Swimming

Today I had my third conversation in as many days about swimming.

Swimming is something I can take or leave. I like water. And I like splashing about and having a float. But swimming itself has never come naturally to me.

I can get by. And do a few lengths at a push. But I'm really slow and often lose direction. And easily slap into random swimmers-by.

But as I'm learning this week, I'm lucky to be able to do that much.

I have no figures to quote but a substantial number of people in Cambodia can't swim. Most live in land-locked countryside so there's no real need to. And many who live by water have never learned to.

So what, I thought, when I heard this. What's the big deal.

And then I heard about all the people who drown whenever there's flooding. Which is happening more and more each rainy season (July-Oct). And how many of the deaths could have been prevented if only people had learnt the basics of at least just keeping afloat.

So swimming, I realise, is not something to be sniffed at.

And I'm grateful to have had the chance to splash about with the kids in the photo (from the tiles village beside the Mekong - see January's "Dust" post) and see them free and fearless in the water. And skillful at staying afloat.