In case you're wondering... Kaity still can't swim
Swimming. Or more to the point, not swimming. This subject comes up for me every summer. I love the beach, but I don’t know how to swim. Every summer someone expresses astonishment about this fact. I’ve addressed this before, but think it is worth talking about again.
I attended an all- women’s college on the East Coast that has a 150- year- old tradition of not permitting any student who does not pass the swimming test to graduate, no matter how good their grades. For nearly two centuries, they never had an issue with this. Until I came along.
Believe me, they tried. It got to the point where the frustrated instructors would whack my fingers, desperately clinging to the side of the deep end of the pool, with sticks, to get me to let go. They kept screaming at me, “FLOAT! ANYBODY can learn how to FLOAT!” Well, not me, apparently. I proved to be too big a challenge, even for seasoned professional swim instructors at a respected center of learning.
Finally, in total frustration, the college made an exception for me. The first, and probably the only exception in its long and proud history. No one could graduate without passing the swimming test, so – I – had to pass a WRITTEN swimming test. That’s right. “Describe the breast stroke. What are the principles of treading water?...” Stuff like that.
Hard to believe, I know, but I speak the truth. I must say Bryn Mawr had a fine reputation for scholarship but in my mind, a little hardcore about their long-established rules. Katharine Hepburn went there (long before me) and I was told she got kicked out after she was caught swimming in the nude in the library cloisters pond. I love this story. If it’s apocryphal, I don’t want to know.
So, for those of you whose jaws hit the floor when you find out there are grown people, like me, who never mastered the art of swimming, let me explain. I blame my parents. That’s always a good place to start. It’s all my parents’ fault that I am afraid of the water.
My story is a typical immigrant story. After living with friends on Long Island for several months, we moved to Washington, D.C. because my father, a colonel in the Nationalist Chinese army, was assigned to the embassy there. The only thing my folks cared about was for me and my brother to succeed in our adopted home. My parents didn’t know from extracurricular. Latin Club? What was that?! Swimming lessons? Why?! Chinese lessons on Saturdays, of course. But swimming classes? Not so much.
There was one summer when I was about 8 and my brother 5, that our parents dropped us off at a local public pool for a couple of hours. They just left us there! (Moms and Dads are hauled off in handcuffs these days for less than that!) I got into the shallow end of the pool just to see what this was all about and immediately got dunked by some guy with a greasy ducktail, and swallowed something disgusting that I to this day don’t want to think about.
I think this experience affected me. I really do. I never could get the hang of swimming; I was just too afraid of the water. I managed to avoid all swimming situations, until I went to Bryn Mawr.
I don’t think they mention the swimming test requirement in their beautiful brochure. I’m sure if I had known ahead of time that I would not be allowed to graduate without passing a swim test, I would have gone to Swarthmore.
Comments: 32
Kaity, take a trip to the Caribbean, put on a mask and snorkel, along with swim fins and just kick away in the ultra clear waters and you'll find yourself swimming before you know it. It's easy!
Kaity,
Kman Certainly has a good idea, but you will need a few pointers on how not to sink. Anytime you wish to learn I will teach you.
Kaity,
Kman Certainly has a good idea, but you will need a few pointers on how not to sink. Anytime you wish to learn I will teach you.
Kaity,
Kman Certainly has a good idea, but you will need a few pointers on how not to sink. Anytime you wish to learn I will teach you.
@Diedonce
Ixnay on the inking say! :-)
Power of positive thinking. I promise, Kaity, stay close to shore at first and the clear water removes fear and the swim fins will help keep you afloat.
22. Hi Kaity,
While you are good at presenting the news, i feel that you should have become a comedian. This is crazy funny man!! I cracked up at the line "For nearly two centuries, they never had an issue with this. Until I came along". HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I, too, agree with a Caribbean trip. I recommend Barbados, Aruba or St. Maarten (Dutch or French side of the island)if you take that position.
Man, Kaity,.... you really know how to hit the nerve!
Once again, we share a similar experience with regards to the subject at hand.
I surely can relate,.. though in my case, it wasn't an All-Woman's College with an "Anybody Can Learn To Float" 150-year old tradition, (which sounds kinda hokey to me,... I call SHENANIGANS!,..but, I digress).
No, in my case, it was non other than the U.S.Navy itself, that informed me during the recruitment phase, that not knowing how to swim would not be a problem, because "They'll Teach You How To Once You Get To Boot Camp!"
Once there,those of us who couldn't swim were informed to sit on the pool-side & wait n' watch as the other recruits passed the test & moved on.
After the Company Commander cursed us out for believing what the recruiter told us, & reminding us that they were not "The Y", we were instructed how to float on water for 5 minutes,(while they timed you with a stop-watch), which is minimally what one must be able to do to remain in the navy. Some guys got it done,... some guys didn't.Wish we would've had the option of a written swim test, too,.. but they didn't play that.
Though I am the owner of an honorable discharge,and absolutely love the ocean, I STILL don't know how to swim or float!
So, see Kaity, You're not alone with that one.
Think I'll pass on that luxury sea-cruise, too!
I too went to a women's college which required a swim test. Luckily a friend of mine took pity on me on the last day before graduation and taught me how to do the doggy paddle. it was enough to graduate.
anyway, you are definitely a positive thinker, and i'm glad you still enjoy the beach. Keep up the great work on the show, Kaity! LB
I too went to a women's college which required a swim test. Luckily a friend of mine took pity on me on the last day before graduation and taught me how to do the doggy paddle. it was enough to graduate.
anyway, you are definitely a positive thinker, and i'm glad you still enjoy the beach. Keep up the great work on the show, Kaity! LB
kaity, What a hilarious story!
I can relate.
I'm Chinese American, an immigrant, and
I can't swim either.
Do you think it's something in the genes?
Grace
So your dad was from China's nationalist side, interesting. Well, after the communist took over China, the nationalists flee to Taiwan, and some went to US, including your family.
Anyway, I am not a big fan on sport, but my college requires me to take at least one sport class (but doesn't have to be swimming like your school), so I choose swimming. And man, it was fun (except the class was early in the morning)!
I am an immigrant, and a Chinese American also. I didn't know how to swim before, but I didn't have any problem in the class. The professor was very nice, and the classmate also.
Swimming is fun once you know the technique. Like my professor said, it is more related to science than to your body for floating.
Well, people often have problem with swimming when they had a bad experience with it before, I can understand. I pray that you can one day overcome this fear and enjoy the water.
Forget to mention, my swimming class has a written test also for the final, ask for the techniques' name and other technical stuffs, but it was easy. Altogether I got an A in the class. I don't think you can find other regular class to be this fun and easy.
You do so many other things so well, there is no need to add anymore skills
I can't swim either and the really sad thing is that my parents paid for lessons for my brother and I when we were younger. The lessons never took. My dad can swim and my mom is scared of water because my father threw her in the ocean when they were dating ( he eventually had to save her). My first time at the beach was when I was 8? years old, so maybe I was just not comfortable with the water and the beach.
Have you ever thought about lessons?? I wouldn't give up Kaity!
Oh good, another Asian who can't swim! Here I was thinking that it just ran on my mom's side. My sister and I both can't swim (we all tried), and my mother is deathly afraid of the ocean. My dad on the other hand boasts about his swimming prowess.
I've had my fair share of bad swimming experiences. I took swim class in high school and promptly transferred after two weeks. I want to say I quit swimming, but it just wasn't doing anything. It certainly didn't help when your instructor gives you swimming fins that are way too big for you, a float board, and tells you to just try to paddle on to the deep end. Yeah, not happening there.
I think I fare better on land, but I will get my feet wet at the beach though (feet, not legs or waist! Panic thoughts!).
You're not the only one out there, so take some solace in that. :)
Hi Kaity, I can relate totally
with your story and being swim
challenged.
The movie Jaws probably traumatized
a whole generation about venturing
into the ocean.
I have never taken a cruise because I
can't swim. But I love Hawaii and going
to the beach. One can enjoy the
beautiful serenity of the water without
actually going in it!
Keep up the great blogs and making us
laugh and also think of our common
experiences.
ChickenOfTheSea
OMG! You made me laugh so hard, all of you, with your stories! Chuck, you were in the Navy and you can't swim? I totally love that!
And clearly I am not alone: kman, diedonce, mel, jenny, joe, lb,grace, and chickenofthesea (!), all of you, I so appreciate all the advice, encouragement, and funny comments. And Nash, we're up to #22! Hurray! I'll try to be extra funny to entice you to #23!
Have a great weekend, everyone! And tell all your friends about my blog! Thanks!
Interesting blog. Here's what your fan club says. So you can't swim. Who cares? You sure can anchor the news, report, and raise awareness about the needs of the community. Who can ever do it all? Swimming is a fun activity, I suppose. I'm not a huge fan of it myself. I've been dunked and am a little frightened of the water. But it hasn't defined who I am a bit. The Kaity Fan Club knows what they see and they like. That's "you" - whether you can swim or not. However, it was another interesting blog and perspective. You and many immigrant populations were not exposed to swim class and pools. It is the way it is. We move on and count our blessings that you focused on becoming a journalist instead of an Olympic swimmer.
I have NEVER gone back in the ocean since I saw "Jaws"--I'm not even sure about pools :)
But I can swim!
Kaity,
I have always been a fan of yours. Swimming is fun! I think you have built it up so much that you are now conditioned against it. With that much fear I guess the thought of water has you traumatized. I am sorry that you can not experience the joy of swimming.
Andy
Kaity,
I have always been a fan of yours. Swimming is fun! I think you have built it up so much that you are now conditioned against it. With that much fear I guess the thought of water has you traumatized. I am sorry that you can not experience the joy of swimming.
Andy
It's never too late to learn Kaity. And if you do, bring along a camera crew, make it a 5 part series. I'd love to see it. If you can make it to freestyle, that's all you need!
Kaity,
I understand where you are coming from for I am there also. I even sink using a tube. Sounds crazy but I just can't swim.
Kaity,
I understand where you are coming from for I am there also. I even sink using a tube. Sounds crazy but I just can't swim.
John
Kaity,
I understand where you are coming from for I am there also. I even sink using a tube. Sounds crazy but I just can't swim.
John
Kaity, Do not fret, i can't really swim either and my mom had my brother and I take Red Cross Swimming lessons during the summer when we were growing up. I would like to wish you a belated birthday wish and hope it was a nice celebration with you and your family. Keep up the great job you are doing and it is a joy to watch you and Jim report the news. You both have a great working relationship and it comes through during the show.
Hi Kaity. I found your story very interesting. I can somewhat relate to it. Initially, when I was growing up in Providence, R.I. I took swimming lessons at Brown University, but due to the fact that I was in literally in over my head. I still liked the water though. However, when we moved to Norton, Massachusetts I learned how to swim because I started out taking lessons in water that I could stand up in. As I gained confidence, I began to get into deeper water. Now I can swim in water that is both shallow and deep. I will not win any competitive medals with my swimming, but I can do it now. Now I enjoy going to the pool or the beach. You should try my way sometime.
Finally, my wife has something in common with you. She was born in Taiwan and her father, my father-in-law, served as a colonel in the Kuomingtang Army of Chiang Kai Shek. He now lives in Flushing, Queens with my sister-in-law. My two brothers-in-law still live in Taiwan south of Taipei in Hsinchu. Finally, my wife and I met at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.
Hi Kaity. I found your story very interesting. I can somewhat relate to it. Initially, when I was growing up in Providence, R.I. I took swimming lessons at Brown University, but due to the fact that I was in literally in over my head. I still liked the water though. However, when we moved to Norton, Massachusetts I learned how to swim because I started out taking lessons in water that I could stand up in. As I gained confidence, I began to get into deeper water. Now I can swim in water that is both shallow and deep. I will not win any competitive medals with my swimming, but I can do it now. Now I enjoy going to the pool or the beach. You should try my way sometime.
Finally, my wife has something in common with you. She was born in Taiwan and her father, my father-in-law, served as a colonel in the Kuomingtang Army of Chiang Kai Shek. He now lives in Flushing, Queens with my sister-in-law. My two brothers-in-law still live in Taiwan south of Taipei in Hsinchu. Finally, my wife and I met at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.
Easiest way to learn in 5 minutes: Go to a POOL. Get in on Children's end. (3 feet; no need to panic) Hang on to side and let your body float up naturally. (Even unsalted water your body will always rise to top). Then let go of side for a second at a time. Keep doing it over and over. Pretty soon you'll realize your head will stay above water as well. Do a little paddling, your head will rise even higher. By the way, it's not a question of "learning how to swim". It's a question of "learning how to float". Once you have secured that confidence, you're a swimmer for life!
Easiest way to learn in 5 minutes: Go to a POOL. Get in on Children's end. (3 feet; no need to panic) Hang on to side and let your body float up naturally. (Even unsalted water your body will always rise to top). Then let go of side for a second at a time. Keep doing it over and over. Pretty soon you'll realize your head will stay above water as well. Do a little paddling, your head will rise even higher. By the way, it's not a question of "learning how to swim". It's a question of "learning how to float". Once you have secured that confidence, you're a swimmer for life!
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