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Children enjoy last few days of freedom before schools reopen

Despite the carnival atmosphere of the ongoing Dubai Shopping Festival, children are all set to return to school this week.

Khaleej Times spoke to a cross section of people, who were out and about enjoying the sun and the breeze, eating ice cream and watching the sea gulls by the beach, towards Marina.

Trisha Mhae Asis is in the 6th grade in a school in Manila, where she stays with her mother. Her mother is pregnant and was not able to travel to Dubai, but Trisha, who did well last semester, has come to Dubai, as a promised treat, to stay with her father. Her father, Marcelo Asis, works in Dubai for Emirates Airlines. Marcelo’s wife is set to join him in Dubai after she delivers the baby, when Trisha will have to change schools. Trisha, who came to Dubai for the New Year, has loved every day here.

She’s enjoying her time with her family here, as is her dad, who is trying to coax them to stay two more days as Trisha’s school, like the schools of many children visiting from out of town, opens on Monday.

Visiting from Austria are 13-year-old cousins Selina and Leonie Berger. The girls epitomise early adolescence with their huddled, conspiratorial laughing. They’re running around trying to hide behind a large bin on the a stretch of Jumeriah Beach resort, which has cafes and gymnasiums on the left and the beach on the right. The girls are in the middle of a game of hide and seek. The rest of their family is on the beach. The distraction of the game is such that their answers are in monosyllables. They’re from Vienna and are flying back tomorrow. Amused at the assumption they study in Dubai, they answer in extended sing song: “nooo” in chorus. School for them too starts on Monday, and they will fly back on Saturday. Did they enjoy Dubai? The chorus again: “ye-es!”

Mehejebeen Bano has done her sister a favour — she is babysitting for her sister and brother-in-law, while they have lunch together in the mall. She has brought out her 14-month-old niece Maira for a view of the water. Mehejebeen laughs and says she feels bad for her neice as she is starting nursery – also on Monday. “These are the last days of freedom for her, so why not enjoy the weather and sun a bit, eh?”

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