Swimming has always been an important part of my life. Mom taught me how to swim at a very small age so I don’t remember learning. The ocean has always been a big pool with waves to splash in. Lane lines and swim caps were introduced. The nervous butterfly feeling before swimming a 100 yard butterfly became familiar. Our mother ocean became home. I have been surrounded by water since the beginning of my time. So when I learned that 90% of the people that live on this island didn’t know how to swim I happily agreed to help teach.
90% is a big number. That’s 9 out of every 10 people. That live on an island. A piece of land surrounded by water. What I found out from some of the kiddos I taught and some shallow research was that the no swim policy is a long cultural tradition. They believe that if you don’t teach kids to swim that they won’t go in the water and therefore it’s impossible to drown. Now if you asked me, teach them how to swim and then they won’t drown. On top of this, they’re kids! How do you keep small children that love the beach out of the water? It’s hard. Before I get into the full story I’d like to describe the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, and who ever else was watching. They were uncomfortable with their kids, grandkids, relatives, sister, brothers, in the water. They’re gonna get eaten by a shark! She can’t go over her head!! The seaweed!!! It’s all new and scary. In all honesty, at first I thought it was silly, sharks? Really? But these guys have been taught since forever that the ocean is something to be afraid of. Once I thought through this, it became a lot more understandable.
Swim lessons started on Monday. On the Saturday before, we met with Deb Eastwood, the lady that organized the Get Grenada Swimming program. She came to Grenada 11 years ago as a teacher and has done amazing things for the island ever since. We met her at a hotel with a small pool that some of the other volunteers were staying at. A big chunk of the other volunteers that we met were from the US or UK studying abroad as medics. They got quite anxious to say the least when they saw kids that could barely swim jump off a jetty into very shallow water. But we met them at the pool and Deb taught us the basics. Teach the lil guys to blow bubbles, float, kick, use their arms, and elementary backstroke. Since I was the only one wearing my bathing suit I got to help demonstrate. It was the first time I was in a pool since Florida!
We got to the beach bright and early on Monday. We were teaching on the beach not in a pool. Most of the kids here have never been in a pool. There’s only one public pool on the entire island and if you don’t know how to swim it doesn’t do you much good. Swim started at 9 and we got there at 8. Two kids were already there. One of the two, an eight year old girl, Harmony, ended up with me for the rest of the week. I’m proud to say that she can now successfully swim freestyle and elementary backstroke and float for a loooong time. As more and more kids started coming in we started playing small team games. Little hand games, jumping, following the leader, and singing were all included in the before nine action. We ended up having a good half an hour every morning of fun before the swimming actually happened. It was a really really awesome way to meet some locals and make some memorable friends.
The swimming part was amazing. I love to swim. I love the ocean. I love teaching. I love lil kids. This past week was the best of all worlds. I felt as though I wasn’t only my students instructor but big bud. We had an interesting first day. Some of the kids were very excited and happily ran into the water. Others were terrified. It took some energy to get one friend closer than three feet from where the waves were washing up on the shore. But we all got there eventually. By the end of the week we could all blow bubbles, float on our backs and bellies—they don’t say stomach here, and kick kick kick. Some got the arms and backstroke down. Typically the smaller, more scared and lighter kiddos had a harder time floating. But they tried. They all wanted to learn. I thought that was really special. It’s one thing to try to teach someone who isn’t really trying but to teach kids that want to learn, that’s another story. A much better and more exciting one. It’s also incredible because these guys were all scared. The ocean is scary. Their parents and older siblings don’t swim. Haha that motivated some.
If you ever find yourself teaching small islanders how to swim, I would highly suggest telling them these few things:
-When you need air, you can come up and breathe. I thought this was self explanatory but I found out otherwise. Everyone was okay!!! Just sat and took some deep breaths after that.
-The seaweed isn’t gonna kill you. No it’s not alive. I mean technically sure it’s alive but it’s not going to reach up and pull you under.
-If you know how to swim your chances of drowning are much lower. After a week of teaching girls how to float on their backs and telling them that if you fall in and can’t stand you can float on your back and wait for someone to get you you would think that they would get that. But no. I asked them all on their last day what would happen if they couldn’t stand in the water and they all automatically said they would drown. Noooooo. You would swim or float silly girls.
-Water is allowed in your ears. Yes I know it feels weird but when you jump from the dock your whole head goes in too! They love to jump off the jetty into shallow (so they can stand) water but getting the ears wet when floating is tricky.
-I gotchu. I don’t know how many times I’ve said that in the past week but it’s a very nice reminder.
Overall, it was a blast. I loved every minute of it. I will remember these kids so well and always with a smile on my face. I was really really excited to share one of my stronger abilities with the island. With the help of many volunteers, different beaches, and kids up to learn, 628 kids were taught how to swim in the past week. Monday to Friday, 9-12.
628.
628 kids can now swim.
How amazing is that?
Lastly, I have some news. Big news. I have the honor to share with you that in a week we will have a new crew member joining us for nine months. My seventeen year old cousin, Fenton, is taking a gap year before he heads off to college and is sailing away with us. We are all excited beyond my words will work and can’t wait to see where this next year will take us all. So sooner rather than later the crew of Love & Luck will include, Mom, Dad, Fenton, Heidi, Lucy, Sally, and of course, Willie. Can’t wait friendo. ❤️
Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Heidi