MY family settled on this island 20 years ago. I was only a teen when I first came to the CNMI but now, I have a daughter who is 5 years old. What’s great about this island is even though time has passed, the people and culture stay the same.
My daughter, Kimmy Kim, lived in 5 different cities due to my husband’s diplomatic job; Beijing(China), Atlanta (USA), New Brunswick (Canada), Seoul (Korea), and, of course, Saipan (CNMI). If you ask her where is her favorite place to live, without any hesitation she would say that it’s Saipan.
During her Christmas break (Dec 26-30), Kimmy joined the swimming program run by volunteered coaches for the local children called “Swim for Life CNMI.” It was held at the Guma Sakman beach across from MHS. It brought a lot of memory because that was the beach where I used to swim after school.
Unfortunately, the first lesson was only running around the sand because of the jellyfish but the following day, all the kids were in the water, enjoying their time. Due to the cloudy and windy weather, the water was cold but it couldn’t stop the kids from learning how to swim.
They were about 10 to 15 children of all different ages and cultures but had one thing in common, a desire to learn how to swim. Since they’re all at different levels, the groups were divided into three groups and each led by a different coach. Because it was Kimmy’s first time learning how to swim, she was in the beginner’s class. She learned how to get familiar with putting her head into the water, how to kick and paddle properly, and played tons of games in the water.
Due to limited equipment, the kids had to wait and take turns to try out new things but nevertheless, the experience was priceless. The swimming lesson will continue on Saturdays at 8 a.m. for detailed information, please contact Coach Jeremiah (jeremiah@swimcnmi.com)
We also met a couple who picks up trash at the Sugar Dock beach every morning to keep the CNMI’s beautiful beaches. Kimmy’s all-time favorite place in Saipan is Garapan Public Market. She made a new friend, Karen who is a very friendly employee. We visited there to buy a fresh coconut and apigigi for her snack. Thanks to those warm-hearted people who care about this community and are willing to share their time, efforts, and talents, Kimmy had the best Christmas break ever.
I know that Saipan is going through some tough times after Covid but I am certain that the island will be filled with positive vibes and love very soon! Having wonderful people and a free program like this swimming lesson is what makes this island so awesome. It will keep our future generation away from the never-ending media exposure and most importantly, keep them healthy and strong.
There is a saying, it takes a village to raise a family, thank you once again to the coaches and CNMI for a most unforgettable Christmas break.
