Swim Swam Swum

I have been going to Bangkok at least once a month since March of this year. Sometimes it’s for a day (that’s a long day!) and sometimes it’s for a full week, and sometimes it’s in between.  Since I’m in the Big City that often, I checked out a pool at a public park and decided to become a member.  It’s close enough to my friend’s house to be somewhat convenient (as convenient as it can get in Bangkok), but becoming a member and actually getting in the pool was not as convenient.

I had to get a doctor’s certificate to prove to them I wouldn’t drown (which entails about a half hour at the hospital and getting my heart beat checked, telling them I do not have any diseases, and paying 100 baht), and bring a copy of my passport and two passport photos.  The nice part is that a one-year membership is 40 baht!  Then every time you swim is 15 baht.  I can handle that.

So I went at the time to swim, did my paperwork, and got ready to swim, and Surprise!  I had to have a swimcap to swim. They wouldn’t let me in without one.  BOO.  At least there’s a mall next to the park, so I had to go buy a cap at the mall next door.  When I finally got back in to the pool and they let me in, I had a really really really great swim and it was like a gift from God to be able to swim in this Big City.

My low point was being so frustrated when I had jumped through all the hoops and then didn’t have a cap.  Shame on me.  I am still learning about patience, and about not getting frustrated when things don’t happen the way I want or the way I think they will.  God, forgive me for being too hot-headed and too hot-hearted to smile and take the opportunity to display patience and show Your love.  May I do it better the next time!  And thank you for the opportunity to swim in Bangkok – teach me to have an attitude of thankfulness instead of frustration and impatience.