Is it Too Late to Learn to Swim?
It’s shocking to hear that a cruise ship so huge ran aground despite the high-tech navigation system that most ships like this have these days. Although the incident was caused by human error it doesn’t keep me from thinking that untoward situations while traveling can happen no matter how advanced technology has contributed to the safety of the individual. It’s no use reiterirating the said news for I’m sure you know about it, too. When hubby and I are doing a road trip it’s somehow tempting to take a ferry to avoid a long drive to cross the lands.
aboard Stena Baltica from Karlskrona to Gdynia
I’ve been on a ship many times since I came here. Sometimes I cross the border with my friends by sea. But the truth is if anything happens, I mean really bad happens aboard a ship, I will be in real disaster of my life because I can’t swim. When I heard the news of that cruise ship gradually sinking I told hubby I wanted to learn to swim. He laughed at my statement and I knew he didn’t believe that I meant it. Swimming for most of us in the Philippines is just for fun while Sweden offers a lesson in swimming in all schools requiring the students to pass.
The other night he asked me if I was really serious about learning to swim. I said it wasn’t a joke. I told him I can swim in a shallow water but when the water gets over my head and my feet are not touching the ground I get panic. I even know how to make myself float (not bad, huh!) but the depth of the water really frightens me. I must say that I’m not a beach persona and so is hubby. We don’t go to the beach when we’re on vacation like normal people do. Hahaa! Instead, we go around the city and inside the malls. I think this is one thing why I am not interested about learning to swim at all.
Helsingör, Denmark is just a swim away from Helsingborg, Sweden
Just so you know, I can’t swim from where I was sitting to cross the neighboring land. Hubby has been looking for a suit and a place where he can teach me how to swim. This time he believes that I did mean it. Though I keep wondering if it’s too late or can I still move my aging body in the water.
Category: Sensible Rants
About the Author (Author Profile)
Marlene is a teacher by profession holding a degree of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. She works as a Mother Language Teacher in Sweden. She is a Filipina married to a Swede. She has been blogging since 2007 and she and her hubby own quite a number of websites. Connect with Marlene on Google+
I was also quite surprised to hear of the recent cruise ship misfortune and sorry for the loss of life that occured as a result of it. I heard rumors that the captain was showing off by running really close to the shore and that he also didn’t follow the rule that the captain should be the last one to leave the ship.
But to your point, I definitely agree that knowing how to swim is very important, especially if you work in such a job or are even going on a cruise. We hope the worst never happens but being prepared for it is important nonetheless.
-Jean
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Yes, because of the captain’s mistake, lives of some were lost. He’s too confident for doing his unusual route and said he’d done it before. This time he failed and even disappointed the cruisers by abandoning them too soon. Such a cruel and coward act.
Hahaa, to learn swimming will be my goal this year. I have a colleague who invited me to join her in her swimming lesson today.
That “capitan” Schettino is not worth to call him capitan. Capitan should always take care for everbody out there and capitan must be last man to leave the ship!