swimming in Shantou
My aunt wrote back to express how very impressed and proud she was of me for my international swimming prowess. Indeed she was going to copy the post to my cousins to inform them of my amazing natatory triumph. Somewhat consternated and worried that some extensive revision was in order, I was vividly reminded that all texts do indeed have multiple readings and author's intent no longer applies. Despite the possible futility of the effort, I thought that some further framing of my heroics might help discourage any similar reactions. Also I get to pontificate/speculate on comparative regimes of body discipline in Shantou and Ithaca.
Point 1) I am a very slow swimmer in comparison with most of similar height/weight/age in the USA. When swimming on campus or at the Y, I often have to use the ignominious slow lane at the edge of the pool, usually reserved for beginners or people at least twice my age.
Point 2) I am very lazy swimmer. I rely on my body's natural tendency to float to do most of the work. My stroke is nearly perfectly in tune with its mission - to get me across some distance in the water with as little physical effort as possible.
Point 3) Most swimmers in Shantou are even slower than I am.
Point 4) Most swimmers in Shantou expend far more effort than I do - perhaps because their body fat quotient does not allow them to float as easily as I do, perhaps because they splash more, or perhaps simply because they like it that way.
There are, however, other possible reasons for why Shantou swimmers tend to be both slower and more effortful than I and those answers concern the difference in the meanings and functions of swimming within Shantou, but I will get to them later. Let me know if I should just keep such ponderings to myself.
Point 1) I am a very slow swimmer in comparison with most of similar height/weight/age in the USA. When swimming on campus or at the Y, I often have to use the ignominious slow lane at the edge of the pool, usually reserved for beginners or people at least twice my age.
Point 2) I am very lazy swimmer. I rely on my body's natural tendency to float to do most of the work. My stroke is nearly perfectly in tune with its mission - to get me across some distance in the water with as little physical effort as possible.
Point 3) Most swimmers in Shantou are even slower than I am.
Point 4) Most swimmers in Shantou expend far more effort than I do - perhaps because their body fat quotient does not allow them to float as easily as I do, perhaps because they splash more, or perhaps simply because they like it that way.
There are, however, other possible reasons for why Shantou swimmers tend to be both slower and more effortful than I and those answers concern the difference in the meanings and functions of swimming within Shantou, but I will get to them later. Let me know if I should just keep such ponderings to myself.