Yesterday we swam in the South China Sea. We traveled three hours away from the congestion of GuangZhou, Hong Kong and Macau, to the quiet little shore point of YangJiang.

We didn’t go directly to the beach. We went first to a temple to the Goddess Mazu. Mazu protects people in the water, including sailors, swimmers and fishermen. While in the temple I thought, I hope I don’t get attacked by a shark, but if I am ever to be attacked by a shark, this would be a good place for it. In the future, people would ask me, how did you lose your arm, and I would say, it was bitten off by a shark while I was swimming in the South China Sea.

Everyone on the beach had an umbrella because no one in China actively (passively?) pursues a suntan. Most women walk around with parasols all summer, just to avoid going one shade darker. They can barely believe it when we tell them that in America, people like to bronze in the summer time.

We followed their leads and rented a beach umbrella. It was necessary in the blazing heat. I also kept a baseball cap firmly screwed on to my head even while I was swimming in the ocean. I never had much success with tanning, anyway, so I might as well embrace the aesthetic of pale.

Today we returned to work, and Josh had a rosy glow across the bridge of his nose. But not me. I had achieved the perfect beach outing for a Chinese lady. I looked like I never left town.