Summer brings back childhood memories

Gooseberries, tamarinds, custard apples, black plums, Chinese plums, lychees... are snacks that are very rare in the countryside today. Most things are converted into money, and those "rustic" snacks have also become items for sale, priced at a few tens of thousands of VND per kilo. In contrast to the past, children only had to hang around the backyard or in the fields to see them. "In the 70s and 80s, most of the children's food was almost free, and did not require their parents to buy them snacks. The joy of childhood was very special! My second sister is now in her 50s, and whenever she goes on a business trip and sees tamarinds on the side of the road, she is as happy as a child receiving a gift from an adult. Almost everyone who grew up in the countryside is like that, fond of reminiscing and lingering over the beautiful memories of their childhood, despite the deprivation and hardship, but full of pure joy" - said Mr. Tran Huy Sang (Tan Chau Town).

Memories of summer are sometimes wrapped up in a cool glass of water, a football match in the fields, a dreamy kite-flying session sending so many ambitions to the sky, every child goes out barefoot and bareheaded, sunbathing until they are tanned but rarely get sick. Summer is filled with the cheerful laughter of friends in the neighborhood, skipping naps, wandering around together playing sandal fighting, smashing cans, jumping rope, hide and seek... Small pleasures that seem to be lost in the endless. Summer is also the season of star trees and oil trees full of fruit, just waiting for the wind to blow up, hundreds of wings spinning and flying, filling the sky. Trees borrow the power of nature to bring life to new places, becoming an interesting game for children. Summer is also the season of colorful flowers blooming, showing off their strong vitality, from royal poinciana flowers signaling the end of school, bright yellow queen flowers to dreamy purple lagerstroemia flowers...

Peaceful and joyful moments of summer days in the countryside

Born and raised in the countryside, for the convenience of his work, Thanh Duoc chose to settle in Long Xuyen City. Every year, he encourages his two children to study hard, and the reward is a trip back to their hometown or a visit to the ecological garden. “The simple joys of my childhood have now become luxuries. If adults want children to experience them once, they have to buy tickets to catch fish, dig snails, pick star fruit, pick star fruit, walk on the monkey bridge... Modern life has many conveniences, but children seem to only study and study, rarely having the freedom to play with friends like the previous generation. In the past, there was no concept of extra classes, no school, no travel. At the end of the second semester, children enjoyed 3 months of complete rest with friends and family, sometimes missing their class and school. Those are memories that will never happen again,” Mr. Duoc reminisced.

Everyone agrees that in the hustle and bustle of modern life, there is hardly any optimal choice that can harmonize both adults and children. Summer learning is not necessarily bad if it is a useful experience, skill class, talent class... However, people of the "old generation" still want more space for children to play, rest and relax comfortably like their childhood. Not everyone's childhood is colorful. There are summers of hard work helping their families with farm work to cover the tuition fees for the new school year. But children's summer vacations are still of interest to adults, sometimes inviting each other to cook sweet soups and make cakes to bring joy to their children. Banh canh, banh la, mung bean sweet soup, cassava sweet soup, banh tam, banh duc... over the years have packed flavors into adulthood. I remember so much that, in this era, whenever they hear of a folk cake festival somewhere, the elderly and children all flock to the place to find it.

In the countryside that is rapidly changing due to urbanization, it is a joy to still see the simple image of children following adults to fly kites, play soccer, enjoy the wind in the fields after harvest, and enjoy the peaceful sunset without having to rush because of extra classes or tutoring. Hopefully, summer, whether for children or adults, everyone can enjoy a moment of rest in their own way. From there, the small joys will not only be memories recalled by the older generation, but will be a beautiful part written in the pages of life of the innocent young generation.

MY HANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/mua-he-goi-ve-ky-uc-tuoi-tho-a418214.html