Feli just completed her swimming test for bronze yesterday at 12 noon. As most of you are aware, she's asthmatic so it took her, like since she was 5 years, to get her test completed now (and she's going to be 10 this year!). It was a start-stop-start again then stop for a long time affair. The push factor was her school's going to start the P4 swimming classes after the Jun hols. It'll be bad for her asthma to swim so early in the morning just before going to her afternoon classes in school. So she did a crush course with a private (and exhorbitant!) coach for 1.5 months to prepare for the test.
Just imagine, mother and child, going for the test feeling very anxious and nervous! Our coach was a retired one, and just days before the test when I asked him about the order of the test and the items involved, he asked me for the list of test items for him to see!! I almost freaked out! He kept saying she'll pass within the top 5 swimmers and is 200% prepared. She didn't attend swimming lessons for the past 2 weeks as she got the cough, flu and asthmatic again. The doctor felt she may not be well enough for the test, BUT this is the LAST test under the old system with the National Sports Council, Singapore! Starting July, it's a different system, and NOBODY could tell me any details!! So die-die, must go for test. I assured Feli if she fails, it's OK, as she's not in top form.
Luckily, the tester was a very nice guy. He actually told the children what they need to do for each item. There were quite a number of little ones, and as Feli said "They look so cute, plopping down into the waters like baby penguins!"
For those who are interested in the order of test items, they are (with pyjamas on):
1) going into the water in any dive (tuck, impact or straddle) from 1 end of the 50m pool and swim 50m; then get out of pool unaided (i.e not using the ladders) and walk back to start of pool for next test item
2) enter deep end of pool and tread water without touch sides of pool for 3 minutes
3) remove pyjama top and let it sink to the bottom of pool (this is important for next test item), then remove pyjama pants and make a float. When float is done, tuck your neck between the trouser legs to indicate to tester that you are done
4) dive fully submerged from wherever you are in the water to pick up your pyjama top (or any one's top, but just take one)
5) swim back to start of pool and queue in rows. The smaller ones nearer the side of pool, the bigger one (like my Feli) in the middle of pool. Then one by one, all 3 rows, enter the water in the impact dive and start to swim the 400m test in any stroke. (Most would use the breast stroke).
I am proud to say that Feli came in 2nd. As she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do after the laps were completed, she stayed just an arm's length behind the 1st boy to watch what to do. That was the last test item, and the tester was so nice...he told them that they have passed without them needing to ask him (like what my Tiffy did last time when she took her test like 3 years ago!!).
Feli and I were exuberant!! No need to worry about swimming lessons with the school!
We celebrated with a Sakae Sushi high-tea buffet at Century Square! It's her fav and a treat since she had to be careful of cold drinks and heaty stuff since she fell sick a week before her swimming test. Yay for Feli!! Congrats came in via phone and sms from her sis and daddy!
Love Theresa
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