Half a lifeguard: A 14-year-old's journal of the Red Cross

Day fifteen

Day fifteen: 8/3

Duration: 0

Again, I arrived way too early because I forgot that the time was rescheduled. I just propped all my stuff on the table and slept until the team arrived.

And again, the head coach isn't here.

We took a pen-and-paper quiz to let us know how well do we understand lifeguarding and situations regarding the topic. The coach went through all the answers for us, and took away all the papers. We didn't get a grade. He then announced that there would be no training today – everyone would be doing field work instead for the rest of the day. Everyone put on their T-shirt and cap, then four of us were called to the pool outside. Three of the rest, including me, went inside. I stepped in and told the lifeguard in charge that we're interns, we're going to be lifeguards for a day, etc. etc., and in fact we have no clue what to do so help us. He raised an eyebrow at me, then just told us to watch over the kids because they're the ones that cause the most trouble. I started pacing around the kiddy pool. Some sat. Others just stood by.

Occasionally, one of them would be stuck on the inflatable blocks or get too close to the edge, and I'd have to lend them a hand or push them towards the center. I sent two cases to the counter, one cut himself, and the other was kicked in the face. Nobody choked or passed out. I get to go up to the waterslide and be the one who lets the kids down. Then it's already 12:00, and the group left. The swimming pool soon became empty, except that one kid running around stark naked for ten minutes because he can't find his pants.

It started raining – apparently there's a typhoon near here, and if I said it was raining bullets before, that was nothing compared to today. Pellets of rain bombarded the rooftops and thundered against it for hours on end. The wind blew all over the place and made it even worse. The gutter instantly overflowed. Everyone scrambled out of the pool outside and left, so now we have seven lifeguards-in-training wandering around inside.

Lifeguarding in my view is hours of intense scrutiny followed by hours of just nothing, and my ADHD mess of a brain isn't really helping either. The pool remained empty for a long time, we had lunch and we just waited for anything to happen for hours. The downpour thundered on without a hint of stopping.

Another group came, half the coaches and most of the children chattering in Japanese. No one stood up, so I did. I talked to one of the coaches that knew Chinese- turns out they're just here to pass the time too. The children warmed up at the poolside, then jumped in immediately. They were as loud and chaotic as the group before as they played and splashed around in the pool, but one thing that struck me is how polite they are. They apologize whenever they accidentally splashed water on me, and even to each other as well. They also never become too violent when playing, and that made our job a lot easier - I had to break up a fight in the previous group of kids. The parents watch over their children as well, even when people tell them they don't really have to. And every time I went forward to help, most kids thanked me and even called me "sensei".

I'm pretty sure that was Japanese for teacher, and I'm pretty sure I'm a lifeguard. ...Is there a term for that in Japanese? Because I don't think I want to be the teacher yet, I'm still 14.

It was soon time to open the waterslide, and I motioned them to follow me as I activate the switch. They perked up and ran towards me and the waterslide, surrounding me eagerly while I struggled to open the gates. I finally got it, swung the gates open, and climbed up while the others trailed behind me, chatting excitedly somewhere at my waist. I feel lighter and even happier as I watched them laugh and scream while rushing down the exhilarating ride, then clamber up and greet me again as I let them slide down one more time. Then I got the signal for closing, and as I said goodbye to the last kid I sent laughing down the slide, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. This isn't one of the happiest moments in my entire life, but it will certainly be a memorable one.

...I'll miss this course. This is the last day. I'll miss this pool, I'll miss waking up at six a.m., I'll miss all the routines we go through every day, I'll miss writing this journal every night, I'll miss my teammates and even the interesting lectures in this course. I'll definitely come back next year, but now I just didn't expect it to end so soon. 

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Additional notes:

* Stay close to a group so you get into the lifeguard's sights, don't distance yourself because a person floating away from afar isn't likely to get noticed than a person floating away from a group.

* Kids aren't really that hard to control - put on a smile and try to interact, know or even help them out first. Then they'll automatically listen to you. You don't strut in, start barking orders and expect everyone to obey you, even if you're a lifeguard. Then again, this is only my first time and I suppose this is hard to keep up for years.