Don’t let the summer heat dampen your spirits!
What does summer holidays usually mean to us (‘Does summer break lead to learning loss?’, Gulf News, July 16)? Most of us would associate these two months with staying indoors in an air conditioned room, in front of the television or with electronic gadgets and junk food at hand. This sounds like an ideal summer holiday to us. The rising temperatures outside give us yet another reason to skip out on exercise. However, staying indoors all day leads to poor health and social skills, lack of creativity and dissociation from Nature. In fact, summer is the perfect time to get outdoors, explore Nature and meet new people. Physical activity can be easily integrated into our daily routine. For example, instead of getting together with friends for a video game, why not bond over a game of football or a simple walk in the park?
For those of us who are concerned about the high temperature outside, get outside in the early hours of the morning or in the evenings. The temperature will not deter us from getting our one hour of activity a day if we just follow some precautions, like avoiding the midday sun, wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated. So do you still have an excuse of skipping exercise now?
From Ms Madiha Ahmad
Sharjah
Keeping children busy
I have 12-year-old twin girls at school who complain about the long summer break. They are far from being nerds. On the contrary, they need their share of daily nudging towards the learning process. They feel that the only ones benefitting from such long school breaks are the teachers and school owners! Mind you, this is the opinion of pre-teenagers!
Of course, one has to take into consideration that this year, and a few more years to come, Ramadan falls into the annual periods just prior to summer breaks. The shortened school days during that period increase the sensation of a scholastic void, followed by excessive summer vacations.
My wife and I are therefore always on the lookout for summer activities that bridge the gaps, like summer camps specialising in teaching languages, morning to evening sports or random private tutoring to maintain a level of continued learning activities. As they grow older community service comes to mind to prepare them for adulthood!
It behoves the schools/learning institutions to be less profit oriented and more inclined towards the essence of their existence. Of course one cannot expect that schools to replace homes and teachers become foster parents. But we as parents pay good money and we expect more pro-active attitudes from schools and guide parents towards what type of light learning should/could be imposed on students during extended breaks so that the school year does not go to complete waste.
From Mr Ulrich Eckhardt
Dubai
A step for animal welfare
Dubai Safari is another great initiative by the visionary leadership of Dubai (‘Gulf News - The Storytellers (video): Dubai Safari Park - The countdown begins’, Gulf News, July 15). This place will become home for several animals who need a good home and it will also be a learning opportunity for residents to understand their natural habitat. Well done and congratulations to the leadership team!
From Mr Mahmood S. Khan
Dubai
Facebook comment
Don’t know the story
It’s obvious that she might have poured the wrong drink or poured the drink in a clean glass – this is a normal thing (‘Cabin crew pours drink back into bottle’, Gulf News, July 17). Why make a big fuss out of it? Many people pass by through business class aisles. Why would she do such a thing in front of many people in the cabin? Leave her alone.
From Mr Emad Bin Ali
UAE
Facebook comment
Trial by social media
This is exactly why I feel the strict laws in the UAE regarding filming someone is good. People shoot these videos and post. We don’t even know what happened before or after. People start jumping to conclusions. The ideal thing would be to send it to the airline or the authorities to investigate rather than posting on social media. It’s like trial by social media.
From Ms Mahnaaz Shaikh
UAE
Facebook comment
Disposing of liquid?
What if this is a normal procedure in the airlines? If you don’t drink the full glass, they will put the rest inside the bottle, close it and send it to the garbage. They cannot just throw it in the toilet! Some people in business class ask for a bottle just for show and then a full bottle and glass go into the garbage. People should never judge before knowing what is happening. Unfortunately, after this exposure, she is probably getting fired just because she caused a bad image. Thanks to the man that posted a picture that should never have even been taken in the first place.
From Mr Ricardo Costa
Dubai
Facebook comment
Hoping for the worst
I am sure the champagne glass hadn’t been used. It could have been a new glass! Even bartenders do this sort of thing if the alcohol isn’t contaminated by someone or if the glass is not used to avoid wastage. People are just hoping she loses her job.
From Ms Cassandra Debbie Sandra
UAE
Facebook comment
Why judge her?
How would she benefit from trying to recycle the beverage? Why judge her without asking? Call her and ask, then trust her.
From Mr Nima Unr
UAE
Facebook comment
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