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As a child, whenever you had a problem, you most likely went to your parents or some other adult to solve it. But as you grew up, you learned how to do things on your own. Part of being an adult is having a grasp on certain basic life skills - however, as it turns out, not every life lesson is as basic to one person as it is to the next.

The New York Times editor Jenee Desmond-Harris recently shared on Twitter her landlord's unexpected know-how blindspot, and then asked the internet to share their own. People delivered all sorts of hilarious answers, and some of them you might be able to relate to - from social skills such a the dreaded small talk to vital work skills. Scroll down to check out some of the best responses, and don't forget to upvote your faves! And don't forget to let us know in the comments, which seemingly simple things you've missed along the way.

#2

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athornedrose
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

coming from a big immigrant italian family, i have the worst time scaling down recipes. everything was made to feed the whole clan. making food for like 2 people is insanely difficult for me.

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Whether it’s tying our shoes, correctly reading the face of a clock or learning to swim, we’ve all had a bit of trouble getting to grips with certain important (and elementary) life skills. Some people even find basic things like fixing the plumbing or driving a car to be — well — basic. But there’s plenty of us have a lot more trouble, because we might be afraid (a lot of us may have panicked the first time we went to a community pool) or we simply might have had no need for a particular skill (we may prefer getting around by bike rather than by car if we live in busy cities).

#4

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Jonathon Smith
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes I think I've nailed this adulting lark and am now a fully formed member of the human race. Then I try talking to a stranger and realise all I've done is cocoon myself in friends who don't mind talking about D&D 24/7

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We all know the adage that it takes about 10,000 hours to learn a new skill. However, that’s not entirely true. Josh Kaufman, known for his inspiring TED talk and author of the book ‘The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything… Fast!’, has a very different idea.

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#5

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Lousha
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The + sign has a bump on it. The positive side of the battery is also the one with the bump. The - sign is flat. The negative end of a battery is flat as well. You're welcome!

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#6

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Stevie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once directed my friend in a car and we nearly ended up in another country....

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According to Kaufman, the so-called 10,000 rule has been misinterpreted by the vast majority of people for quite some time now. He notes that 10,000 hours is the average it takes to become “an expert in an ultra competitive field”, which is far from the same thing as learning a new skill This is good news for most of us!

#7

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Ronel du Plessis
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too!!! I feel so dumb some times. Living in South Africa I speak Afrikaans. I call kids "pampoen" which means pumpkin. Or "piesang" which means banana. I get away with it because the kids in my karate dojo thinks it is funny. don't think adults would thinks it's funny.

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Kaufman states that to get from “knowing nothing to being pretty good” takes a far shorter amount of time: barely 20 hours. That’s more or less practicing something for 45 minutes every day for around a month. Doesn’t seem so scary, does it? Of course, you can’t multitask while trying to learn a new skill — you need to focus on it exclusively.

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AnnaB
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Years ago my sister and I were taking a walk in our neighborhood and someone asked for directions to the local library. After he drove off, we realized that the directions we gave were totally wrong. We joke that to this day, you can see a rusty old car being driven by a skeleton...still looking for that library.

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Daria B
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The trick is to inhale with your mouth when out of water, slowly exhale through your nose while in the water. You can help yourself with humming while in the water.

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Pseudo Puppy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too!! It's the side effect of my mother's friend terrifying me as a kid (for "fun"), by telling me that she saw a kid get their foot caught in the escalator & had it chewed off. She told me every time we went to go on an escalator. It's now an ingrained instinct, despite me logically knowing it's nonsense.

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#15

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Paul K. Johnson
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fitted sheets are supposed to be folded? I just wad them up in a ball and stuff them in the linen closet.

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#16

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Daria B
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Riding a bike is not easy. Unlike most people I know, I'll admit, I learnt it as a young adult. And I'm so grateful for it, such a useful skill to have.

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iblowsheep
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

actually riding is easy. It's getting going, staying still enough and not toppling over once you get going, and bracing yourself when you stop that is the hard part. after that, easy peasy.

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Oathbraker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, I can finally say me too. I've been driving for over 5 years, but I've never been able to ride a bike. I seriously find parallel parking easier than maintaining a precarious balance on only two wheels. I honestly don't know how people even get close to motorbikes, let alone drive them.

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KrisF
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know how to ride a bike, I just shouldn't. I have no sense of balance and poor reaction time. I've been told more than once to never ride a bike with shoe clips because I'd probably kill myself.

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Ozacoter
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was like 24 when I learned. I just moved to the Netherlanss and everybody expected me to know how to bike xD My roomates where very amused by me.

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Destiny Rose
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. I've had balance issues since I was little and I never felt confident enough to ride a two-wheeled bike. I used to ride a three-wheeled bicycle. I was bullied a lot because of it because they said I couldn't ride a two-wheeled bike like a normal person.

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R.s. Potter
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once helped out at a beginner's cycling clinic for adults and we had one young woman who'd never learned. We turned her bike into an adult balance bike by taking off the pedals and lowering the saddle until she could put both feet on the pavement. She'd push off with her feet and glide with them held up until she needed to put them down again. Eventually her glides got long enough that she felt ready to try pedalling. We did this in a deserted parking lot in the evening hours.

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Hollie Newton
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't ride a bike or swim so I'm guessing I have zero coordination

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alwaysMispelled
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never learned as a kid. Dated a guy in my 20s who was like, "Nope. I have to teach you." Did not go well. I will say I did manage to balance and ride very well in a straight line. Just never figured out the whole turning or stopping thing. It still bothers me. Sigh. But I'm too embarrassed to get a bike and go out to an empty parking lot for fear of someone coming by and witnessing.

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Julie Patel
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel the same way and there is no way I'm riding a bike with training wheels on at my young-ish age.

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Jewels Vern
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What you have to learn is to stop handling the handlebars. If nothing else, put both hands in the middle and let the bike drive itself.

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Ksenia M
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, that was me until a couple of month ago! Apparently, you can take classes even as an adult!

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Maurettis
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't ride a bike in 27 years, now I can't remember how its' done

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Mariette Ferreira
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to relearn riding a bike after not being on one for almost 8 years. I'm confident again now, but it look some time.

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Jazz Akins
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t ride a bike either my guy. I also learned as a kid but then never rode one

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Frozengeckolover
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Get some training wheels. I have no judgement when I see adults with training wheels on their bike. I just assume they are learning for the first time, or learning again.

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L McN
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For most people the balancing portion comes back fairly quickly, regardless of how long it has been. Much like sleeping in a small bed raised off the ground (and not rolling out of it). However not everyone is the same...

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okpkpkp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have extreme balance problems (brain disease) and couldn't ride a bike anymore, altho I used to ride all over the bay area.

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L.j. Bus
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad was sure the best way to learn was somewhere on a steep concrete path, heading downhill before I had learned to steer and brake well. He was sure that would make my job easier because at least I didn’t have to worry to not have enough speed 😅 So he let go of me and not a single person, bush or cushion (yeah weird and unnatural choice but it would’ve been great if it were to grow there below that mountain lookalike way back when and besides, concrete isn’t all that natural either 😂) but nothing was around to catch me there below with all that momento and I had no experience to steer or brake with even half that speed 🙈 Needless to say I got the evidence on my body to prove that it was, in fact, not a great idea 😅😂

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Just saying
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to go to a roller rink every weekend as a preteen but now I fall just standing still. I thought it would be easier than this.

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Katinka Min
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, you kinda need to rid it for years and years, after you learned it. Then it becomes instinct.

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daisydiamond
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cannot ride a bike either. People laugh at me but every time i have tried i have injured myself.....

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D. Pitbull
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I finally learned... first thing that happened was a met a wall... and destroyed a flowerbed. I... have not ridden since...

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Melissa Smith-Bowles
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel you on this! We moved to the Gulf Coast and mentioned to my hubby that it fun to have a beach bike. For Christmas he bought me a beautiful bike. I was thrilled. I haven't actually ridden a bike yet n many many years but still knew how. I tried three times falling each time. The third one I ended up with a broken arm. I felt so bad because my hubby was excited to give it to me. Bless his heart

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Laura West
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope, you're just uncoordinated. Probably lack muscle memory as well. The saying is right. You're the problem in the equation.

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Julie Patel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not true at all. Some people are even just afraid of riding a bike for fear of falling off or embarrassment.

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Jude Ponting
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lost the ability to know how to ride a bike after the age of about 6, I'm in my 30s now And I have to listen to people saying "how do you not know how to ride a bike" with such amazement like I'm a freak , what's worse is when it's followed by "I'll teach you" ... NO no thanks , I'll stick to my skateboard

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Jenny Lorenz
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude! I thought I was the only adult who never could. I could teach kids to but to do it myself....nope!

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Adrienne Early
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband can't. He could as a kid but as he grew older he couldn't get the balance right. He just avoids it now. I joke that we'll just get him a three wheeled one so we can do family bike trips.

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Bored Bitch
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really just go fats af and sit straight while doing it then start braking slowly and try to get off and die

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Bored Bitch
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OH AND LEAN SLIGHTLY TO THE PLACE YOU WANNA TURN NEVER YSE THE EVIL HANDLEBARS

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Václav „Evan“ Mraček
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

noone actualy teach how to rude a bike, they just put a child on bike and they must figure out or fall... thats for teaching...

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#17

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Ronel du Plessis
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL!!! I have no sense of direction. Will get lost in my own house ;-/, but time and distance... no one can beat me at that.

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Steve Barnett
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cannot say 'similarly'. It always comes out as similarily, similaly, similarlarily etc.

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#21

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Oerff On Tour
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a problem with converting the 24h clock to 12h. Keep messing up 5 o'clock (1700h) and 7 o'clock

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#22

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Gary
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had an instructor like that, I dumped him and found a new one. Passed my test first time.

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#25

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Mascha Claessens
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, that's the opposite to my dad. He can ONLY float. Like, on his back with both his knees AND shoulders above the water. We've often joked that he has hollow bones, like a bird.

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PaulV
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, "deductible" sounds like something you *don't* have to pay. And "premium" sounds like something good, but the whole thing is doubly confusing: pay a higher premium (oh no!) to get a lower monthly (oh...kay?). It's like being asked to choose the way you would like to get screwed.

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#27

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Katie Smith
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now this, I learned at middle school. One of the positives of having school uniforms in the UK!

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#28

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Yettichild
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just think to myself "Write" and I automatically know which hand is right =D

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#29

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#30

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Mascha Claessens
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's a benefit of growing up in the Netherlands: everyone gets swimming lessons. Some of us more than others, but we all do when we're little. Too much water around not to... :P

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