Memory from the Place in Italy - Term Paper Example

The sun was already high. The temperature had risen to a high 110 degrees. I was sweating profusely but I was determined to learn how to ride a bike on that day. I cannot give up just because of the heat or the exhaustion I was already feeling. I know my companions are equally tired but not even they can stop me from attaining my goal. Hallie, our neighbor and my best friend who was of the same age as I was, patiently took the responsibility of being my tutor. We were ten.

She lent me her purple pink bike.
Hallie has a brother who was seven years old at that time and I have a little sister who was eight and a half years old. As responsible brothers and sisters, we became their babysitters during the summer. Since they were not too young to play with us, Hallie and I decided to bring them along as she taught me how to ride a bike. Our siblings were ecstatic at the thought of playing outdoors.

At first, the two younger ones enthusiastically cheered with Hallie as I tried to balance myself on the machine with two wheels.
“You can do it, Jordan.”
“That’s it, Jordan. Just try to balance yourself”, Jon and Lauren cried, imitating Hallie.
Now and then, they would follow my friend and hold the bike for me as I try another attempt at driving it.

“You can do it”, were their never-ending words of encouragement.
I know that the excitement of our brother and sister was fast fading away as they got tired of running and shouting after me. I saw them many times sit down on the ground with their heads bowed and shoulders drooping. I was draining their energy with my inability to learn my lesson fast. I then tried my best to learn as fast as I can. I had to be more than determined because if I exasperate the little ones, they can prove to be a great job for ten-year-olds. Yet, learning how to ride a bike was difficult for me.

Thus, even if I did not want to stop my practice, I had to let the two kids ride the bike also to take their boredom and exasperation away. Since they did not know how to ride a bike too, Hallie and I exchanged turns in assisting them. In this task, I realized how difficult it has been for everyone to be holding the bike and running, holding a grip on the bike to keep me balanced as I try again and again to ride. This made me more determined and when I got back on the bike, I requested them not to assist me.
“Let’s see how I can learn on my own”, I said not because I did not want their help but because I knew that I was beginning to burden them.

Nevertheless, my expectations that the task at hand was easy proved to be wrong. I hardly can balance myself on the bike contrary to how easy I perceived it to be. I fell numerous times, I incurred many scratches from the fall, and I began to feel ashamed of myself. Here I was, learning to do a simple task that I can hardly perfect. I am being taught by a girl when I was supposed to be the one teaching her.
Suddenly, as if everything fell into place, I was able to ride without falling. Something like a light bulb in my head lit and I instinctively knew what to do to maintain my balance.

“I can ride the bike!” I shouted as Hallie, Jon and Lauren came running toward me. I was reeling with excitement that I did not notice a white BMW coming my way. Being alerted by my friend, I did pop a wheelie and was able to safely get back on my track to where my friends were, jumping for joy. Indeed, it was not just a celebration for me, being able to finally reach my goal. It was also a celebration for the three wonderful people who have been there to help me. Whether they realized it or not their presence was a great encouragement. Read More