... but the pool is pretty important.
We headed out of Baltimore this morning and arrived in Annapolis early. The weather improved and provided for a wonderful day. We explored the area around the Naval Academy a little bit and made sure to walk Balt around so that we could leave him in the car. We spent a great deal of our time last night preparing questions and getting ready to help alleviate Jessi's nerves.
We met with the assistant swim team coach at noon and we were immediately ushered into the pool. It's a stunning set up. The Navy's pool is 25 meters-by-50 meters & 8' deep. A movable bulkhead enables the team to train at either 25 meter (23 lanes), 25 yard OR removed for long course 50 meter distances. The bleachers hang over the end of the pool. The men and women take turns training under the bleachers. There is also a diving pool not pictured in the same pool area. It's all new this year! So very nice!! Jessi was impressed.
We were taken out to lunch outside of the campus where we had over an hour of question and answer time. Part of our conversation was about the Naval Academy Mission Statement--To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government. He talked at length how the development of Jessi's moral, mental and physical nature all were equal in priority-- I was impressed. Of all the women on campus more than half (about 60%) are on a varsity Navy team. The Navy plans to add two more women's teams this next year (softball and field hockey). Of all students, about 1/3 are on a varsity team-- the other two thirds are either in a club sport or playing intramural sports. In other words, everyone is on a team of some sort. The whole "freshmen 15" doesn't exist there.
Monika and I left Jessi after lunch so she could tour the school on her own with the coach. She was scheduled to meet the team and observe practice, eat dinner and hang out the team, then she'd stay with one of the girls on the team. Tomorrow she will go to classes with the girl she is staying with as well as a couple of other girls. She will meet with the team Faculty Rep, watch a baseball game and check out the team lifting circuit. On Thursday she goes to different morning classes and then we'll pick her at noon.
We headed south out of Annapolis to Virginia Beach. The traffic was horrific-- completely at a stand still at times. We arrived at 6pm-- about a 4 hour drive-- and immediately ran to the beach. Balt was sooo happy. We walked about a mile on the beach and then came back as it started to drizzle. There won't be any sun bathing tomorrow, but we'll be at the beach walking first thing in the morning.
Comments