Expat Swimmer
It's common for expatriates here in Malaysia to live in condominiums that provide residents access to a swimming pool, and living in one and being able to just hang out by the pool and go for a swim on the weekends always puts me on that constantly-on-holiday vibe.
I don't take advantage of this quite as often as I can or should. I remember growing up in Jeddah, how we'd have family pool parties with other expat family friends, or go rent an istira7a (a private villa enclosed in high walls with a swimming pool), or have cookouts in the pool area of Saudi friends' homes. None of these involve alcohol – at least 90% of the time it didn't! – and they mostly happened during the day within the private confines of someone's residence.
Coming from a conservative, religious family meant that when these happened, it was rare to have a mixed group. Often, we'd have two pools – one for men, another for women – or if there was one pool, there'd be separate set times for the men and the women. If everyone was swimming at the same time, it was normal to see the females in full hijab in the pool. Guys, I didn't start wearing a bathing suit until I was 25, and only ever with my non-conservative, non-religious friends or just my siblings (without my parents). Don't tell my mom.
I still have reservations when I'm in a pool, to this day, outside of Jeddah. I still prefer to get out of the pool when an adult male is around, and I still always have the urge to put on a large t-shirt and sweatpants as my bathing suit. And I'm still not comfortable being in any pool area if there are any Muslims or hijabis around, for fear of judgment, never mind that they are often strangers who have no idea (or interest) in who I am.
So before I go down to the pool, I always look out my bedroom window to see if it's clear first.
On chill weekends when I'm not stuck to the apartment wasting time online, I march myself down on hot Malaysian afternoons to the 2nd floor where the pool (and the gym) is, a book and a tumbler of soda-and-something in tow, and wow. Life is balls.
I neglected to remind you guys that this is all awesome to me because I only learned to swim in my mid-twenties (I'm still on shaky arms and legs) and up until now, I have never gone swimming anywhere without adult supervision. Lawlz.
I don't take advantage of this quite as often as I can or should. I remember growing up in Jeddah, how we'd have family pool parties with other expat family friends, or go rent an istira7a (a private villa enclosed in high walls with a swimming pool), or have cookouts in the pool area of Saudi friends' homes. None of these involve alcohol – at least 90% of the time it didn't! – and they mostly happened during the day within the private confines of someone's residence.
Coming from a conservative, religious family meant that when these happened, it was rare to have a mixed group. Often, we'd have two pools – one for men, another for women – or if there was one pool, there'd be separate set times for the men and the women. If everyone was swimming at the same time, it was normal to see the females in full hijab in the pool. Guys, I didn't start wearing a bathing suit until I was 25, and only ever with my non-conservative, non-religious friends or just my siblings (without my parents). Don't tell my mom.
I still have reservations when I'm in a pool, to this day, outside of Jeddah. I still prefer to get out of the pool when an adult male is around, and I still always have the urge to put on a large t-shirt and sweatpants as my bathing suit. And I'm still not comfortable being in any pool area if there are any Muslims or hijabis around, for fear of judgment, never mind that they are often strangers who have no idea (or interest) in who I am.
So before I go down to the pool, I always look out my bedroom window to see if it's clear first.
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| A view of the pool from my bedroom at night (I'm on the 19th floor). |
On chill weekends when I'm not stuck to the apartment wasting time online, I march myself down on hot Malaysian afternoons to the 2nd floor where the pool (and the gym) is, a book and a tumbler of soda-and-something in tow, and wow. Life is balls.
 |
| I started reading my first Malaysian book (in English, though). Review to come! |
I neglected to remind you guys that this is all awesome to me because I only learned to swim in my mid-twenties (I'm still on shaky arms and legs) and up until now, I have never gone swimming anywhere without adult supervision. Lawlz.
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