Monday, May 2, 2011
Summertime
The Awakening begins at a summer resort on an island off the coast of New Orleans. Here, Edna develops a relationship with Robert. I'd like you to write about an experience during a summertime that was meaningful to you. Focus more on describing the event and your feelings about it, rather than telling a complete story.
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One time during the summer my friends and I went to my friend’s lake house. It was a long and tiresome car ride to the house. It took 6 hours of games, sleep, and watching a movie. Overall the car ride there and back was the most boring. Once we were there I took in the whole campground. There were four cabins all facing the lake which shimmered with the suns reflection. There were tall trees that surrounded the camp but still allowed the bright sun in. As I first walked down to the lake I could hear the sound of boats gliding by on the water and saw the small scattered islands across the lake. I was very happy to be in such a spectacular place with my good friends for the next few days. The first day we got acquainted with the campgrounds and took a quick boat ride around the lake. I could feel the cool breeze on my face as the boat cruised through the water. We started the next day off by taking a quick swim in the cool morning water. Afterwards we played some waffle ball around the main cabin. We all laughed as my friend attempted to hit the ball as far as he could and whiffed at the pitches. As the sun got higher in the sky we decided to go tubing. As we stared to drive around the lake my friend went first and it was comical to hear his screams as the water splashed over his face. As I rode the tube I felt an awesome thrill as I gripped the tube tightly while it skipped up off the wake from the motor of the boat. The next day we decided we would go on a fishing expedition on the lake. In the morning we got up and kayaked to a certain fishing spot. As the sun rose we each tried our luck at casting and catching fish. It seemed as if none of the fish were biting until my friend finally caught one, followed by me. I was excited to finally catch something after we had been out there for about thirty minutes with no luck. It was a great few days that I enjoyed greatly and I returned home with many great memories.
ReplyDeleteA time in my life when I felt a real experience during the summer was about 6 or 7 years ago. The year I first attended Belknap, an all boys summer camp in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesauke. This is more of an experience than a camp, in my mind and all those who have attended the camp. Through the two weeks you spend there, you learn more about nature, life, brotherhood, compassion, and the world outside your town than anywhere else in the world I believe. The experience you have when you go to Belknap is unlike any other. For starters, when you spend two weeks away from your house as a 9 or 10 year old, there is much to learn. Being the first time many of these kids spend time away from their house is a huge step into maturity. Spending time in the woods, on a lake, with likely only 1 or none kids from your hometown, there is a lot one can learn. The First is what other people are like outside your town, as a young growing kid you do not tend to think of places outside your town evening existing let alone having a kid just like you living there. You come to see the world in a different light, instead of looking for friends in only your town, you become much more open to friends from anywhere, I have meet kids from California, Maine, Ohio, Arizona, and many more places all at a camp with no more than 400 kids in it. Secondly, you become a much more humble person, living in an environment that is all about being kind, respecting others, and being humble. The motto is God First, the other fellow second, myself last. A humble kid becomes a much-appreciated brother at the camp, and special honors are given out to who the counselors think is most humble and nice. Spending two weeks outdoors, spending no time with technology at all, is something else. Being able to survive with no videogames, face book, or cell phone, is something many people think they cannot do. However, it is mandatory at Belknap. Living life without technology has greatly reduced my need to use it, and now a days I go days on end with out using technology. This is why Belknap is an experience, not just a camp.
ReplyDeleteThe summer before 6th grade I met Maria. I no longer know Maria, but just knowing her for that summer was more than I could ever have hoped for. She gave me valuable knowledge and reassurance before I even knew I needed it. She told me about a new life that I would never have been prepared for, but with information I gained from hanging out with her for a few short weeks I was more ready than I expected for it. I am still thankful for having known her even now. The knowledge she gave me was only helpful for a short while, but she made that time so much easier. Maria had diabetes and I did too. I did not know while I was with her that I did, and that made knowing her so much more important to me. She told me about diabetes, what it was and what it was like. Then, when I was in the hospital later that summer it was so much easier for me. I knew what I had to do, and I had a vague understanding of what it would be like. I had the information I needed during the scariest part of having diabetes: getting it. I was far less confused and much more comfortable with everything because I knew what was going on. If I began functioning again in the hospital and I had no idea what was going on I would have been scared out of my mind. But I was not, because of Maria. Knowing Maria was far more beneficial to me after I left her. After those few weeks of camp we had together I never saw her again, but it was enough. She was also a resource for me later. I was able to e-mail her and talk to her about what was going on, and what else to expect. She was my lifeline so to speak for the rest of the summer. I was so thankful for having met her, and I could not have been luckier that summer. Meeting Maria was the best thing that happened to me that summer, although I didn’t know it at the time.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I was four years old, during the summer my family and I went to Disney World. It was one of the most exciting events of my life. We took a plane there; I was really excited because it was my first time on a plane. On the plane, I look out the window amazed at how high we were. I did not stop looking out the window the entire flight because I thought it was so cool. After the flight we entered Florida, the weather was unbelievable. It was really hot and sunny the entire time. After we checked into our hotel we finally went to Disney World. I was amazed at what I saw, all of the huge rides and funny Disney characters walking around. It was like we were in a whole different world. Right away we went on a water ride call Splash Mt. It was so fun, I got soaked! Since it was so hot the ride really cooled me off. Next we went on a roller coaster called Space Mountain. This was the scariest ride I went on there! The entire roller coaster was in the dark, so you could not see what was happening. I freaked out and screamed the entire ride. At the time I really did not like it because I was so little, but now I probably would. We also went on this safari ride that I really loved. This ride took you on a tour through a safari where you could see many different types of animals. Whenever I saw an animal I would shout out their name as loud as I could and I kept repeating it. I had so much fun because I got to see so many different animals. One of my favorite parts of the entire trip was when we went on the Buzz Light Year ride. At the time Toy Story was by far my most favorite movie, and I loved Buzz. On the ride you got to help buzz shoot aliens, I got insanely intense and screamed at all of the aliens when I was shooting them. I had so much fun that ride. Going to Disney was so much fun, and it was probably the best vacation I have ever had.
ReplyDeleteTwo summers ago, I went to a ballet intensive at Walnut Hill. The camp was five weeks long, and it was sleep away. I remember I was both excited and worried the same time. I had no idea what was in store for me, but I had no choice but go. I didn’t know many people who were going, and I’d have to leave home for more than a month. On the first day of the program, we got divided into levels, classes, and repertory pieces. During the auditions, there were many people around me where were just as good as me and usually even better. This was actually the first time I was nervous for an audition, because I had no idea what the outcome would be. Eventually I was placed in a high level for both technique and pointe, and also received a solo in the portion of Swan Lake the director chose to use. I was shocked I was placed in such a high level, let alone given a solo. I knew that this had been a blessing but probably luck, but I took it anyways. From the first day all the way to the last, I tried my best in every class and rehearsal. I knew I couldn’t be able slack or else a catastrophe would happen. I knew of many of my friends who went to ballet intensives and came back either injured or in trouble. This made me even more determined to make this a successful summer. At the end of each day, I remember I would go to the dining hall with my friends and we would treat ourselves to whatever dessert they served that day. By going to the summer intensive, I was constantly hungry because of my hard work. Before this, I was always a very picky eater. At the program, I was forced to eat food I didn’t like because I had no other choice. This opened up my food variety, and now I eat just about anything I see. This summer program not only improved my technique and performance skills for dance, but also introduced me to the real world for the first time. I got a sense of what competition was really like. I made many new friends and was given many new opportunities. It was truly one of my most memorable summers yet.
ReplyDeleteThe first time i ever went camping with my family at Silver Lake Vermont was a very memorable experience for me. The first time we went was five years ago, and ever since then it has turned into a summertime tradition. I remember stepping out of the car after a brutal three hour car ride and being amazed at what I saw. I was in awe of the beautiful scenery and wildlife that Vermont had to offer and the peacefulness that spread across Silver Lake. I was with my friend Jack who had been to this campsite for many years in the past, but for me this was a whole new experience that took my breath away. The possibilities were endless of what you could do here, and I had the time of my life swimming in the lake, playing volleyball, going to the nearby general store, and experimenting with fires. There were about 15 other families from Acton that made the hike up to this campsite, so there were always familiar faces around wherever I went. One reason why this camping trip was so special to me is it gave me a sense of freedom and responsibility that I felt like I did not have back at home. When I was at Silver Lake, I can do whatever I want and not really deal with parents telling me what to do. We could go swimming, play volleyball, or just relax by the fire with no worries at all. Also during this camping trip, I was able to sleep in a tent with my good friends Mitch and Jack. We often snuck out at night to hang out with the other kids around the campsite and play games by the lake. This was a freedom that none of us felt back at home. Another reason why this was a special trip is because I get to spend more time with my dad. He is always busy with work, and I do not usually see him too much during the week. At Silver Lake, I am able to spend time with him every day which I always enjoy. This first trip to Silver Lake is an experience that I will never forget and I always look forward to it every year.
ReplyDeleteIn the summer of 2007, I made my annual trip to California with my family to visit my grandparents. This trip was more exciting than any of the others though, because this was the first time I was allowed to bring a friend with me. So after some discussion, my friend Kathryn was sitting next to me as we flew across America. I couldn’t stop talking. I babbled about the fun we were going to have, how awesome my grandparent’s house was and the town they lived. I was desperate for her to be as excited as I was. It gave me the feeling of maturity. Older kids drove all around the country with their friends, and now it was my turn. She seemed to share my excitement as we made of list of everything we were going to do, our 12 year old minds reveling in the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteAfter getting in safely and getting a good night’s sleep, we awoke at 6am the next morning, bright-eyed and ready for the next day. Neither of us could eat out of excitement. There were so many possibilities. We decided to start out by testing their pool, along with my brother. My brother Evan and I generally spent the California vacation arguing and by the end doing anything we possibly could to annoy each other. Something about Kathryn being there added a calming sense to our relationship. We laughed and I was surprised at the sense of family I felt towards my brother. He shared jokes with us and happily chose what we wanted to do over his own agenda. We quickly became attached by the hip, inventing games and ways to amuse ourselves. Kathryn and I even plotted a way to dunk Evan in the pool, fully clothed. When this became a reality, I could barely stand up for laughing so hard. I could not think of a time I had more fun and knew I would treasure the feeling of happiness and lack of responsibility for years to come.
The entire vacation brought together my friend and I, along with my brother. It was the last vacation that really had a sense of total youth and pleasantry to it, as I grew older and the youthful façades fell away. I know I will always remember this vacation.
Last summer, as school came to an end, my siblings and I made a list of all the daytrips we wanted to take together. It was my sister’s first summer with her license, and we intended to make the most of her ability to drive. We filled the list with fun activities, like visiting the Salem Witch Museum and riding Boston’s Duck Tours. However, the activity that my siblings and I looked forward to the most was climbing Mount Monadnock.
ReplyDeleteYears before, we had climbed the mountain with the rest of our immediate family but had encountered several problems. Since we were young, and had little endurance, we kids had a difficult time making it up the steep slopes. During our climb, we faced frigid weather along with insane inclines. Although it was a struggle, we finally made it up the hill with only a few complaints here and there. Now, with a few years under our belts, we were anxious to try our luck at climbing the mountain once again. This time, however, we hoped to return home with better memories and stories to share.
On the day we set out to conquer Mount Monadnock, it was perfect mountain climbing weather. We knew it was going to be a great trip, as we drove down the highway with tunes blaring. I sat back, listened to the music, and let the stresses of school drift away. In that moment, I was focused on having fun, not an upcoming test or oral presentation. And, to be honest with you, it felt great. For the first time in a long time, I forgot about the future and made the present my primary concern. Living in the moment had never felt so good. I carried this feeling with me to the top of the mountain, sharing laughs and stories with my siblings the entire way. As I hiked, I was so focused on what a great time I was having that I paid little attention the slopes that once seemed unbearable as a child.
On the way home, I was exhausted. If it were not for my eagerness to share the story of our trip with my parents, I would have fallen asleep right then and there. We talked over dinner, and later dessert, about the fun activity that had provided us with so many great times. Although our trip to Mount Monadnock came and went, I still have plenty of memories and photographs to remind me that I will only be a teenager once and that I should make the most of every day, regardless of how much homework I have.
It all started early May, last year. News finally came about my fathers job situation. Not what I wanted to hear, however. The family was going to be moving.
ReplyDeleteThe news hit me hard. I was distraught at the thought that all of my friends and relationships that I had built up over a decade are going to be shattered within a single summer. My brother, Ryan, was also set to go to college. No longer would he be there. A leaning post, per se, pulled out from under me. I would be taking on the move alone.
The search began. Massachusetts, I was told, is where we would end up. Fearing the worst, travelling up here further fueled my apprehensive thoughts of how this would turn out. Weeks of house searching went by. Purchasing a house, once perceived as a seemingly fun and interesting feat to undertake, now reminds me of perfectly prepped pads with delicately placed decorations to make the bleak undertones of my conscience perk up with false hopes of a better life in the North.
The house wasn’t picked out when the moving truck came for the first time. Two days were left until our house of choice was to be signed off. A lumbering hunk of truck came barrelling down my former street. Stopping at my house, it almost blocked off the entire street. Over enthusiastically, our moving supervisor, whatever that meaningless title means, Sean, approached me first.
“Where’s ya parents at, son?”
Appalled by his lack of respect for children, I hesitated in my response. I prompted myself to merely not speak. I gestured towards the garage door, hockey stick in hand. Mind fueled with the fact that this was happening. I was moving. Curiosity turned into hatred and deceit filled nights of wondering why was happening to me now.
The boxes came out. No longer did days matter to me. The only number I cared about was the day which I would finally say goodbye to what was once commonplace and went on to what is now my “life”. Boxes filled my room. Boxes filled the kitchen. Everything that had been troubling me to this point suddenly exploded out from me.
I turned into a different person for those three days of packing, packing, packing. Lifeless, emotionless. Just wanting for this to be over. The brother had already made it up to school. Putting on a fake persona, I merely played for the adults in my life, who were wondering what was wrong. Telling them they didn’t understand didn’t help.
The boxes were in the truck. The personal belongings now held firmly in the back of the Minivan with bungee cords and prayers. The driveway slid out from underneath me as I realized that this would be the last time that I would be going down this driveway. Staring pensively at my house of 12 years, I bid it a final goodbye with tears and memories.
One by one the cars passed by and I continued to be terrified of getting hit by one of them. I was going to kill my friend who was “taking us to the awesome place to bike.” I’m sure it would have been a wonderful place with slopes everywhere and a peaceful environment. But at that moment, I wanted to get off of the road which was practically a highway. About twenty feet of the concrete separated me from my two friends as I was trailing behind them in order to avoid dieing. It felt like one of those scenes from action movies where they have to hide behind wreckage to avoid being shot. My situation felt just at intense, except no one was coming after me with guns and grenades. I was shouting at the friend who came up with this genius idea to bike all the way to Littleton for “good scenery,” even when he was clearly familiar with my inability to drive on the road. If my constant, “I’m not driving on the road,” didn’t give it away, I’m sure my failure to cross the road at intersections would have. Regardless of that fact, I was here now and I was trying to go slow, but fast at the same time to catch up with my friends. I was in constant suspense of which car would hit me or even better: which car I would hit. I kept looking ahead to see if there would be a sidewalk in the vicinity, but unfortunately, there wasn’t. Quickly, I realized panicking would not make this situation any better; it wouldn’t bring me to the calm curves and slopes of the cemetery where my other friend and I liked riding. While I was thinking and dodging the edge of the pavement that met the thorny plants, I realized that I was going at the same speed as my friends and seemingly with the same confidence. Although I hadn’t looked like the dare-devil bike rider speeding through the roads, I seemed like a normal biker riding on her bike. For me, that was plenty to ask for seeing the fact that I was a novice. At that moment, seeing my confidence gave me internal confidence and peace as well. I was no longer riding my bike thinking that I would get hit by the next car that would pass by, but instead, I was able to truly enjoy riding my bike as I have while riding in the cemetery. The road became much more relaxed—not because there were fewer cars, but because I saw it differently. The cars passing by were just other vehicles that were sharing the road, not evil agents sent by a villain to stop me from riding my bike. I looked around to notice more than just the cars, I saw the beautiful flowers beds that blanketed the land around the road, I saw the squirrels trying to make a move for the other side of the road at the perfect time. I also saw more than I had before when the only thought occupying my mind was fear. Once my fear was gone, my mind opened up to the wonderful feeling I get while riding my bike.
ReplyDeleteIt was late August in the summer of 2010. I was attending a very good theatre camp that was putting on the show Wicked. My dream role on broadway was to play Elphaba the leading lady from that very show. The camp was two weeks long and at first it seemed like not enough time to put on any old show, let alone the most well known contemporary show on broadway within the past decade. Auditions took place monday of the first week. After hearing all of the extremely talented singers and actors, I thought for sure I would only be given a minor role at best. The auditions and the camp day was over and all us Acton kids went home reviewing all of the talent we had seen previously that day. The next day we came into camp, and almost immediately we were given our scripts, and on it in the top right corner was our part. I was frantic as all of my friends received their scripts, discussing their parts and such. When I got my script, expecting the worst I looked and there it was in red pen on the top right corner… “Elphaba 2”. The part was broken down in order to give everyone a fair and equal role. I began flipping through the pages of the script to see what scenes I would be in, and low and behold I was chosen to sing “Defying Gravity”, the biggest song the camp had ever been responsible for. I was beside myself with excitement. I just could not believe that I was talented enough to sing that legendary song. Fast forward to the day of the show, to the moment right before the scene where “Defying Gravity” was to be sung, I was nervous beyond belief. As the scene carried on and the time before the sung became lesser and lesser. Then I was up. I began singing and the feeling I received from singing the song was unexplainable. My body had been taken over and the song just came pouring out with extreme emotion. I got lost within the song. And once it was over, I wished with every ounce of my body that I could go back and do it again, because I knew this opportunity would never come again. Singing the legendary “Defying Gravity” was the most meaningful memory of summer that I have.
ReplyDeleteI could feel the muddy sand squish between my toes as I walked and walked. The farther I went the softer the ground got, more muddy with each step. The occasional impurity of a sand dollar or shell shattered in a million pieces by people or creatures who have come before me. Wind whipped my mangled salty hair into my suntanned face. Free, that is how it felt to be out in the open. Away from school away from the winter. I imagined where I’d be if it were high tide. Looking back at the boulders lining the shore, tiny pebbles, engulfed by the crashing sea. The ocean swarming around me and lapping at my face. Back in reality, my toes dipped in sun warmed pools of water. The little fish nipping at my feet causing me to walk faster. The seagulls swarmed above my head, the sky brilliantly died pink and orange. The sun, a perfect egg yolk resting on the sea. I reached the shore and took a seat right in front of the receding water. I laid back getting my hair caked in muddy sand, and looked at the sky. The perfect time of day where the sky was still a blue with patches of color by the ocean, but dim enough to blur everything into being surreal. As I breathed in the smell of salty air and the lingering smell of barbeque, I thought of all the possibilities of summer, the freedom. I could eat ice-cream everyday, run on the beach in the mornings, ride my bike around the gravel roads until my legs were tired of pedaling, and work on our massive summer paint by number project. I could hear my dad’s voice yelling from seemingly far off. He teased that the water would come in so fast while I was laying there I wouldn’t notice and before long I would be stuck waiting with the fish for the next low tide. I dug my toes farther and farther into the sand rooting myself there forever when I hit something hard. The sand in the area the size of a basketball started rising above the beach. I shuffled backwards and hurried to my feet as there was a angry crab pinching at me. A narrow escape. He rebuilt his home and was soon unseen. None the less I ran back through the sand, my heart racing, my bare feet pounding the ground. Through the warmed pools of water passed the boulders and my stunned family up the stairs, tiptoed across the gravel, onto the deck, through the screen door, into my room, up the ladder, into my bunk bed, and under the covers.
ReplyDeleteMy first trip to Squam Lake was one of the most memorable moments of my life. It was the summer before third grade, and one of my good friends, Devon, invited me to spend a week at his house in Holderness, New Hampshire. Although we were not planning on spending much time at his house, we were going to a summer camp called the Junior Squam Lakes Association, or JSLA. The first thing I remember when arriving in New Hampshire, was how different it was than Massachusetts, even though it was so close. The air seemed fresher, the trees greener, everything about the state seemed like it was less effected by humanity and rather it was pure nature. I had a sense of freedom as I breathed in the New Hampshire air for the first time. As me and Devon slept our first night as his house, we were anxious and excited for our first day of camp the next day. As the day came, nerves replaced excitement. We did not really know who we would hang out with or who we would get along with. We knew we could hang out with eachother, but were not sure what the other kids would think of us. As the first day came, we found out we were similar to the kids there and had many of the same interests. It was nerve-racking at first to talk to them, but we mustered up the courage. As the week of canoeing, kayaking, hiking and camping passed we built friendly relationships with the rest of the campers. Although on the surface the camp was just a fun week to us, what it really taught us was what it meant to put ourselves out there and not be afraid to meet new people. This being one of the first experiences of doing this in my life, it really set me up for my future. It helped in the junior high and highschool, by making me willing to make new friends. The camp was a great experience for me that I still continue. Me and Devon have been going there for eight years straight and have brought more of our friends from Acton up with us to enjoy it with us over the years. The camp is more than just a camp to me and Devon however, as it set up some of the key lessons that we still follow in our life.
ReplyDeleteIt was the first week of summer vacation after freshmen year, and it was the first night of the Acton fair at Nara Park. It seemed like everyone was there because the lines gave the impression that they could go on forever to the end of the world. The atmosphere was filled with smiles, laughter, and happiness that it was summer finally. The sun shined brilliantly during the daylight, but when it was going down it turned the whole sky bursting with red, orange, and yellow, it was truly a perfect summer night.
ReplyDeleteNo one had to worry about finishing homework, and not getting up at 6am for school. The relief of no school felt like a boulder was released from my shoulders, and I was free. There was no pressure about studying for school and to do well on tests, it was summer, and it was time to relax, and be with my friends. The entire day I was anxious for that night because I knew I would be with all my friends that I love to start a spectacular 2010 summer. As I arrived at the fair, I could not get out of the car fast of enough to go see my friends. I found my friends and immediately screamed “IT’S SUMMER!!!!!!”, and everyone smiled at that the idea it actually was summer, and all the great plans, and trips we were all going to have that summer. We quickly expressed our emotions about summer, and got on the rides.
The rides were a bit on the little kid side because most of us could not fit into the seats of the ride comfortably. We had our knees in our mouths because we were that squeezed together, but it did not stop us from having fun. I felt I was a little kid riding the small dragon roller coaster like I was having the time of my life waving my arms in the air, and screaming at the top of my lungs. I did not care what people thought of me because I was too enthralled in the fact that it was summer. It had gotten darker outside and the people in charge at the fair put the fair rides lights on, and the lights made the night radiant with the fun colors of the fair. The feeling of all the laughter, the smiles, the colors, and being with my best friends made me feel free and so happy that I have the whole summer to spend with them, and create memories with them that could last a life time. I could feel that they felt the same way, as we laughed and took pictures so we could look back at the pictures, and remember the time we were at the fair all together to start the summer of 2010 perfect.
As the night drew to its ending minutes we took a last ride on the Ferris wheel. No one had wanted the night to end, but it was the perfect night to start the summer with. As we got to the top of the Ferris wheel and the seats were wobbling back and forth, making me nervous, and excited, but in some way feeling free. I felt like nothing would stop this summer from being the best one yet because I was with my best friends, had an amazingly fun night, and a lot of memories to remember forever. It was that night that made me have an amazing rest of the summer filled with memories with my friends.
I was born in India and since then have visited three times during summer vacations. My first return to India (a little less than ten years ago, when I was 5) was the most memorable although I do not exactly remember what happened. Sometimes I get flashbacks of what happened.
ReplyDeleteI remember my grandfathers’ mansions and servants. My maternal grandfather owned two dogs, Cherry and Sheroo. They were quite ferocious and did not enjoy my maternal grandmother’s company, as was observed whenever they chased their other owner around, barking their heads off. Red lights would light at each entrance whenever the dogs were out of their cages. Perhaps this memory is so vivid because I could not understand for the life of me why dogs were so stupid and out of earshot I would crack up. I remember standing in the shower holding a plastic water pail in one hand, looking straight down at my feet and observing the distance that had increased greatly. I could not believe that I had grown so much (I was about three feet tall). I straightened my body completely, and my feet seemed so large and floppy and faraway. It never did occur to me that I would grow even taller (to a whopping 5’3”). Perhaps it remains in my limbic system because I renew it and add on to it once every few years when I walk into the shower and stand amazed. I remember the jointed celebration of my cousin’s, my brother’s, and my birthday, and the only time I ever saw my last great-grandmother. To be honest, photos of her have influenced my memory, but I definitely recall her presence at the party. In the upstairs main hallway, three tables were set up, each with one cake for each of us birthday boys. This memory has not yet deteriorated because of the happiness I received that day and still do, from an experience I can never have again with my cousin or great-grandmother. I remember watching Tom & Jerry with the servants, who could easily understand the wordless shows. I remember the haunting dreams I had years after, distorted memories of my maternal grandparents’ huge mansion that really was a labyrinth with many corners and corridors I could not keep track of as a young toddler. In the dreams I saw one of the older servants, walking at night through one of the larger corridors, moonlight giving the walls a blue glow and the shadows of trees shaking their branches. Strangely the prominent piece of this dream was the man’s bushy, jet black mustache (I doubt anyone could forget it), perhaps the first I ever saw on a face I still recognize. I remember watching the youngest servant nail some random monkey head-on with a crude slingshot. I remember my maternal grandfather removing tails of the myriad, prowling lizards around the mansion and setting them free, telling me and my brother that the tails would grow back. I remember seeing the hospital that my maternal grandparents ran, annexed to the mansion and several stories high.
These memories personally are quite important to me because they among a few photos and my parents’ and grandparents’ word (I’d rather I ignore what my oh-so-mischievous brother tells me) are all I have left of my childhood.
Um, Mr. Goldner, just read up to "birthday boys" because it is a teeny wad too long.
ReplyDeleteI believe it was 3 of 4 summers ago. I was going to India again for the first time in 6 years. I only had vague memories of the place, the people, the food. But still, when I landed after a long and draining set of flights, I felt at home. After about a week or so, I got my self reaquainted with the people I used to know. After all, they were my family after my mom and dad were working in 2 separate continents. Of course I missed my parents, but my grandmother, my aunts and uncles and my cousins were all my best friends. They all did so much for me. When they talked to me about it, I felt bad for not remembering half of it. I knew that someday, however I'd be able to repay them for all they did. Most people, when they go on family vacations, say they hated meeting people they'd never heard of before, or visiting the old people in the family, or going to someone's house for lunch. But that was always my favorite part. It was like reconnecting with the me from the past. Everyone had pictures too. Seeing myself with all of these different people , people that I'd known so well once upon a time, made me feel out of touch. As if it was there that I belonged, with the vast majority of my family, and not in America. It was then that I think I first started considering maybe moving back once I was old enough. I thought about how different life would be surrounded by family who always wanted to spend time with you. Growing up in America, the only family that was around was my parents, and my cousins who lived a 4 hour driving distance away. Going places with grandmother especially made me realize how different life was there. Going to church was more of a social event than to really go to church. I even met my old kindergarten teacher there. She said my name and said how much I'd grown, but I only stood there trying to figure out who she was. She was very understanding, seeing as I was 4 the last time I'd seen her. But i couldn't help feeling incredibly embarrassed about not being able to recognize her. Not that it mattered. I re-met many people that way. There were a lot of "I'm sorry I really can't remember". From then on, my parents and I decided to return to India much more often. I think we all felt a little out of the loop being so far overseas. But it felt nice, after 6 years to see my family again. Being with the people that had done so much for me when I was little made me a lot happier.
ReplyDeleteEver since I was a baby, my family and I have visited to the same place in Cape Cod every year. This small weekend trip is one of the highlights of my summer. When I was younger, I had a small sense of independence by waking up before my parents to try to go catch some crabs on the rocks protruding out into Nantucket Sound. As I became older, my sense of independence on Cape Cod grew. My parents slowly allowed me to have more privileges. One of the biggest memories that has stayed with me was when I was ten. I was allowed to walk to Chatham center whenever I felt like it. In my ten year old mind, this was a huge deal. I could now go to the candy store whenever I felt like it. This small taste of independence made me older, more confident, and reckless. The first few years that I went to the Cape, I could not do anything by myself because I was a toddler. Slowly, I gained some rights. The first big stride for my independence was that my older brother was allowed to take me to the beach without my parents. Although the beach was a thirty second walk from my hotel room, this was a big deal to a four year old. The beach had always and is still one of my favorite places. When I was younger, the beach symbolized independence, but now it represents peace and serenity. After a chaotic school year, the annual vacation has become a sanctuary. The vacation is almost always at the end of the first week of summer. This place is on a beautiful beach that has not changed that much over time. Although the hotel rooms that we have stayed in had changed and sometimes we had family stay with us, the beach and the promise of a great weekend of relaxation always awaited. The place is definitely a symbol of the growth of my family. I look forward to this special weekend every year. Regardless of what summer job or activity my brother and I do, we always make sure that the first weekend in summer is open so our entire family can spend a time at the Cape together.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was ten, my family decided to take a trip across the country to California in order to attend my cousin’s wedding. Because my parents wanted us to see the entire country they decided to drive all the way to California, despite the protests of my siblings and me. The trip ended up actually being somewhat entertaining because of all of the places we saw on the way. I remember visiting countless museums and seeing famous places like Mount Rushmore and the four corners. Eventually, we reached California, where we stayed at my aunt’s house. My siblings and I spent a lot of time just sitting around playing games and watching TV. Occasionally we would swim in the pool or play with my cousin’s dog. I even ended up reading the sixth Harry Potter book. It was nice to relax and unwind after such a long trip. Eventually, the day of my cousin’s wedding got closer. Our vacation began to get hectic, as relatives and family friends were constantly coming in and out of the house. Everyone from my dad’s side of the family ended up coming early for the wedding and also stayed in my aunt’s house, so the house ended up being crowded. On the day of the wedding, my cousins, my siblings, and I got to ride in a limo to the church where the ceremony was taking place. The wedding itself was very long and got somewhat boring after a while, but I was happy for my cousin and his new wife. After the wedding, we had the reception, which was fun because of all of the dancing that we did. After all of the excitement of the wedding, we spent a couple more weeks at my aunt’s house. It was like before the wedding except we were constantly reminded of how we would have to go back home and then to school, which was not exactly a happy thought. Eventually though, we had to make our way back home and face the prospect of school again. This was my most memorable summer because it involved seeing my cousin’s wedding. In addition, that summer involved a lot of travel, which my family does not do a lot of anymore.
ReplyDeleteI remember one time when I was 8 years old and my family was going on vacation to Martha's Vineyard. There was no parking in the lot to get on the ferry so my dad dropped my younger brother and my mom off and he and I parked and took a shuttle back. He and I got off the shuttle to go to the spot where we decided we would meet. We got there and they were no where to be found. So we started to get nervous. We called her cell but it was dead. Now we started getting really nervous. The ferry was the last one to leave that night and we would have no place to stay if we did not get to the island. Then fog horn on the boat bellowed out a loud noise, signaling it was time to go. We began to panic. We kept searching until we luckily spotted them walking around on the boat. We ran to the deck where you enter the boat and we got on just as the doors were closing. We got up to the deck and found my mom and brother. We sat down on a bench and watched the sun disappear as the sky turned from a yellowish-orange color to black. Soon we reached the island and reached the hotel. We stayed there for about a week and we had the opportunity to stay an extra day and leave that night in a rush or leave relaxed that morning. We decided to spend another day. We went to the beach early in the morning and decided to go play basketball in the park after. After we had finished playing basketball, we got back in the car to go back to our rented house for the last time. It was there my mom realized that she had lost her iPod. We went back to the house and we could not find it. We searched the beach and the park but it was no where to be found. I still remember the somber feeling of exhaustion from running around and unsuccessfully trying to find the iPod. It was an unfortunate ending to an otherwise tremendous vacation but that feeling of exhaustion and regret is the one thing that will stick with me for the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I ever went surfing was two summers ago. On my way back from summer camp, which involved me staying for a month in New Hampshire, my family and I were driving along the coast and decided to stop at a local surf shop in Hampton, NH to rent some surf boards and try them out. It was a nice day, and it felt good to finally be free. Camp was fun, but after a month, going to the beach and going back to Acton actually felt quite good. As we walked out onto the warm beach with the ten-foot surfboards, weaving between beachgoers sunbathing and playing on the beach, the sun beat down on our backs. As we entered the cold New Hampshire waters with the boards, I felt a certain sense of tranquility and excitement, both infused into one wonderful emotion. In the ocean, I felt at home. I didn’t have much time to contemplate the scenery, as I noticed a wave was approaching in the distance. The waves weren’t very big that day, only about waist to chest high, but it was more than enough to catch my first wave. As I frantically began to paddle towards shore, I felt the energy of the wave begin to push me towards shore. As I accelerated towards the beach, so did the rush I felt. The feeling that I was riding the raw energy of the ocean, essentially walking on water, continues to inspire me to surf just as it did that first day. My ride, although exhilarating, was short-lived, and just as quickly as I tried to stand I found myself hitting the shallow bottom just feet from shore. I was hooked. Washing the sand off my body, I ran back into the water, wiggled myself back onto the massive wax-coated rental board, and paddled back out for round two. This went on for quite a while, until eventually it was so cold we were forced to call it a day. On the way home, I knew I had found something special that day at the beach.
ReplyDeleteLiving in Australia, my summers have always included Christmas and New Years. Last year, during December, my step mum’s parents took the whole family to far north Queensland in Australia for a holiday. We stayed on Lindeman Island at the Club Med Resort and it was absolutely beautiful. Coming from the harsh Massachusetts winter, summer was just what I needed. Stepping off the plane in Queensland I got this rush of tropical air that seemed to take away all the stress of my real life. We had a total of ten days at Club Med and we arrived on Christmas Eve - a hugely exciting time for my little half-brother and sister. Christmas dinner was a feast of fresh prawns, cold meats and a buffet of fruits and vegetables. Sitting there, with my Dad and Lucy, felt perfect and I was so happy to be able to see him. The next day (the day after Christmas) Australians call Boxing Day and in a lot of ways it’s even better than Christmas. There are presents to be used and left-overs to be eaten and it’s a public holiday so everyone can just relax after a hectic Christmas Day. Boxing Day at Club Med was idyllic: sun baking, swimming in the pool/beach, playing tennis, going on walks and eating even more. The trip was the perfect way to really get to know my step-mum’s family and to get closer to them which I am so thankful for. It was also an amazing time with my Dad which I appreciate even more when I’m not with him. One of my favorite parts of the holiday was snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef which I had never even dreamed of doing. It was a lovely day: sun shining, no wind or clouds. We took an hour boat ride out to the reef and played cards and chatted. When we got there, it was phenomenal. The beauty and size of the reef – I can’t even begin to describe it. The vibrant colors of coral and fish were even more awesome than I had expected. There are so many memories of Club Med that I will never forget and I think it was a really important time to get closer to my family and to escape real life for just long enough to miss it.
ReplyDeleteEvery summer, from June to late August, my family lives in our summer house on Old Silver Beach in Cape Cod, located just 4 houses from the ocean. Luckily for me, my best friend who lives in Acton also lives right behind me on the Cape. She had been my only summer friend for years, and we would spend two whole fun filled months together and never get bored of each other. Last summer, she told me that she had made some new friends from her sailing class, and she was inviting them over to her house to hang out. I was a little sad at first, seeing as she was my only friend at the beach and I did not want to lose her to some out-of-the-neighborhood kids who I had never met before. Reluctantly, I accepted her invitation to meet the new kids and strolled over a few houses to see who these new kids were, just to get it over with and say I met them. I was absolutely sure I was going to dislike them. But for my best friend, I had to give them a shot…
ReplyDeleteI walked down into her basement and awkwardly (like usual) waved at the six teenagers entranced in games of COD and painting toenails. As I sat down on my favorite couch in my friend’s basement, I immediately regretted coming, but I knew it would be more than rude if I left. I constantly thought of how bored I was going to be the entire night, how everyone was going to be annoying and unfriendly. Luckily, I brought my iPod and my friend let me play it out loud. As I played my music, my friend complained, “Oh Monique please do not put on your awful 70s music…” Immediately, two of the kids put down their COD right in the middle of the game and came over to tell me how awesome my music was! After a whole night of talking and finding out more things I had in common with these people, I realized that I had judged them without even getting to know any of them. I immediately jumped to the conclusion that these people were out to steal my best friend, when really, they were some of the coolest people I had ever talked to in my life. That day I learned one of the most important lessons of life, which is never to judge someone without knowing them. This important lesson led me not only to make a few new friends that night, but from that day on. Some of the people I today call my best friends I may have never even considered talking to if it had not been for this rewarding experience.
A new experience that I had was going to Costa Rica along with the chorus during February vacation. It was during their months of summer, and it was one of the best weeks of my life that I am never going to forget.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the weather was just perfect, not cold at all even after it rained one or two days. It went up to 98 degrees one day, and at night when standing on the beach next to the Pacific Ocean, I thought, "This would be nice if we could be here all the time, with no school or other activities to stress us out, just be lazy and do absolutely nothing the whole day."
Ziplining was very enjoyable, even though I don't like going upto high heights. I was afraid, hanging off the rope over a rain forest from which I could not even see the ground. However, didn't stop me from having fun and screaming "WHOOOO!!!" as I went down the 11 ropes looking at the beautiful landscape. I had dirt all over my face once it was over, but it didn't make me complain, and I just took pictures with a smiling face that would always let me remember that cloudy Sunday when I was flying in the sky.
The day before we left, our whole chorus went to sing at a high school in San Jose in front of the many students that were there. I couldn't believe this was our last day in Costa Rica, the week passed by so quickly! "Stand Together," the Sophtones' third and final song, brought tears to my eyes, causing me to not even be able to sing properly. It was very emotional for the audience as well, Ms. Moss said. I thought about the past week in those few minutes we were on stage and how I would probably have felt if I never came on the trip. The ziplining, bus rides, singing at 3-4 concerts, the hilarious tour guide we had, spending time with friends all week in a foreign country...
My Costa Rica trip had unforgettable memories that would last a lifetime. Every time I go through those pictures, and even thinking about it writing this makes me want to definitely take a trip back there some time in years to come.
Last summer was the first time I ever flew across the country without parents. The image of descending past this magnificent glacier, Mt. Hood, is still vivid in my imagination. I was slowly making my way to a place I would call home for the next week. A place where my ski racing technique would improve drastically. Little did I know, this was going to be the most enjoyable time of my life. Where else in the U.S. can you ski during the summertime?
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of the camp was amazing. I got to my room and began to unpack when a few other boys waltzed into the room. They were very friendly and began talking with me as if I had known them my entire life. We still keep in touch with each other to this day. Aside from friends, there were a wide variety of activities after morning training, such as white-water rafting, mountain biking, misc. sports, etc. I loved rafting because of the breath-taking views and excitement while in the raft.
The best part of the entire week hands down was the skiing. I ski 5 days a week in the winter, but not once in my life had I skied in the summertime, let alone on a glacier! It was incredible with soft snow and gorgeous weather in the 50's. Many race lanes were set across the Palmer Snowfield, where we trained. Kids through adults all across the world come to Mt. Hood for its creditable racing experience. The race coaches were very helpful and strengthened my technique just within the few days of me being there. The first day of training we did drills and general freeskiing to get our "ski-legs" back under us. For the most part, nobody had skied in a couple of months. The next few days were focused on GS training in gates and video analysis. Taking video of skiers during their run is a great way to improve your skiing. By watching the video, you can see what mistakes are being made. The last couple of days went fast and were dedicated to slalom, my favorite discipline. These were my strongest days of training and I improved the most too.
Sadly, the week was coming to an end. I had met some many good friends, learned so many tips, and most importantly, had an amazing time. I still can't wait to go back to Mt. Hood again this summer and improve even more.
This past summer, I went to an overnight camp for the first time. I had wanted to go to a music camp, so I went to one that my trombone teacher used to work at, since he was friends with the owners. I always felt my practicing lacked over the summer, and I wanted to improve more than I already was during the year, so I decided to go. My parents both drove me up to Maine to see me off, and I while I knew I should be feeling nervous, I was feeling more excited as we went from main roads to back roads to winding roads through forested hills. When we got there, we learned I would be living with four other girls, and I was the first of the new campers to arrive, even though we came in the middle of the allotted time slot to arrive by. When the rest of the campers arrived, we went for a tour of the camp. Just walking around, I wasn’t sure how if I would get along with my bunkmates: there was a cool girl, a preppy girl (who was from Germany), one that dressed in expensive looking clothing that wore her hair up high, a very quiet girl who didn’t look up often, and later we were joined by a very eccentric girl with a ton of energy. None of us knew how to talk to each other or where to start—yet, somehow, within two days we had already familiarized ourselves with each other and had already had a lot of laughs. The writing on the walls of our cabin of girls from years past was joined by our jokes and ramblings, and we also became fast friends with the other boys and girls our age throughout the camp. We made so many memories together—braving the first Saturday dance, getting kicked out of the table, cup spinning, the dawn of time, bagel deficiency, breaking the ice with the boys, jazz, making out in the grass, moths on the walls, blankets in orchestra—I knew that even if I never saw any of these people again, I would remember them and our memories forever.
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ReplyDeleteTwo summers ago, I went to a ballet intensive at Walnut Hill. The camp was five weeks long, and it was sleep away. I remember I was both excited and worried the same time. I had no idea what was in store for me, but I had no choice but go. I didn’t know many people who were going, and I’d have to leave home for more than a month. On the first day of the program, we got divided into levels, classes, and repertory pieces. During the auditions, there were many people around me where were just as good as me and usually even better. This was actually the first time I was nervous for an audition, because I had no idea what the outcome would be. Eventually I was placed in a high level for both technique and pointe, and also received a solo in the portion of Swan Lake the director chose to use. I was shocked I was placed in such a high level, let alone given a solo. I knew that this had been a blessing but probably luck, but I took it anyways. From the first day all the way to the last, I tried my best in every class and rehearsal. I knew I couldn’t be able slack or else a catastrophe would happen. I knew of many of my friends who went to ballet intensives and came back either injured or in trouble. This made me even more determined to make this a successful summer. At the end of each day, I remember I would go to the dining hall with my friends and we would treat ourselves to whatever dessert they served that day. By going to the summer intensive, I was constantly hungry because of my hard work. Before this, I was always a very picky eater. At the program, I was forced to eat food I didn’t like because I had no other choice. This opened up my food variety, and now I eat just about anything I see. This summer program not only improved my technique and performance skills for dance, but also introduced me to the real world for the first time. I got a sense of what competition was really like. I made many new friends and was given many new opportunities. It was truly one of my most memorable summers yet.
ReplyDeleteWhen you meet a person who will change your life you don’t realize upon meeting them “wow this person is really special”, instead you think hey this person’s cool. You don’t realize how much they changed your life until you’re separated. Last summer I met this person and her name is Caitlin.
ReplyDeleteThe day we met was a crisp and slightly cool June day in Vermont. The sky was clear and the nearby lake looked black and sparkled under the sun. Before I could even finish taking in the scene I was nearly knocked to the ground by a person running and embracing me. I was very confused because I didn’t know anyone there and shocked because I was not expecting to have someone throw them self at me. Once I had caught my breath and got my bearings back she introduced herself and told me we were in the same cabin. After about three days we were inseparable. I was a different person with her. Instead of the shy, non-outgoing, confidence lacking person I usually am I was my true self. I always felt happy around her and I could never seem to stop laughing.
There was two days I was upset about something going on in my family. On the first day I was sitting by the lake crying my eyes out and Caitlin came over and sat with me until I was calm and helped me talk it through. The second day I was walking around kind of gloomy counting grass and leaves to stay calm and instead of trying to calm me down Caitlin started making jokes and soon enough I was laughing all over again.
Caitlin taught me to live my life one day at a time and to enjoy the little things rather than worry about the big things. She truly changed my life and I honestly don’t know where I’d be today without her. To this day she is one of my best friends and although she lives in Florida and the distance is really hard on both of us we talk everyday and I can’t wait to see her again this summer!
When I was in third grade I got to go to Brazil. We left during the early hours of the morning from our house. In the car ride to the airport I was still trying to wake up from my deep sleep. When we got on to the plane heading to Brazil it was all ready ten at night and I could not stay awake. When I woke up we were flying over Brazil. Just to be able to see the towns and city as little buildings that I felt I could pick up was an amazing experience. I felt like as if I was a giant playing with legos. When we were almost at the airport we flew over some farm land. The ground seem to be made up of hundreds of huge colorful squares. From there we took an eight hour car ride to our house. On the way I saw huge mountain sides full of huge old trees. Every time we got closer to the side of the road I could see an amazing view of the valley below. Ever thing looked so small and fragile. When we went over this huge bridge I could see a massive river below. I felt so astound see these wonderful view of nature. Every time we took a turn around a corner some new amazing view would appear. I was shocked to see random towns pop up along the road. It seemed as if it was a mirage. The towns were small but they were full of excitement. Then all the sudden the landscape changed to the young tall trees. They were all spaced out the same distance from one another. They seemed to go on for ever. My uncle told me that it was a farm for trees. I felt like that was impossible. All the images and smells that I encountered were so different from what I was use to. Almost every thing made my head swirl with excitement. I felt like a complete stranger in a place that I did not know. All the feelings I had were of joy and happiness
ReplyDeleteThe summer of 2009 marked the transition between the junior high and high school. It was really the last summer that I could enjoy before my schedule became crowded with SAT prep, activities, and future planning. To celebrate the graduation of junior high, the eighth grade class was invited to a day at Canobe Lake Park. I still remembered the excitement when I was riding the bus and walking through the front gates to pick out the first ride with my friends. The spinning tea cups were my least favorite. Every time we did a complete loop around, i saw stars and started to feel nauseated. It was hard to enjoy and we agreed not to go on it again. The roller coaster Yankee Canonball had a huge line, so instead of waiting in a boring and frustrating line, we took the Corkscrew instead. It was a swirly ride around in a confined area that did not help keep down my breakfast. Later, we lost several hats and had to ask the roller coaster operator about them. To rest, we went to play some games and winning some prizes. One was a fishing game, for one dollar per round. The color of the fish indicated which prize was won. That day I had bad luck. I became broke and depressed from not winning any prizes, but Kayla had won multiple stuffed frogs and gave one to me. Delighted that she had thought about me, I took the frog home. It is still in my room today, sitting on my bed. Even though the day was exhausting for me and my friends, we did not want to go. We stayed for a good part of the afternoon and when the buses came, they came as a surprise. Stalling on the bumper cars, one of my friends and I became lost. After finding our way, we were the last ones to get on the bus. I was exhausted after the day, so I had a snack and fell asleep on the entire ride home. When i finally woke up, we were back at school as the first hour of vacation began.
ReplyDeleteFor the past four summers I have attended an overnight camp in the White Mountains. Every year there is a theme that academic activities are based on. The theme of summer 2009 was “teamwork.” Because we all live in the same bunk, every guy in my group knew everyone else very well. As cliques formed we grew apart and a person may have only talked to or consulted with a few others that were his friends. This posed a huge problem because if we decided to return in 2010, we would be the CIT’s in camp. We would not be working with our friends most likely, and when taking care of younger children, not working together could turn into a disaster. Our counselors worried along with the camp director so they came up with a plan to create a bond in the bunk, including the girls.
ReplyDeleteIt was a Tuesday, camp trip day, and the counselors told us to pack for an overnight trip where we would be camping out. They would not tell us where and what we would do. After an hour long bus drive, we pulled up to a boat dock on a large lake in Northern New Hampshire. They rented four motorboats, instructed us to put our luggage in the boat and file in, six to a boat. Now we were confused. A normal trip day was usually white water rafting or a trip to the beach but we had never heard of anyone going on a boat trip. The boats started moving and we pulled up to a small island in the middle of the lake. We retrieved all of our luggage and began to search the island. One counselor stayed to keep us safe while the others said “Bye! Hope you get back soon!”
The challenge was to live through the night without them, only eating a cooler full of food, and then somehow use a deflated raft to get all of us back to the mainland. Now we had realized that the counselors needed us to work as a team. By mid day the next day, we were able to patch up the hole in the raft, blow it up, and then eventually get all forty of us across.
The following year, thirty of us returned and were the best CIT group ever.
During my lifetime I have had many experiences during the summer. I mostly spend most of my summer in Turkey. However, today I will be talking about a great experience in California. One summer, I traveled to Long Beach, California. As we arrived in Long Beach, the fist thing that I found interesting was the airport. The Long Beach airport was made to look like boat. At such a young age, I was fascinated by this unique form of architecture. After the airport, my family and I went to a rental car place where we rented a red, convertible Ford Mustang GT. Since I am very into cars, this was a highlight of my summer trip to California. We drove to our hotel with the top down. Speeding down the highway with wind blowing in my face and the music loud, I was already having a blast before the real fun started. As we arrived at our hotel, I saw a palace. My family and I spent our nights at a 5 star Hyatt hotel right across the beautiful beach. After checking in to the hotel, my family and I drove around the city seeing great sites. After a long ride to California and a long and fun day, it was time for bed. The Next day was the best part. My dad drove our family to Hollywood where we saw the famous Hollywood sign. Being the crazy person he is, my father decided he had to go as close to the sign as he could. We passed through private roads and I was feeling so scared. I thought we were going to get arrested for trespassing but thankfully we did not. On the same day, we went to a convention for my father’s job. Entering many raffles, my family won a digital camcorder, a pair of binoculars that took pictures, and a year’s supply of paper. The next day went to the beautiful blue beach however my experience was changed here by the people at the beach. Many of the people were homeless and I felt horrible. It was extremely shocking to see my family having a blast while there were homeless people struggling to eat. I told my dad how bad I felt, and he did the right thing and gave a homeless mother and children some money. For the rest of my vacation I felt great for helping someone in need.
ReplyDeleteLast summer, My family and I went to China again. Because we go to China every other summer, it did not seem too exciting or different, and I was not looking forward to it. However, I soon found out that this trip would be different than my other trips. My usual trips are just to stay in Beijing for a few weeks visiting my grandparents and family friends without doing much; it limited my views of China as just the one city that we always visit. However, this time, my parents decided to go all out. They decided to take me all around the country to learn more about my culture and China's history. They took me all around the country to Beijing, Tibet, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and a bunch of other places. I got to see almost all of the country where my family is from. It was exciting to see that one country had so many differences between its places. Although we stayed in Beijing for a while at first, the traveling started soon afterwards. My mom decided to take us down to Shanghai, not only to see her cousin who she has not seen for a long time, but also to see the history of the city. Then, she took my sister and me to see 2 historical towns, Hangzhou and Suzhou. The next leg of the trip was the most exciting. We then went to Tibet for 7 days. We had never been there before and it was exciting to see just how different the cultures of different regions of China was. That summer, I experienced many new things about my family's home country that I did not know before, and it meant a lot to me that my parents cared enough to take us all around the country.
ReplyDeleteThe summer after fifth grade, my family went on vacation with two other families. Our destination was Prince Edward Island, Canada. Together, we all rented out a summer house along the beach. The whole week was one big party. The kids on the trip bonded and the adults talked late into the night. Every day, we would hit a different destination. However, most of them were just different beaches and the kids usually got bored. There was one beach that was special and remains a happy memory. It was the only beach the adults had to force us to leave. The weather was beautiful and there was a gentle breeze all around that day. My friend and I brought out our boogie boards and we charged into the ocean. As we wandered deeper and deeper, the water got colder. I shivered as I pushed off onto by board. Suddenly, my food touched something slimy. “Oh my gosh, what is THAT?!” I saw my friend’s horrified expression as I looked towards what she was looking at. It was a jellyfish! “RUN!” we shouted at the top of our lungs as we struggled back to the shore. We pushed ourselves desperately and tried to fight the current. Finally, after what felt like a strenuous workout, we reached the shore. Tired, we collapsed onto the sand in a giggling heap. “Guys, come check this out!” I looked up lazily as my friend’s brother called to us. I looked to where he was pointing and saw that there was a wharf with people gathered around. They were hurling themselves off the sides and it looked like fun. My friend and I decided to try it out. Running to the wharf, we were full of excitement. Approaching the edge, I saw how far the jump was and my stomach dropped. I hesitated as my friend pulled me closer. Sensing my hesitation, she said, “Come on, don’t be scared”. My legs started to shake as I measured the distance to the water. After some convincing, I decided I would give it a try. My friend and I decided that we would jump together holding hands. Standing with my toes hanging over the edge, I felt the adrenaline rush through my body as my friend counted to three. At three, I felt the tug of my friend and we were falling. The wind rushed around me as we fell faster and faster, until splash, we hit the water. When we resurfaced, we were smiling. That summer, I felt like I had taken the biggest risk of my life. It was a thrilling and memorable experience for me.
ReplyDeleteMy fondest summer memories are when i visited California in 2010. I went for about 2 weeks, and lived with my cousins in Carmel Valley, San Diego. On upon arriving at San Diego International Airport, I was greeted by my cousin and uncle seeing them for the first time in about a year. Because we live on opposite coasts we don’t see each other often so it was exciting. I have two cousins, a 15 year old boy, and a 11 year old girl. When ever I go to California to see them even if I had a bad school year, I can forget about everything and just have fun. At California we play basketball, go golfing, watch tv, do community service, and fun sports activities. Upon going on our first adventure, we went mountain biking in some desert area. It was really fun, because my cousin was someone I could talk to as a best friend, but also the brother that looked out for me. I feel like going to California is an experience that will always make me lose sleep the night before I go there because I know that when I leave I will be sorrow and miss California when I have to go home. Every year I go we always go to this restaurant called In And Out, which is a fast food restaurant with the best burgers in the world, but it is only exclusive on the west coast. When me, my cousin, and his friends went we hate 17 hamburgers between the 6 of us, it was really fun because I was able to meet people outside of Massachusetts and bond with my cousin. California always brings me good memories because the style of life out west is different then the way we live in the east. Lastly, one time when we went to a Padres game, me and my cousin caught one of the t-shirts from the t-shirt blaster. This really helped me realize how great of a cousin my cousin is because he gave me the shirt that he caught. Going to California is a really fun because I get to spend rare time with my cousin and I get to live in a different place with nice weather. I am going there again this summer for 8 weeks and am counting down at the moment….47 more days. Every summer I go to California is a summer that will never be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteThe summer after my eighth grade was one of the most memorable summers that I have ever had. For the first time I was attending an over night sleep away camp down on the Cape. It had been a great first day and there were games at night. I decided to play capture the flag in the woods seeing as it was my favorite game. I was so excited to finish off a great day with a great game. It was quite dark out but some how I managed to score the fist point for my team. Both teams reset and we began to play again. I had made it behind enemy lines and began the sprint to grab the flag. Adrenalin began to race through me as I was about to score another point for my team when I fell. I had neglected to notice a log in my way and I tripped over it and tried to brace my fall with my arm. Before I realized it pain was shooting up my arm and I could not move my hand or lower arm. I began to scream in pain and when the camp counselors made their way over to me they shined their light on my arm. That was when I saw it; my elbow was going in two different directions. A great sense of fear came over me when I saw my arm; it looked like something you would see on a TV show. I could see the emotions on the counselors’ faces, it was pure terror. They fear that was displayed turned into a slight panic when they called the ambulance. When the paramedics arrived they viewed my arm and mumbled to each other. I thought that they would be more surprised but later I realized that they probably had seen much worse things than my dislocated elbow. They splinted by elbow and strapped me to a backboard. Upon arrival at Falmouth Hospital, I felt a slight bit of relieve that the pain would be suppressed by pain meds. I asked the nurse after they put my elbow in place if my arm would be ok and the response I received was that everything would be fine. Then I asked the doctor after the nurse left and he explained that there might be permanent nerve damage to my entire arm. My heart had sunk and I began to panic. That was the most fear that I have ever felt in my entire life.
ReplyDeleteThree summers ago, I had a great experience at a camp that I went to. The camp is called Greenwood Music Camp, and was founded for classical music students who are very dedicated to music and who love playing it. There are two divisions, one for high school students and one for the younger kids, and at the time I was in the younger division (informally called KC, which stands for kiddie camp). At the camp there are all kinds of music related activities: the main one is chamber music, in which a small group of students plays one piece each week and ultimately performs it in a concert at the end of the week. There are also times to practice, have a lesson, or have a free period, depending on your schedule. Life at the camp is also very social; there is a lot of free time, and the camp is small so that you end up forming a close group of friends. Today, I still am in touch with a few of my friends from Greenwood, even if it has been a long time since I have seen them. Everyone at camp is extremely friendly, especially the counselors and faculty, and the competitive atmosphere which might be expected of a camp like Greenwood is almost nonexistent, which makes the experience even better. The best part for me, of course, was the music; everyone there was an accomplished musician and getting to work with and hear all of them was a lot of fun. It was hard work, but it paid off, and it was never stressful. The atmosphere was relaxed enough that stress was never a problem, but at the same time, no one failed to work hard and improve. Camp was also inspiring; hearing everyone play as well as they did makes you want be as good as they are, and this is what was so valuable, because I became very motivated after I left. I don’t think I would be at the same level as I am today if I had not gone to the camp, that is how much of an impact it has made on me. That summer will always be a valuable and memorable one for me.
ReplyDeleteThe barn I ride at has a yearly New Hampshire Overnight in which we all go up to their cabin with the horses. I have only gone twice, but they were both amazing. The most influential was the last time I went back in 2009. Although I was excited to go, I was also sad. I was actually more than just sad, i was absolutely miserable. Nearly everyone at my barn did not understand why I felt the way I did. Originally I had wanted to take my favorite horse Secret, but Rita, the owner, discouraged that idea. Secret is not an ideal horse to take to open spaces with lots of people. She can be a hothead. No one else ever went towards her in the field or by her stall unless it was completely necessary. She had a thing for biting and kicking without reason as everyone else put it, but I still think she is amazing no matter what. I learned that it was a good thing that I did not take her because; I realized after that she certainly does get pushy when she is in an open field. To put it shortly, she was sort of kicked out of the barn after a bad experience; I also believe that that move was too drastic. It was hard for everyone to realize why I completely adored such a monstrous horse in their eyes, but I could not help it. Anyway, I ended up riding a little pony Checkers, who was amazing. After unloading the horses and our bags we took in our camp sight. It was so serene and open, one tiny cabin among electric fencing and horse trailers. The day after we arrived, we went out for a 4 hour-long trail ride. To some it sounds boring, but to me it was amazing. We were in the middle of nowhere, however, it was beautiful and quite. Its nice to be able to hear the woods, all the animals and the wind whistling through the trees, sit back and enjoy the world as it was meant to be without a cars and city life to disrupt it. Of course, we did not walk the trail ride, we "trotted", which really meant as fast as you can possibly go without dying. I have a need for speed; I love to go fast, on a horse, ATV, dirt bike, anything. The feeling that you get when you are riding through the woods or on a track, passing everyone else at top speed, is really indescribable. You would not think that you could keep up with the others on such a tiny pony that I rode, but it was no problem. We outran nearly everyone. We were a team, Checkers and I. We understood what each other wanted, and we really had the same desire, to go fast. So it was not a problem. After the trail ride, we gave our horses a brake much deserved. On the overnight, you get to know one another better. We were all much closer after the overnight, we were close before the overnight but it was different now. We knew each other better and helped each other out when it was needed. It was nice for me to see how close we had all become. Even to our horses. After the huge rainstorm, nearly all of the tents had flooded, leaving sleeping bags, boots, food, and clothes soaked. Everyone helped those that were left wet. It was odd for me to see how such an event could bring us closer together, but it did.
ReplyDeleteEvery summer my family and I go to the Jersey Shore with my mom's brothers family. We all share a house that is less than a minute walk from the beach. We stay for the first two weeks of August and have since way before I was born. These are always some of the best weeks of my summer even though I don’t get to spend them with my friends. My uncle has three kids just like we do, one my middle brothers age and two younger girls. The older girl is about 3 years younger than I am and we never really had hung out much. Even including all of my other cousins I'm always stuck right in the middle of the ages, all of them are a lot older or a good deal younger. But, now this summer my cousin was finally thirteen and I was fifteen. This was the closest we had been when she wasn't considered a little kid anymore. We completely bonded and I was so happy that I finally had someone to hang out with when we were at the beach. We did everything together those two weeks and had so much fun. We went on the jet ski’s together and would ride our bikes into town when we needed something. We would go and hang out at the beach after dinner and by the end of the two weeks we had so many inside jokes. We became best friends that summer and have talked everyday since then. It was really nice to have the change from being the awkward one in the middle when the older kids didn't want you around and I felt like I was out of place with the younger ones. Alexi and I now tell each other we miss the other one everyday and can’t wait to see her again. I only get to see her twice a year but we’re trying to see each other more this year. That was the best summer of my life and I will never forget it, and the best part is we get to do it all over again this summer.
ReplyDeleteMany summers ago my family and I went to the Bahamas. My experience there was extraordinary as we stayed in a giant hotel. I can clearly remember the beautiful view we had through these giant glass windows. Our room was high up and being a little kid, I experienced bursts of amazement looking out the windows. I remember seeing the clear blue sky as well as the sun beaming down on the buildings. The crystal clear blue water in the distance reflecting in the light gave me a sense of joy. This feeling never came up before in Massachusetts. I felt free and almost like I was on a different planet. In the distance I could see cars driving and people walking. The whole scene from our room made the vacation more enjoyable, a great first impression. My favorite part of the trip was visiting the various aquariums. Especially the tunnels that ran through the giant tanks of marine life amazed me. I could not even take in all the enthusiasm I had observing the numerous organisms. We also spent a lot of time at the pools and beaches. I almost felt as if I was a fish, spending so much time in and around water. The weather was perfect every day unlike Massachusetts. The transition from Massachusetts to the Bahamas was like getting out of jail. A great sense of freedom in a worry free environment and I felt as if the time spent there was heaven. Everything I saw and experienced seemed to cheer me up and make me have a warm feeling inside. From the pools and beaches to the food and attractions, I will never forget my treasured moments in the Bahamas.
ReplyDeleteEvery year for the 1st weekend of summer vacation my friends and I go to Bald Mountain up in Vermont. Some of my best memories came from this campsite because it is a place where I felt free from the rest of the world in an escape from technology and all other modern advancements. When not focused on cell phones and Facebook; days start to feel longer and much more enjoyment is felt every day. My favorite activity at Bald Mountain was riding tubes down the river because it provided both relaxation and when younger great adventure on the faster rapid filled parts of this river. One day in the summer when I was 11 after getting to where we usually start our adventure down the river we noticed four older boys jumping fearlessly off of a bridge into the river below. This bridge was about 25 feet above the water and jumping into the river seemed to be certain death. My friends and I decided to be “cool” like the older boys and jump off the bridge the same way they did. I hesitantly followed my friends onto the bridge and stared at the water below. After a few friends jumping it was my turn. Standing at the edge of the bridge I looked to what appeared to be hundreds of feet between me and the river. Inching forward and terrified I finally leaped into the sky. Milliseconds later I regretted the decision. I felt weightless and time slowed for the first time in my life I felt no restraints as I hovered over the dark and ominous river. Suddenly I plummeted down and seconds later I went crashing down into the water with a giant splash. Popping back up to the surface I felt exhilaration and a sense of rush I had never felt before. The two thoughts running through my mind were “I could not believe I survived” and “I need to get up and do it again”. I did jump again, and again and again and still do to this day every summer. When facing a fear just jump.
ReplyDeleteLast summer was the first year that me family owned out new lake house. Our lake house is on Lake Ossipee in New Hampshire,, an absolutely beautiful lake in an absolutely beautiful state. I knew from the first say that my dad signed the papers that my summers were going to be so much better. Summers in Boxborough were getting old fast. I saw the same routine. I would wake up at about twelve, eat, and do just about nothing. Sometimes I would get the energy to hang out with friends. I needed a change and I knew that my new lake house was going to give it to me. I couldn't wait to be sitting on my beach, and tanning until I was Mexican. And that is exactly what I did my whole summer. I practically lived in new Hampshire the whole summer. It was so good to get away from Boxborough. I had friends up all the time and we hung out at the beach and tanned everyday. My summer started out fantastic. My friends and I even met a bunch new people. It was good seeing new faces. I had seen the same faces since I was in kindergarten, so it was refreshing to see new people and make new friends. I never wanted summer to end. And now it is almost time for summer and I cannot wait. This summer is going to be even better.
ReplyDeleteUtkarsh Shukla
ReplyDeleteIndia I went to India around 2 summers back and it was an amazing experience. At this point I was around 13 and was beginning to understand culture and relationships (with families) better and this summer helped to strengthen my ties with my cousins and other family members a lot. Before this summer id see going to India as tedious, boring, and just a waste of time but this summer I got closer to my cousins and look at the lives of the people there and the amazing environment created. The freedom there was one of the biggest factors. There it wasn’t like you had to plan or tell people or whatnot you could just jump on a motorcycle and drive off to wherever you wanted and go enjoy yourself. There was a river there where we, my cousins my little brother and I, would always go swimming. It was a blast of a time and we could go do it almost any time. All it required was our older two cousins jumping on a motorcycle and driving us all there and they were more than willing to do so. The swims at the river were an amazing bonding experience as we would all enjoy each other’s company, and play games and just have a blast together and it formed memories that none of us would soon forget. In India there are also a lot less law restrictions so you have a lot of more freedom to do things such as get a ton of firecrackers and blow them up whenever. Me and my cousins would often do this where it would cost us maybe 4 dollars (around 180 rupees) and we could get bags of firecrackers and bottle rockets and just do whatever we wanted. There were these little tiny bowlish things filled with powder and we would light the top and it would spray huge amount of sparks out. One of us would hold it while the other lit it and told us when to throw it. While we blew up the fire crackers we were on a roof and we were blowing them up all over the place but none of us would ever get hurt because we trusted each other to warn us if anything was coming at us. It was the sort of blind trust that is almost impossible to form sometimes. After such experiences and enjoying each other’s company so much and building so much trust that ever since that summer I’ve always jumped at the opportunity to go to India again to reminisce about our child hood. But almost all of my cousins are in college now so it is not as fun anymore but the freedom is still nice now that I can drive a motorcycle.
Every summer, my family and I go down to Martha's Vineyard to spend the whole summer with our grandparents. There is a carousel there called, The Flying Horses, and it is one of the oldest carousels in New England if not the country. Kids ride around on horses and grab iron rings every trip around. The ride is a few minutes long and you try to grab as many rings as you can, as the ride comes to the last 20 seconds the people that run the carousel release the 'Brass Ring'. The Brass Ring is a ring that is different than the other rings, and the last to enter the ring arms. Whoever grabs the brass ring the get a free ride, which is extremely exciting for the numerous young children the ride attracts. One summer, I went to this wonderful landmark and i proceeded to go on the ride. The first ride, i caught the brass ring and was more then ecstatic at my incredible victory. And since i won a free ride that just sweetened the bliss of winning. On the start of my second ride my heart was pumping, and i was ready to go for gold a second time. It came down to the last ring, but i ended up winning for the second time in a row. At this point i was living on a cloud, and could not wait to go for a "hat trick". As the third ride commenced my arm was starting to become more and more tired, but i powered through it. The ride started winding down and i braced myself for another anxiety filled 30 seconds. I ended up winning for a third straight time, but at this time it had taken a while for the three rides i took. So my mom made me get off and save the free ride for another time. But until this day i will never forget the time i caught three brass rings in a row.
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