HJ, what are some of your memories around summer holidays?
Oh Lily I have so many wonderful memories of summer holidays at the beach. We would spend weeks there and I swam and played everyday with the same families who all got together at the same Caravan Park.
In my previous country of resident, summer holiday was a term break. A year was organised as Term 1, Summer break, Term 2, Winter break, Term 3, Spring break, then you enter next grade. So, summer break was a break yet you were not free from homeworks. This is when I was in the primary school X decades ago.
OMG still had homework. No my experience was eight weeks of fun in the sun for my summer holidays.
When I lived closer to my home country, we have visited my maternal grandparents during my summer break. I had to take all my homework with me. Yes, we will have given a booklet to complete and each day, there is a page or task assigned.
Wow. We have it so differently here. We visited my Dad’s parents during the holidays but my Mum’s parents both passed when I was only 3 years old. Even visiting my grandparents it wasn’t not about school work.
The morning routine of my grandparents started with mountain climbing, probably it was more like bushwalking. They would wake up in the dark and drive to a nearby range and would walk for about an hour or two. Then, they will drive to their favourite place to have a breakfast on the way home. I would join them if possible and I remember it was quite scary to walk in the dark. Lucky they have chosen paths that were maintained.
That’s serious commitment. My family would pack up the car with all that was needed for a two week stay at the Caravan Park at the beach. It was about an hour and half away from home. I do remember as I was older my Dad driving home on Christmas Eve to collect the presents for Christmas Day. There were six in my family and four children in a small caravan, annexe bedroom for the “boys” and the car for us all to sleep in. There wasn’t much room for “things” We didn’t really have a routine to the day. We could play all day and came back to eat. It was always so special to have so many children to play with and always parents of someone watching out for us.
I remember I was so scared of the darkness but I constantly told myself “You will be okay. You have someone behind you to back you up.” So, I kept walking forward. I think the thought of been left in the darkness was scarier than moving forward. Now thinking back, this probably taught me to keep moving regardless in the challenging times of life. I also remember my grandparents used to say “Look at that girl. She is moving forward as she is not scared of the dark or being at front.” Probably it taught me to lead if necessary. And, after all, I remember I was so glad to coming back to urbanised society. Ahhh. Thinking back now, I am missing both of them so much. Their hobby of bushwalking had been carried on by my aunt and her husband.
Special to have those memories of your grandparents. We learn so much from each experience whether we enjoy it at the time or not. My memories of my Dad’s parents are of his Mum and her wonderful treats for afternoon tea. And she always gave me a tea cup saucer and tea plate each year. My grandfather had a wonderful veggie garden and I was always out there with him learning so much. They were much older and less active, yet had a full life and shared their experiences
After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.
G. M. Trevelyan
A good thing about summer holiday in Australia was there was no homework that we have to complete! What a dream world!! because in Australia, after summer holiday starts a new year for students. I remember my mum said “how can I keep your academic level when you don’t have any homework to keep you on track!?” Well, we didn’t. I remember when I return to school after six weeks of break, I had to re-learn my English. It took me couple of months to get use to English again. Well, I always thought and told myself “English might now me but I might not know them. That’s why I am having trouble!!”
Yes I can imagine the culture shock when you arrived in Australia and no homework during summer holidays. I didn’t know any different. We couldn’t wait to enjoy the beach, playing with our friends and not have any homework. Not having to worry about the language was an added bonus.
I did work on some things with my daughter during her holidays in a fun, round about way so she was still learning without any formal structure. I knew the importance of education, and always the need to unwind, recharge, have fun while still expanding the knowledge, experiences, and abilities of each of us. Road trips became something we both looked forward to during holidays.
To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.
Chinese proverb
When we couldn’t travel overseas, we had road trips. We will have a destination and drive off. This road trip was great when we were little. We could sleep in the car. Yes, it becomes harder as we get older. We allowed ourselves to be lost in the cities, in the countries. Yes, we could do it because we didn’t know the danger of outback Australia.
Overseas travel was too expensive when I was a child and also when my daughter was young. I so loved those road trips exploring Australia. It is a big beautiful country with so much to see and so many attractions you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Yes, not being prepared when driving through the outback can be dangerous. No water, very few petrol stops, and long distances between anywhere. Roads are not what city people are prepared for and then there are the road trains. I was always told of the need to prepare for any trip. Learn about the area and what facilities are available on the way.
At least, my parents tried to stay on the main highways around the East coast of Australia. As these trips were early days in Australia, we didn’t know where else to eat, except well known fast food. I think in some instance we had three meals from that fast food. Ahahaha. How unhealthy!! Well, that was the only thing we felt safe to eat. That’s all the memories!!
OMG what a “treat”. My mum would prepare food for the trips. Sometimes we could have an icecream or maybe fish and chips occasionally. Mum would include treats with our daily food and we were all so happy to have nice things to eat. We were all more interested in where we were going and what we could explore.
Because the greatest part of a roadtrip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.
Emma Chase
Eventually we refuse to go to a roadtrip as a family because we never experienced a trip without parents yelling at each other. It took me years to understand yelling at each other is a way my parents communicate. Didn’t mean I appreciate yelling. We had fun times I think. Well, that’s probably all parts of family trip. It was long driving. We hardly stop in between for sightseeing. I guess, my family were trying to find a way everyone can enjoy.
We were not given the choice of not going on a road trip. Again being the youngest I was taken along. As my brothers got older and were working they didn’t come along as they didn’t have the school holidays anymore. My parents didn’t yell or argue in front of us. We playing games, sang, slept, and had lots of stops along the way. I do remember Dad would always give us warning of a “toilet stop” and if we didn’t take it, there could be a long time in between. Way back in my road trip days, very few places had a toilet and after having to go in the bushes you soon did as you were told.
A road trip is a way for the whole family to spend time together and annoy each other in interesting new places.
Tom Lichtenheld
Now, I understand every member of the family had different focus in a road trip. I look for more architectures and food. My father looks for beauty of nature and luxury. My mother and sister looks for attractions. My brother looks for accompany, who he spend time with. When we are so diverse that’s hard to plan one trip that suits every need.
We didn’t have the option of a different focus on road trips. We planned them as a family. We were given choices of two or three places and then one, one holiday, the other next and so on. We all just loved exploring, the adventure of not knowing, and sometimes revisiting places we enjoyed previously. We all had all our wants met that I know of. It was always fun. I really don’t have a memory of not being happy or going somewhere I didn’t enjoy.
When my daughter and I went on road trips, we planned them, discussed what we wanted to see and do and they were always fun. I would prepare food, drinks, treats and we would buy the occasional ice cream or takeaway, but we would rather spend money of attractions, and adventures.
HJ, what do you value in your road trip?
The time with family. Sharing experiences and adventures and discovering all that’s out there for us all. Time away from the everyday at home is something I crave throughout my life. Meeting new people and learning about our country has always been a joy for me. It gives you wonderful memories and for me, brings you closer to those you share the experience with.
In Conversation 