-memories of the long July/August holidays in GT
MEMORIES OF August vacations of yore always seem to evoke nostalgia, and arouse emotions of joy, fun and frolic. As the holiday approached, my head would be filled with plans for every conceivable day. Most didn’t always materialize, but it used to be fun creating all sorts of scenarios.
I planned making my ‘go-cart’ and scooter, and stealing sugarcane from the ‘backdam’, now the Lamaha Canal or ‘The Blacka’, as it is sometimes called. There would be lots of games — cricket, gam, football, war, ‘las-lick’, catcher and lots more. But the best part of this period was getting away from school, the rules and strict discipline. It was a time for nonstop play. With no T.V, video Games, DVD’s or MP players, I had to be creative and adventurous in order to enjoy my vacation. And enjoy them I did.
I decided to speak to a number of young people to see how they had spent their August holidays this year. In order to kill three birds with one stone, I started with Ariana Caesar, Oksana Williams and Ronella Harris as a group. Immediately, Ronella disclosed that she wants to go into the communication field, and asked me to let her interview her two peers. The following is what emerged:

Ariana, who’s 17 and a former student of Tutorial High, said she wanted to enjoy her August holiday to the fullest, because it was the first year she would be spending it without having to worry about the upcoming school term. As fate would have it, however, she spent the entire period from August 2 to   September 2 on work-study at the Ministry of Education. “I learnt about the Welfare Department and how much time and effort is spent on getting children who are within school-age range to be in school,” she said. “I felt a sense of accomplishment, because I always wanted to know what being a Welfare Officer felt like.” Besides this Ariana tells us while she is at home she spends most of her time facebooking and texting.

Sixteen-year-old Oksana,  who, like Ariana, also did work-study with the Ministry of Education, said before that, she was ‘chillin’ at home, reading the odd novel, helping with chores around the house, and, of course, watching television. She’d originally intended to spend her summer holidays camping and attending the various Jamzone activities, and is rather upset that Miss Trinidad and Tobago won the pageant. “My summer,” she said, “was fun but boring at times. The fun part was when I attended  the Jamzone Beach Jam and the International Night… The boring part was staying home and doing house chores.”
As to how she felt about her stint at the Ministry of Education, Oksana said:  “It was challenging at first, but as time went by, it gradually got easier. I now understand what working in an organization really means.”

It was now Ronella’s turn to face the camera, so to speak, and she said: “I am a thirteen-year-old student of the Bishops’ High School. I had a packed vacation for the first week of August… I thought it would have been a blast, since the day after school closed was my birthday, but, unfortunately, it was not. I went to work with my mother for the week, then I heard the Church (First Assembly of God) had Vacation Bible Study Camp. That was for two weeks. I had a wonderful time there; I even invited my best friend. After the two weeks of camp, it was back to boredom. Then my mother, a welfare officer at the Ministry of Education, told me about the Annual Day Camp at the Sophia Special School. I was excited because this would be the second year I was attending it. After the Day Camp, I relaxed a bit at the office with my mother. I did a lot of facebooking at home and at my friends’ house. I also went to Jamzone Kid Zone with my best friend, her brother, and my sister and her friends. Last Saturday I went to the Mall with my friend, Zelerlene Harris, and to the Celebrity Basketball Game. In all, I had a wonderful summer; I can’t wait to return to school to tell my friends all about my summer vacation.”

I later sat down briefly with a few other youths and listened to their holiday tale. Zinika Roberts is a charming but hyper fourteen-year-old. She made no bones about the fact that she enjoyed her holidays to the fullest.

Said she: “I played Bingo; had fun in the rain; and called my friend, Darren, lots of times. I played plenty of [Vybz] ‘Kartel’ music and attended Jamzone Kids Zone. My dad took me to see [the] Mavado [show], and I really enjoyed it. My father also bought a car and named it ‘Benz’. We drove around town with some of my best friends. I even rode my dad’s motorcycle without his knowledge. I fell and bruised myself, and he spank me and made me promise never to do it again. On Emancipation Day, my friends Abigail, Tiffany, Tamicia and Christine and I went to the National Park to witness the celebrations. We drank Malta, Sting and beers; we enjoyed ourselves, then walked home to Albouystown. The three nicest things that happened for me, during this period was seeing my boyfriend from the USA; having my two sisters from Cayenne spend the August with us; and having my dad at home for the holidays. All in all, I had a blast!”

Christine Fiffee attends New Campbellville Secondary, and spent the holidays with her aunt and cousins in Albouystown. “I haven’t seen my father in two months, but I made lots of new friends here. I went to the Summer Camp and had lots of fun. I got to know two new friends, Peter and Anthony. Because of them, I was chosen to be Star Camper. I attended Jamzone Beach Jam; went on Facebook regularly; stole genip; and went to the National Park for Emancipation Day. But the best time I had was attending the Mavado show at the Stadium. I am still enjoying my holiday, but will soon start preparing to return to school.”

Sixteen-year-old Abigale Giddings’ summertime recollection was somewhat similar to those the others. She hails from French Guiana, but is visiting her sister here in Georgetown. “I made friends; ate genip and awara; and had loads of fun playing in the rain. At Summer Camp, I learned different crafts and painting. I was looking forward to seeing ‘Kartel’, so I was disappointed that he didn’t show up. Beach Jam was great fun; I love Guyana and hope to visit again.”

Tiffany Johnson is nineteen and likes playing football.  “I had fun in the rain; played mud war; and caught a couple of eels in the gutter. Some of my friends caught a ten-foot boa constrictor (Camoudi). I went to the Mavado show, and also visited the Seawalls. I visited Suriname for a brief holiday and played bingo with friends. The thing I enjoyed best, however, was buying a new bicycle. It is red and black in colour and I call it ‘Pepper’. I tried popping, ‘wheelie’, and had a bad fall trying to do the stunt. But overall, I enjoyed myself immensely.”

When I caught up with 13-year-old Daniel Persaud, he was spending time with relatives in Bel-Air Springs, but he really lives at Enmore, on the East Coast. When asked how he spent the August holidays, he replied: “I guh to church every Sunday and Wednesday. I play a lot and eat nuff. I also had fun playing football at the GFC ground; swimming at the Seawalls; watching TV; and reading.  I also did my daily chores. Another activity in which I was involved was going ‘witnessing’ with my Uncle Neil and going shopping. I also watched my neighbour build a new fence. I watched, asked questions and learned a lot from this. I watered plants and weeded the yard. The thing I like a lot, however, is combing my hair, and my nice clothes and boots. Every day I visit my friends at Joshua House and we have fun together.” 

Twelve-year-old Steve Rodrigues attends Christ Church Secondary. Before the holidays, Steve was thinking about going to camp.  “I was hoping the holiday would be much longer.  I attended the camp at Bamia on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. We went hiking and swimming, and had wonderful campfires in which we roasted marshmellows and ate them. We did sessions in Etiquette, Career Guidance and other topics.

“We slept on the sand; watched the forest go back; learned to do back-stroke swimming and watched the mist cover the hills. We also ate pineapple and fat-pork, and made a long trek to Linden.  For our project, we painted the Bamia Bus Shed. After camp, I attended Portuguese classes. I enjoy languages, and am already learning Spanish at an institute, and French in school. I also played a football match and lost, and later a cricket match which ended in victory.  My most enjoyable memory, however, was attending the Food For the Poor ‘Angel of Hope’ Day of Sports. There, we had a wonderful time.”

As the end of the holiday swiftly approaches, there will be shopping, registration and orientation, and preparing for the new school year. Soon, the bell will ring, ushering in the new academic term. All fun and frolic will have been long forgotten. Or… perhaps not.