My second visit to the Down Syndrome class room in Puerto Vallarta. PART 2

Down Syndrome classroom in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. México. PART 1

Julie's Boot Camp Video

Boot Camp

 Last year in May 2012, I started my boot camp training in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. My best friend Noe was my boot camp trainer. He was talking to me about all kinds of exercises that he would show me for the whole month of May.  First we started off with warm-up’s every time. Then we were walking in the ocean water and he also got me to run on the beach with him. He would say to me, “Come on Julie, you are falling behind!” So I would say to myself  “O.K, Julie you love running so go full speed ahead! You can do it, you know you can.”  While I was running on the beach I visualized myself as a bird because I was feeling free and happy. I was running all three different ways; running forward, backwards and side-ways too, I was getting my legs strengthened by running and jumping the waves in the ocean.
We also did soccer skills on the beach. I started running along with Noe and we were laughing and having a great time with each while passing and kicking the soccer ball on the sandy beach. The ball kept on rolling into the ocean so I had to run into the water to get the ball out so I could pass it to Noé. One of the exercises was that I would kick the soccer ball on top of a curved snake line that Noé drew on the sand. This helped my concentration and helped me train my body balance. I enjoyed this very much as well!.

I also did swimming in the pool. My trainer timed me so I could improve my own record. I swam freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly styles.

Finally I practiced my karate forms almost every day. This was a lot of fun and hard work!.
I’d like to share with you that I even won first place in forms, and second place in sparring at a national karate tournament in Philadelphia, PA.

I always love exercising my body to get in shape not just for my karate but also for fitness. This makes me healthier and happier.

Hola

Her wonderful sense of humor!

Hi, This is Noé and Gigi, we decided to really play-up Julie's sense of humor and need to overdramatize, so we created this Sports Illustrated cover to amuse her. This photo was taken during her boot camp last May in Puerto Vallarta.

PART 1 Julie's Ceramic Art

Cera sldshare part 1 from juliebelanger2011

Part 2 Julie's Ceramic Art

Ceramic slideshow part 2 from juliebelanger2011

Tennis Lessons

       My Tennis Experience

 In February 2011 I signed up for tennis lessons at Westin Regina Hotel in Marina Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where I have my winter vacation condo. The next day I went to my very first lesson from 8:00am to 9:00am. I finally met the tennis pro, whose name was Fernando Ramos. When I first saw him, I thought he was really handsome! He was so friendly and he smiled when he welcomed me to his tennis class. He is such a funny person he makes me laugh and I like it, which is how he motivates me. The first key is to learn focusing. This means concentrating on where the ball is going so I either get away from it to prepare my stroke or get closer to it to hit it with control. So watching the ball at all times is very important and this takes concentration. He taught me balance and how to turn my wrist to make a nice swing with good timing for powerful stroke. Another thing he taught me was muscle memory. This means I had to repeat many times the same stroke. He also showed me how to hold the racquet with the proper grip for my forehand stroke and backhand stroke. At that time I was using a two handed grip on my racquet. He threw tennis balls to me so I could return and practice my swing. It was fun and interesting first lesson. We were working on my forehand for a while to develop the skills that I needed for a consistent stroke. Then after, I learned the skills and technique for the backhand. It was hard for me at first, but I said to myself; “Julie, you can do this!” This is the “I can do it” attitude that I always have when I do sports. I was feeling tired during my lesson but at the end, it was a very good cardio sport to play. Fernando made me run all over the court to hit the ball back and to get familiar with the size and distances of court layout and to get used to the height of the net. I remember that my both arms and legs were very sore the next day, but I felt happy. I put ice on my arms and legs and my knees too. Even though I was sore it was worth it. I did not know how much fun tennis was until I had this lesson, I loved it!

Julie's Tae Kwon Do - Video

Tae Kwon Do Tournament

I go to my Karate class on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm before the actual class time starts at 7:15pm until 8:15pm. I go there before it starts is because I really am committed to karate for my lifetime. Karate is my passion and I love doing karate. It is fun and very good exercise for me and for everyone too.

While I was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I was practicing and training every day. I went to fitness gym to build up my strength. I also took tennis lessons to improve my balance and coordination. Then my coach helped and showed me how to use visualization for mental toughness.      

When I came back to Michigan, I went to karate camp, which was held in the cabins in the woods. I was so excited to be at karate camp because my whole karate team plus all the Karate Instructors were there. We trained for 3 straight days over the weekend. We worked on forms, sparring, and board breaking. My Instructors and some black belt students did break bricks too. We were preparing and training for the National Tournament, so we were so tired and very sore everywhere on our bodies. My master instructor had a campfire for us one night just to talk to each other. My teammates and instructors talked and had fun together. We discussed what we are going to do at the National Tournament while we roasted hot dogs and “some-mores”. Some of us went to our cabins to go to sleep. However, I stayed up for little while to practice my forms and the board-breaking technique. I did this two nights.  

When I heard that the Nationals were being held in Branson, Missouri, I wanted to go and compete there. I talked to my karate instructor about going to compete in the Nationals. I was so excited to be able to go. I signed up for these 3 events: (1) forms (2) point sparring (3) power board breaking. For example: forms are basic requirement moves you need to learn in exact order and routine.   When you start the forms it is so important to bow in front of the instructors to show appropriate and respect. The instructors teach you self-defense and show you how to defend yourself when someone comes behind you and suddenly attacks you; you need to have quick judgment and quick reaction. This is the reason you have to learn all your forms perfectly.

Sparring is fighting against your opponent by using your hands and feet only. When you do sparring you need to wear special head gear, chest protector, punching gloves and foot gear. You also need mouth guard to wear to guard your mouth and your teeth. When you punch your opponent’s head, stomach and sides just above their waist only, you get points when you hit, punch and kick to that person. Then once you finish your 3 rounds, you and your opponents stand in front of the judges. You stand very still and wait until they total up your score. Then they tally up your grand total of your score and have you stand in order according to how you placed; the winner and then 2^{nd and} 3^rd place. They do the same process for each event you compete in. 

For board breaking you learn how to break plastic or wooden boards with your hands and your feet. Also you can do kicks and spinning along with your forms too. It is important to learn these moves for this particular form because you also could do kicks with the boards. 

At the tournament in the gymnasium, they had 9 big blue and red gymnast mats and they had 9 events going on at once. I was really surprised I said to myself "WOW!" I was walking around to each event watching other competitors compete in their events cheering, clapping, rooting them on, being good sport after their event was over, telling them "good job, you did great". 

The competitors each had their own sections to compete and their own judges and referees for each event like forms, sparring, and board breaking. Some students even did weapon competitions. They were very excited when they earned their awards for each of their events.

I competed in forms and sparring. I earned a 3^rd place medal in both events. Then I also competed in board breaking and earned a 2^nd place medal.  To me, all of my medals feel like 1^st place because I did my best in all my events. I’m very glad and happy and very proud of myself that I did this.     

Julie's ceramic art work - Video

Julie's ceramic art work - Articles

On the first night when I went to my very first Ceramic class, I met John Murphy, the Instructor. I was taking “Raku Ceramics Class” and he gave a tour around the ceramic lab. He also taught the students the safety of wearing a mask when we go into a room to mix and make the clay or work with the glaze. He explained to all the students that “Raku” is a low temperature, low fire, type of ceramics. He told us to only use low fire glazes.

The students chose their work space and table where they can work at for the whole semester. They also have an assigned shelf space to put their ceramic project when it’s finished or to let their piece slowly dry out or get hard. He also showed all of the students where to put their pieces when they are ready for the first firing, called “Bisque”.  Then there is another shelf for when the final firing is done.

Then we sat at our work tables and Mr. Murphy told us to make a box form just like the one he was demonstrating. He taught us to make coils by rolling out the clay into the shape of a snake. He came by my work table and taught me how to put the sides together for the box and how to score the sides of the slabs so that they would stick together like glue. Then he told me to try it on my own and I did. He was amazed at what I was making and he said to me that after watching me in class that night, that he could tell I am creative person.  

 The next class, I used the coil technique we learned and made a coil cup with a lid. Then, I rolled out the shape of the circle that was an interesting pattern. My technique was rounding up to make the cup then smoothed the inside of the cup with a paint brush and a silver flexible tool. At the end, I used a light blue glaze.

I decided to make a plate on the pottery wheel while my teacher was helping and guiding me to learn how to use the wheel.  Somehow the plate was not too good at all. I tried to make it but my instructor gave me the idea to use a form of the bowl as a mold, I said, “you are right”. 

           

   My teacher is very involved in ceramics and he knows everything about this subject. When he was in high school and going  through College he studied and majoring in Ceramic Arts. He told me everything about studying this interesting history of art and how much he loves making things with clay.

When I met him, I thought he was a talented teacher who was so gifted.  He is a wonderful person and I am so happy and glad he taught me so much about creating clay designs and having so much fun working on clay projects. I kept taking classes with John Murphy for the next seven years.

A couple of years later, Mr. Murphy was invited to exhibit his students’ work. It was wonderful art gallery in southeast Detroit. He helped choose the students’ work and recommended which pieces would show best because they represented our creative talent. He wanted to display different techniques with shapes and glazes.

I chose about six pieces to exhibit. You were allowed to decide if you wanted to sell them or just leave them on display. The one I liked most was called “Cherry Picking” so I only put it on display. I was very excited when someone bought one of my pieces!

Mr. Murphy told us that the people who attended the art exhibit were surprised by the unique colors of the “raku” glaze. The beautiful colors were created by firing the pieces in the “dirt pits” and in trashcans instead of a regular kiln.

It was fun for me to think about all of the pieces I had displayed in the exhibit.  I am glad I decided to keep them.  The whole experience was great!

How I Met My Cat "Niño" - Video

How I Met My Cat "Niño"

My friend, Joy, had a cat named “Niño” and they lived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. His name in Spanish means “little boy”. Joy is a wonderful, interesting lady, who is so loving and kind. When I met her, she said to me, “I want to show you my new friend”.  Her cat came toward me and rubbed against my legs and he switched his tail too. He loved when I rubbed under his neck and he began purring very loudly. I got to see Niño almost every week for about two years when I went to my appointments to work with Joy. We worked on learning about emotions and understanding how to balance positive energy. This really helped me a lot.

Joy explained to me that this cat just showed up at her little house. He loved her house because it was at the end of a street on a small hill with large trees and jungle bushes and the ocean was just down the hill a little ways. She left some food and water on her porch and he came back every day. This cat decided to adopt Joy to be his new “mama” and to live in her house.    

My new friend Joy taught me that animals communicate though feeling emotions and images. To communicate you send him picture wrapped in a big emotion. So, if you want him to do something, you send a strong image of him doing that thing wrapped in a “huge big love”. She said he will understand much more quickly this way.

Joy is shaman and an author who travels around the country for book signing tours. She makes videos and teaches workshops to people who are interested in her work. This is the reason that she had to find her cat Niño a new home.

Joy felt very sad and mad that she could not always take Niño with her on trips. Every time they travel, it would affect Niño because he got sick. That is why she trusted me to take extra good care of him.  She knows how much I loved Niño (a whole lot) after all this time. She and I were talking to each other and she said that Niño does adore me very much. I replied to Joy, “I have been thinking about keeping Niño as my baby”. Joy said to me, “It will be a great idea and we will both stay in touch with each other and stay connected. She always said to me that I am her darling angel who she loves very much. And that is me!  I love Joy and she means so much to me. So, we agreed that I should take Niño back home to Michigan with me and I promised to bring him back to Puerto Vallarta with us again when we return to stay every winter. Joy could always visit Niño when she was in Mexico.

On the day we were supposed to leave Mexico with Nino and return to our home in Michigan, my mom, sister, and I arrived at the airport with some friends. We met Joy there with Niño in his cage. Joy was crying so hard when she kissed him good-bye and she walked away crying. About 15 minutes later, the airlines agent told us they were so sorry, but we didn't have the correct reservation to take a cat on board. The cat’s papers were not in order right then. On top of that, the agent explained that Niño was too big and so the cage was too big to fit under the seat. This took so long  that my mom and my sister and I had to run to get on the airplane without Niño. I was really crying and feeling sad. I was shocked and very mad too. Our two good dear friends Pete and Monica took Niño back to Joy so she could have him back at home.

A few months later Joy needed to go on a book tour in San Diego, California. When she was packing Niño decided to climb in the suitcase and lay on top of her clothes. She told him to get out of her so she could finish packing. Later when she couldn’t find Niño anywhere in her house, she took her and her suitcases and his blue cage, closed the door to her house and went outside to look all around everywhere for the cat. Niño had gone into the hillside jungle of weeds and bushes and trees so Joy was not able to see him anywhere. Suddenly she had a terrible panic feeling! She knew she had to hurry to get to the airport! How could she even think of leaving without the cat? When Joy pulled her suitcases to the top of the hill to get the taxi she was feeling really frantic. She kept calling his name over and over. During all the rush loading the taxi and crying, Niño walked right out of the jungle and sat down near Joy. She grabbed him really, really quickly and put him into his cage. The taxi driver had to go very fast and get them to the airport in time to catch their flight. I think that was an amazing thing for any cat to do!

Joy and Niño stayed with her friend Malka in California while Joy was working on a book and various projects, Malka helped her take are of Niño. When Malka needed to move to a new apartment,called me again to see if I still wanted Nino, I told her yes of course! Joy did some research to figure out how to send Niño to me in Michigan. The airlines cost $700us to send a cat by freight. My mom and I wanted to fly to San Diego to get Niño but my mom said that was very expensive too. Somehow, Joy found out about two truckers who drive a car carrier that hauls cars from San Diego to Detroit. Joy called to ask them if they would bring a cat with them to her friend who lived in Michigan near Detroit and the two men said “yes” because they loved animals. Niño rode with those two men in the truck driver’s cab for four days. They phoned to tell us they would arrive earlier than they thought  and they brought Niño right to the door of my house! I was so happy! My mom was still at the pet store buying cat food and litter box to have  a cat in our house. I called my mom’s cell phone and left her a voice mail to tell her that Niño was here already!!!. I e-mailed Joy to tell her that Niño was safe with me. She was very happy that Niño arrived at my house. I could hardly believe that my cat just had such an awesome adventure!

Niño was walking around my room and I gave him water and some turkey slices out of the refrigerator and he liked that! He began to settle down and feel calm. He was not afraid and let me hold him. He looked at me when I said, Niño! He also began to purr. I think he did remembered me from Puerto Vallarta! I hugged him and hugged him and kissed him, too! I felt sooooooo happy!

Christmas message from Julie.mov