ANANYA SAXENA, 8
Indian, studying in Grade 4 at Emirates International School, Meadows (striking a dance pose).
Summer holidays to me ... mean a break from school, which I enjoy thoroughly.
During my vacation ... I attended the Insportz summer camp as well as some painting classes. I also joined a Junior Hotel Academy.
Going back to school makes me ... happy. I really want to go back to school.
Homework is ... I don't know what it is because I don't get it.
I love .... participating in extra-curricular activities. Given a choice between sitting at home and doing nothing at all, I would rather attend activity camps.
ANSHUMAN SAXENA, 11
Indian, studying in Grade 7 at Emirates International School, Meadows.
Summer holidays to me mean ... loads of fun, parties and spending time with my family.
During my vacation ... I surfed the internet for hours, attended the Insportz summer camp and joined a Junior Hotel Academy.
Going back to school makes me ... nervous and excited, both at the same time.
Homework is ... not given during summer vacations.
I prefer ... going to a camp or doing any other activity that will keep me busy than sitting idle at home. That will be so very boring! I am really happy to go back to school now. I will meet my friends with whom I was in touch through e-mails and over the telephone.
KARMELIA GREASLEY, 7
Canadian, studying in Grade 3 at Jess-Arabian Ranches.
Summer holidays mean ... having lots of fun with
my family and getting to travel in a plane.
During my vacation ... I went for camping, swimming and even lived in a cottage in a park. And, best of all, I went to Toronto, Canada, to visit my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Going back to school makes me ... excited as I get to meet my friends and also learn new things in school. I will also meet my new class teacher and maybe make more friends.
Homework is ... OK at times. But it's not exciting
when it gets a bit tough!
I love ... Barbie dolls and also spend a lot of time
on the computer playing games. But I also like
to make friends. When I was in Toronto, I used to send postcards to my friends in the UAE to tell them how much I missed them!
NOOR KHALED EID, 11
Palestinian American, studying in Grade 5 at Dubai National School.
Summer holidays to me are ... fun time! I get to spend a lot of time with my family.
During my vacation ... I spent most of the time sightseeing in Dubai as we have just shifted from Texas to Dubai. So, I went to the Wild Wadi, Magic Planet and also did some swimming.
Going back to school makes me ... excited. As it is, it will be a new experience for me in Dubai. I will get to meet so many new people and make new friends.
Homework is ... a little bit exciting but it really depends on the subject I am dealing with. Otherwise, back in Texas, during my summer holidays, I did not get to do any homework.
I love ... fast food of all kinds, including pizzas and burgers. If I'm not at school, I would love to sit idle or maybe play with my kid sister and brother.
ARIELLE MARIE GAMBOA, 10
Filipina, studying in Grade 4 at International School of Chouiefat, Dubai.
Summer holidays to me are ... a time to take a break from school and cool my heels.
During my vacation ... I went to Ski Dubai and on a desert safari. We also took a short vacation in a hotel in Ras al Khaimah.
Going back to school makes me ... Both happy as well as nervous. I look forward to going back to school only a bit, not a lot of it.
Homework is ... not given to me during my vacations.
I loved ... Sitting at home, doing nothing at all during my vacations.
YAZAN SAMARA, 12
Jordanian, studying in Grade 7 at International School of Chouiefat, Dubai.
Summer holidays to me are ... the time when I get to spend more time with my family and make new friends.
During my vacation ... I attended a summer camp, played football and a lot on my favourite Playstation2.
Going back to school makes me ... kind of happy. Anyway, it would've been very boring had I been sitting at home doing nothing at all.
Homework is ... sometimes boring, sometimes exciting!
I love ... making friends. During the vacation, I stayed in touch with most of my schoolmates through e-mails and took time out to chat with them.
ZAIN SAMARA, 9
Jordanian, studying in Grade 4 at International School of Chouiefat, Dubai.
Summer holidays to me are ... a time I get to spend with my family and also interact with the extended family members.
During my vacation ... I went swimming, camping, made a lot of new friends and spent a lot of time with my newborn cousin.
Going back to school makes me ... very excited! I get bored sitting at home!
Homework is ... exciting, but only sometimes! I am lucky that I do not get holiday homework!
I have ... one close friend with whom I was constantly in touch with throughout the two-month long vacation.
PREETAM SAVIO ANTHONY, 14
Indian studying in Grade 9 at Gulf Indian High School, Dubai.
Summer holidays to me are ... the time to be away from the daily routine of school, books, studies and to de-stress myself. It's not that I hate school, but holidays mean having a lot of time to catch up with sleep and generally enjoy.
During my vacation ... I was involved in many activities, like completing my holiday homework, browsing the net, chatting with friends, going out with my family and friends, watching movies, downloading and remixing music, singing, playing the Casio as well as the guitar, watching TV ... Sometimes I chilled out at malls and went sightseeing in other emirates. I also partied with family and friends.
Going back to school makes me ... feel overwhelmed. After all, I learn a lot at school and I would be able to meet my friends and teachers and also take part in various school activities.
Homework is ... a little exciting as it helped me prepare for the next term.
I am not a ... lazybones. I would love to go to summer camps and take part in activities there because it makes me feel active and fit. The summer break was a bit too long and now I really am looking forward to going back to school. Throughout the vacation, I have been in touch with my classmates through e-mails, phones and I used to meet them often.
ZAIN ZAIDI, 14
Indian, studying in Grade 10 at Emirates International School, Meadows, Dubai.
Summer holidays to me are ... a time to relax and enjoy myself thoroughly. I also get to meet my relatives.
During my vacation ... I played tennis in the Aviation Club and football and cricket with friends.
Going back to school makes me ... excited yet nervous as I will meet new students. More than anything else, I am worried about the Board (final year school) exams.
Homework is ... OK.
I like ... going to school and spending my free time with friends who stay close by.
