Most Chinese people can’t swim. I thought about this lack of aquatic training last summer, when we were teaching summer school in the South. There was a pool on campus, and we would often go there and swim laps after classes. I have never been a competitive swimmer, but compared to the Chinese who were doggy-paddling beside me, I felt like an Olympian.
This might be changing, at least for China’s growing middle and upper middle class. In America, ambitious parents enroll their children in Waterbabies classes when they are four months old. In China, lucky babies can splash around in tiny pools just 24 hours after birth.
I don’t think that the Qingdao Municipal Hospital offers swimming for newborns, but the Japanese-funded, private, obstetrics hospital most definitely does. A friend of mine gave birth there a few weeks ago. She showed me a picture of her newborn daughter in a mini-pool, safely supported with a life preserver around her neck. She was in a line of babies, each under the watchful eyes of a folded-hat-wearing nurse.
I was reminded of the baby on the Nevermind album, Nirvana’s grunge-rock gospel. Anyone who was alive in 1991 remembers him. He looked so sweet and innocent, floating under water, grasping at dollar bills. The bourgeoisie are so adorable at that age.
But was he as cute as this little girl?
P.S. This post should really be titled 马可! 波罗! (Marco Polo’s name in Chinese.)
Oh well. Whatever. Nevermind.
[Author's note: this post originally featured a video with a Chinese baby, but we lost access to it. We replaced it with a video of our own little swimmer. Hope you enjoy it.]
5 Comments
Permalink
Wow. I could use a mini pool, If only I could somehow get one into my office I’d be set!
The thing about that clip though, is it’s like a wombs-eye view. Is that what babies do, hanging out in utero for nine months? Looks like it.
Bet Smudge will be at least that cute. We’ll need lots of video.
Permalink
Most Chinese cannot swim because swimming is too dangerous. If they learn to swim, then there is a good chance they will drown. At least this is how it has been explained to me by Chinese friends. This has always seemed like silly logic to me, especially considering the fact that I live in Fuzhou. We are right near the ocean, and typhoons and floods are common. It’s no wonder so many people die during these natural disasters. I can only imagine how many more people would survive if they knew how to swim.
Permalink
As to what type of child, I always had my heart set on an orangutan. Also, I was looking at the picture of your neighborhood. There is one building that looks like an ancient amphitheater. The other looks like it has bleachers, but that, in context, doesn’t make sense. What are they? At the ocean there are what could be mud flats, but have some signs of being planted. It that simply a scanning artifact? When I saw you, even by Skype, you glowed; So lovely to see your happiness. Josh must need sunglasses.
Permalink
Alan,
There are 2 university campuses in our neighborhood. Both of the areas you note are tracks with soccer fields. There is a third slightly north of the westernmost. I suppose they are technically all amphitheaters. Ours (the one to the east) has a larger set of bleachers. I think the mud flats are actually breakwaters, but a small portion of that area is being developed and is off-limits. About fifteen miles to the east you’ll notice a mountain. People farm seaweed there, but I can’t see any evidence of it from the aerials.
Then again, I’ve been blind with love for a long time now.
Permalink
I was at the Thursday Gonzales hearing. It was a joy to watch Spector nail Gonzales to the floor. If you haven’t seen it: On Monday G. had a press conference. On Thursday, before the Committee, he contradicted what he said on Monday. After G. had been slipping away from answers, Specter said that G. must be well prepared. G. preened and said that he was always well prepared. Specter asked if he had been well prepared for the press conference. Also I had fun. At a point between Senators, I went to the front middle of the seats and said in a loud full voice: Gonzales! How does it feel being a handmaiden to the big boys? I waited two beats and said: And we know what handmaidens do! I turned and left. While I was standing outside, someone came out and said that he was surprised that they didn’t throw me to the floor. Maybe they would have if the Republicans were still in charge.