into the water. My body smoothly penetrated the surface of the water, made the first stroke and the next. I tried to not to breathe to much in order not to slow down the speed so since couple months ago, I started training myself doing proper strokes without too many times of breathe. Also, the affect of each breath was a critical point. Since my first training, Coach, K taught me to swim 25 yards continually without breath. Although that was really hard, I have done many times. Another critical point was the turning and the first push. Ms. P taught me to count “ Apple Peach Pumpkin Pie” to do the first push and then “ Strawberry Shortcake to do the first kick. In the training, I could slide in the water for almost 10 yards before starting swimming. 41 seconds wasn’t too long. My both hands touched the side of the pool and stop the automatic timer. I wasn’t the first one in my heat but the first one in my age group. Also I broke my record by 3 taking off 3 seconds.
I also swam relay for my team. I was good at breaststroke so each time I always catch up others by breaststroke but if I swam freestyle, I was the one slow down the speed. As Ms. P said, most of the times, swimmers separated into 2 different kinds. One was good at breaststroke and butterfly; the other was freestyle and backstroke. Maybe I should make my breaststroke better and better. The national record for 100 yards breaststroke is 59.09 seconds and that will be my aim.
During the three days, we lived in Day Inn Motel. It was my first time to live I an American motel. Everything was fresh and fun although it was funny that I was too tall, the blanket couldn’t cover my feet. I thought that was the reason I woke up so early! I was satisfied with the motel breakfast. I could get cereal, waffle, bread, biscuit and juice from the breakfast bar. It was very important for athletics to have a great breakfast.
In the end of the meet, I even became a timer for my brother. I had timing experience before but I was still excited. My brother had 500 yards free style so he needs to swim 10 laps. Every time when my brother did a flip turn, the water splashed all over my pants but I didn’t car and still cheered for my brother. After the heat, I pushed the stop button stopping the timer and also ended the whole championship.
I performance very well and got a golden medal and a bronze medal totally. Also, I made many friends of in my team and other team. It was great and substantial weekend.