Okay guys, you've just been for a swim.
How'd it go?
Very well thank you.
We love this pool.
She went a lot faster than I did, so not so good.
What do you like best about swimming?
Playing in the water.
Do you have a favourite swimming stroke?
Crawl.
Ah, freestyle I'd say.
Freestyle.
I'm a freestyler.
Okay, what's so good about freestyle?
What's so good about freestyle?
I can do it.
Dog paddle.
Yes, freestyle or backstroke.
What's the best thing about swimming?
What's that?
That's the camera.
I would say just you can spend time on your in the pool.
It just feels cool and refreshing.
I had a few drinks last night so, you know, just revitalises me for the weekend.
We're teaching him how to swim so he's pretty stoked.
Bit like this ... a bit like this.
Fantastic.
Thank you very much guys, that's great.
Cheers.
Okay.
So most Australians can swim.
I guess it makes sense: most of us live on the coast.
Now Michelle wants to learn but she has a fear of water which won't be easy to overcome.
I grown up in a city called Wuhan.
I don't have any siblings which is kind of sad.
My mum used to be an accountant but she stay home, look after family and be more supportive.
My dad run his instrument making business.
He makes all kinds of Chinese classic instruments.
Because my dad he was making instrument a lot of time I had to spend practising my instruments
while other kids probably can just play, but I definitely appreciate now.
It make me feel that I have something other people don't have.
My parents' idea was to send me to study in Sydney.
I met Simon, my future husband, and he was helping me in studying English
and he introduced Adelaide to me and that's why I came to here.
I know about different sizes but I'm not sure which one we should be using.
He helped me a lot in all kinds of ways.
But I still had to make my own effort to find out more things because, you know,
you can't rely and depend on other people.
We spend our spare time, usually we go hiking, cycling.
It's just such a contrast, you know, where I came from in China.
Where are the people?
Because you can't see any pedestrians.
It was a daunting feeling for me for quite a while, especially when I go into a empty
space.
It took me a long time to get used to, to be alone, and to get comfortable with not
surrounded by people.
Let's face it.
All the girls have the glamorous dream,
they want to be on TV or they want to be the presenter.
UniSA has a journalism degree available.
Once I entered into the study I realised it's not just like that.
But I found I still interested.
Can you tell me the situation in Southern India?
This is the situation that people of South India are experiencing for the very first
time in their life.
I'm volunteering at Radio Adelaide, current affair program, The Wire.
At this stage I'm a trainee so I help with co-ordinating and organising the interviews.
I need to rely on you doing all the right things and making sure that it works.
The most important thing to me, I guess is to gain as much experience as possible.
You have a strong water culture here, a lot of water sports.
And I would like to enjoy more by learning how to swim.
Hi Michelle.
Nice to meet you.
I just worry a bit whether I'm going to like the water or not.
My dad taught me to swim in Yuan River when I was about three or five years old.
I was just hanging around in a life-saving ring and while my dad was chatting to his
friend
I was being naughty and I accidentally slipped through.
So within a few seconds - I wasn't really panicked - I knew I probably would die
and I was lucky enough, and I got pulled,
right on my hair, and I was saved.
But since then I just never feel really comfortable to learn how to swim.
Okay, just turn around.
Just turn around this way so we're walking backwards.
Just breathe naturally, make sure you breathe out.
You don't want to hold your breath.
I just made up my mind, I want to challenge myself a bit.
I would be much more happier if I could, you know, enjoying the sunny beach and I can go
for a swim.
Just going to move out a little bit further in front.
You stay there.
Obviously she was very apprehensive about the experience but she was very trusting.
Trusting the person who you're with really helps develop confidence
and it enables the body to respond to the water.
I have to say that having a professional instructor, it helps me to relax, yeah,
rather than just trying to figure out what's wrong and what I'm gonna do by myself.
You can feel my fingers, but I'm not supporting you.
Wonderful.
Congratulations.
You're doing that all by yourself.
You're self-powered.
I still don't quite like the feeling of water into my ears and I'm encouraging myself.
I will make sure I will come back swimming next time, yep.
Just a blow.
Now look up at me to get your air.
That's good.
And blow again and look up at me.
I wanted to do more today.
Yeah, you know because I'm really keen to learn real swimming.
Beautiful.
And I'm doing large, yes?
That's right and it's the same idea.
I'm gonna call my parents tonight, yeah,
I'll tell them I'm learning swimming again.
I think they will be happy to hear it.
And feet to the bottom.
Terrific.
I can't believe I have been only having four lessons so this is my fifth.
I have done backstroke, freestyle, a little bit breast stroke.
The water will feel cold even though it's a hot day and the water's actually 28 degrees.
Definitely I'm really happy and I was only thinking maybe I would learn the basic breast
stroke, that's it.
But never thought ever I could, you know, finish all three.
You know, it's just fantastic.
Then we'll do the arm stroke, brushing the ear and then coming back to the board.
People learn in different ways and she learns through a cognitive approach
where she's thinking, she's analysing, will ask the pertinent questions
to which I give her the answers and then she will rethink the task.
I think that's the secret to her success.
Beautiful.
The breathing techniques was very challenging.
Kathy invented a little exercise for me to do.
I was trying really hard at home, when I was sitting on the bus on the way as well.
Once I got it then I got it.
Would you like to do it without the board because that was looking very, very easy for
you?
Okay.
I just realised people have the potential.
They might not realise.
In the future I should definitely try, you now, keep challenging myself, and keep moving
ahead, yeah.
I'll keep that attitude.
Look at that.
You made ten metres.
You did double the distance that we were aiming to do.
That's great.
And you did it without any aids.
I want to try to maybe doing the full lap.
Ah, beautiful, fantastic.
I did it!
What can be nicer than jumping into the cool water in the forty-something degree?
For the past five years I was always looking at my friends, families enjoying getting to
the pool, or sea.
Now I can join them.
You know, I'll definitely feel more involved, yeah and you know, it's great to share the
fun.
That was really good.
Well done.
Fantastic.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much.
That's remarkable.
Michelle, you are an inspiration.
And I reckon if we had more swimming teachers like Kathy we'd probably win more Olympic
medals.
That's it for the show today.
Here's what's coming up next week.
Bhoom competes in some very strange races at a country fair.
Preeti goes rock climbing for the first time
and Priya meets the incredible animals at Taronga Zoo.
See you then.