Exciting time

Schools across the UAE are set to reopen from Monday, and the familiar signs of a new academic year are already visible everywhere. Shopping malls and stationery stores are bustling with parents and children, getting ready for the new school year.

Soon, the sight of yellow school buses plying the roads in the early morning will return. For me, the chirping of children on the streets of Sharjah is particularly exciting. The day begins very early for parents, and the entire rhythm of the neighbourhood changes.

I have been living in Sharjah for more than two decades, and even after all these years, I feel a sense of excitement every morning when I see the school buses on the roads.

The two-month summer break is certainly necessary for children to rest, recharge and spend time with their families. Yet, during those weeks, the neighbourhoods seem unusually quiet. The familiar sounds of children playing, school buses moving and parents rushing through their morning routines disappear. Now, as the new school year begins, that energy is returning. I too am gearing up for my morning routine.

Rizwan Khan
By email