FINAL DRAFT: NO PLACE LIKE HOME

My childhood years were the best times of my life especially growing up in the island of Palau. Palau is a small island located in the Micronesian Islands. There is no mall, no movie theatres and everyday when you wake up, it’s the same thing over and over again…at least now that I’m older I’ve realized that. It makes you feel that time is repeating itself every day except for the clothes you wear that changes. There’s nothing to do but hang out with friends and family all day long which was good. My house was the base of hangout for the little kids to the big kids and that’s just how it was. My house has a big yard and was equipped with basketball, ping pong, picnic areas, a place to play baseball and lots of big trees that gave us shade. Not only did we have all the fun and games but my parents were the coolest parents in town. My parents loved it when everybody came to the house. They said its better that we’re all here playing rather than having us wondering around which makes them worry. Unlike all the other parents, not once did my parents complain about us. For example, all my friends running in and out of the house, drinking our drinks, eating all our food, and making lots of noise…even late at night. My house became home to all the kids at my hometown.

Every day when my sisters, cousins and I wake up, all the kids are already outside playing and waiting for us. The everyday activities that we played were baseball, basketball, playing under the rain and wrestling in mud, tug of war, it, hide and seek, shark, bunny, in and out and etc. These were all my favorite activities especially when the sunsets, everybody gathers around telling scary stories. At a typical day we would mostly play basketball. After a while we would eat and relax for a moment because it’s too hot. After we’ve calmed down we would start climbing trees and getting mangos, guava, and star apple. After we’ve collected enough for us to munch on, we would sit at the top of our roof and eat. Around 4 o’clock p.m., that’s when it’s not so hot anymore, we’re back down running around playing “it”. After running too much we would play hide and sick as the older kids play basketball. As it gets shadier, the older kids have set up for playing baseball. We would all run and join them… most of the older kids would be our older brothers and or sisters and cousins. Around 7 P.M. it has gotten dark, that’s when we would all go our separate ways.

My sisters, cousins and I would all go home and take a shower and eat. After we’re done all the other kids are already outside the house waiting for us while all the big kids play basketball and ping pong. I would go and sit at the bench and keep track of scores. When the first game is over I would join in with the other kids and we would just chill and tell stories or sing. I, myself, get bored easily so I would move on and play ping pong with the older kids. I always loved it when the big kids are there with us. It makes me feel safe and of course they make it a lot more fun and makes our play time a lot longer. With the big kids around we would play until morning dawn yelling, laughing and talking loud and again my parents would never complain. Sometimes at night when the big kids aren’t around we would go to “Laundromat” and just chill and watch the cars roll on by. Cops would just show up out of nowhere and we would all start running away. Sometimes it gets so hard to run fast because I get so busy laughing at the police having a hard time catching us. With us plenty the police don’t know which way to go. Eventually they would give up and leave and we would all go back to Laundromat trying to catch our breath and laughing. Once the police have showed up and seen us we know that the game is on. As the police search other neighborhoods we would all plan out who’s going towards whose house and what not. After several minutes you would see a police car rolling down the hill fast as can be towards us. As soon as they stop the car that’s when we would start running away as fast as we can.

Every weekend my parents would pick up all the kids and we would go to the rock island to swim and B.B.Q. Sometimes we would overnight. I remember myself getting scared at night because it’s really dark. Just looking into the forest I would be thinking that a monster will soon jump out and get me. Oh how I stuck to my mom like glue. I being the youngest, everybody was very protective of me even to the point when one of my cousins tries to scare me they would get yelled at. That would just crack me up laughing. Even though I was scared I still loved to gather everybody around the bonfire and tell scary stories. Although when I got too scared I would quickly change the subject by telling a funny story which eases me. There were no complains of me changing the topic of the story… maybe they were all scared too. As soon as the sun rises I’m the first one up yelling, “Wake up everybody, lets swim!” Everybody would wake up and we would start swimming. The activities that we would play while swimming would be chicken fight, Bay Watch, shark and melaitus. Melaitus is a game where everybody would form one line and spread their legs. The person at the last would swim through everybody’s leg all the way to the front while those who are standing up are singing a song. As the tide is going low we would climb on to the branch of the trees and we would jump into the deep.

Now that I’m all grown up and I’ve moved here to the state, when I went back for a visit everything has changed. I was shocked to see kids now a day’s acting all mature, talking on their cell phones, having boyfriends and girlfriends, and most of all not wanting to get dirty. What really shocked me the most is that when it rains everybody are in their house not wanting to go outside and play in the mud…basically just being a kid. I personally would never trade my childhood with any of the childhood of today. Instead of enjoying life of being a kid, getting dirty, and not having the care and worries of the world their acting like an adult. All in all, nothing beats the feeling being at the island. After 4 years here in the state and going back home you feel this feeling of relief and relaxation. Your mind is empty with no worries and frustrations. So for those who need vacation to get away from everything, go to Palau. It’s expensive but once your there, it’s all worth it.