JEDDAH, 28 June 2005 — The wheels on the bus that go round and round, the doors on the bus that open and shut and the students on the bus that go bumpty bump can all rest. Summer is here and schools are out!!!

Uniforms, backpacks, books and pens have been packed away and bathing suits, shorts, sunglasses have taken their place. Cafés, restaurants, arcades, shopping malls are bustling with activity but there is a limit to the amount of coffee one can drink, the number of games one can play and the amount of clothes one can buy. And after a while, when the “Yeah, school is over, we’re free” excitement dies down, many youngsters will be saying, “Summer is here and there’s nothing to do!”

So are summers in Saudi Arabia truly boring? Is there really nothing to do? Or do you just have to look hard enough? Arab News set out to ask students, educators and parents what the summer has in store for them.

Summer Schools

Summer schools give both children and adults the opportunity to pursue an interest. Hobbies and interests can be indulged in and weaknesses can be improved. Manal Salem Badraig, owner and director of Sunshine Montessori School, Jeddah said she feels that summer schools are a must for young children.

“Kids who are just starting school are at a very crucial stage as they have taken the bold step of leaving the nest and coming to school, interacting with other kids and learning is all very new to them. It is as if they are learning to walk a second time. Sitting home idle all summer wastes what we teachers have worked so hard to do,” Manal explained.

Many children say that after studying for exams and doing homework all year, they need time to ‘unwind’ and summer provides the perfect opportunity.

“No doubt, children need some time to rest. The first week of vacation is a period when both children and parents can relax and make up for sleepless exam nights. But what happens after that? Many change their routines and spend the whole night watching TV and then they sleep during the day. Summer does not mean that we have to stop our lives!” said Fareedah Farsi, the owner and director of Al-Hamra girls School. “Summer programs are becoming very popular in Saudi Arabia. Unlike normal classes in school, summer classes are not mandatory so if a person takes a computer class or a sewing class it will be because he/she has a deep interest and really wants to. Thus, participation, the eagerness to learn and enthusiasm are always very high,” explained Fareedah.

Lubna Hassan Jamjoom, a western-educated program director in the interior design department at MITM (Millennium Institute of Technology and Management), is introducing courses so women may excel and improve themselves.

“Most of our students are college graduates and we want the summer to be an opportunity for them to come and ‘sharpen’ their tools. I always tell our students, in order to attend our workshops, all you need to show is passion and the willingness to learn and improve yourself.”

Educators are optimistic about summer opportunities but what about students? Abdullah Al-Harbi a 23-year-old, IT Major at Arab Open University, will take extra classes to finish his 4-year degree a little earlier. “As it is, there aren’t many things to do here and the few that are available have the ‘families only’ rule stuck on them. Singles are discriminated against; everywhere we go it is as if single men were the enemy so I figured instead of wasting my time, I would study for my degree.”

Jade Sue Khayyat, an 18 year-old, is going to her mother’s home in Lansing, Michigan. She said that summer for her was all about relaxing and doing things that you truly enjoy. “I’m a nature person and I love hiking, going on bike rides and camping. The luscious green forests of Michigan are a nice change from the heat we have here,” she said.

Summer Jobs

“I encourage students to work; we have a summer job program in which students are asked to work at least 30 hours over the summer. After they graduate from high school, the work experience certificates prove particularly helpful when applying to colleges,” explains Fareedah. She complains, however, that the community needs to be more open to the idea of girls working and highlights the reluctance of many companies to employ girls. “Most of my students end up working in charities. Most companies are reluctant to employ girls; I think the community should open up its doors a little and accept the reality that girls are just as capable, hard working and serious as boys,” she said.

Sawsan Hajy, a 17-year-old at Baraem School, has been working every summer for the past 2 years as a teacher’s aide. “I love working and doing things with little kids. Sometimes as adults we forget the fun things in life and little children remind me of that. I have learned a lot from teaching children, I am more patient and my leadership skills have improved,” said Sawsan.

Vacationing Outside

We all know someone who is going abroad — be it to visit family or for shopping or just for a climate change. But what does the outside world have that Saudi Arabia doesn’t? Are the shopping centers that are sprouting on every corner and resorts not enough?

Rima M., a 20-year-old fourth year English language student at King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, is going to Paris and Lebanon. Rima says better shopping, more freedom to go and do what she wants and less harassment are some of the reasons she likes going abroad. “Sometimes change is good and you just need to get away from it all. It is very hard for girls to do something alone here. Take shopping: Guys are lurking everywhere and you can’t even shop alone anymore without harassment. I can’t even walk between two shopping centers in Jeddah without cars stopping and offering lifts,” says Rima.

Farooq Chapra, a diving instructor says that going abroad is often cheaper. “Depending on the size and location, renting a beach house here can cost SR6,000. Why should anyone spend so much money on a beach house when for the same amount you can get a ticket to Malaysia, Singapore or the Philippines for about SR 2,000, stay in a good hotel for a week or so and even do some light shopping?” asked Farooq.

Not everyone goes abroad for fun. Many find a way to mix fun and education. Dalia Al-Wasiyah a 22-year-old medical student at King Abdul Aziz University, is headed to Malaysia for some medical field training.

“I went online and applied to a couple of hospitals and asked them if they were interested in training me and I got accepted by four hospitals! I’m just hoping for a fun two-month educational experience. I’ll get to see how the Malaysians run their hospitals.”

Hadeel J., a 15-year-old student from Riyadh, has been going to the US almost every year for most of her life. “I usually go to big summer camps that travel all over the country. This year, I am going to a college in Virginia to learn how to make portfolios. We will learn how to make fine art 2D and 3D projects.” Hadeel says that even the courses here offer no variety and only target a certain group. “Most of the courses here are not very intense and I find them to be with silly stuff like makeup, hair and sewing. Not everyone wants to be a Barbie doll,” she said. She also cites the lack of facilities in the Kingdom. “Where are the theme parks, movie theaters, sports clubs? I can’t even watch a soccer game at a stadium in the Kingdom whereas in the US I can take part in sports.”

Parents

What about the role of parents in their children’s vacation? Does it stop at paying for plane tickets or summer schools? Does a parent’s attitude affect his/her child’s attitude? Dr. Jamila Farsi, a dentist at King Abdul Aziz University and the mother of 5, highlights this point.

“You have to remember that this is a vacation and parents should not be too pushy, yet suggestive and should highlight the advantages of doing something. Children who don’t do anything during the summer don’t really realize the value of either time or money. Working will allow them to appreciate the value of every single riyal they spend.”

Lubna at MITM tells parents that they are the gateways to determining what their children will do. “I have often noticed that children who are reluctant when asked to do something during the summer don’t have the type of support from parents they need. For a lot of children a simple ‘Yes you may’ or ‘Here is a thousand riyals’ is not enough. Parents need to take time and find what their child likes. Reading to your child has been shown to have great influence on children. If you want to do something, you’ll find a million different ways.”