In Russian schools, summer vacation lasts three months.

○ Staying at Grandma and Grandpa's in the Countryside (Suburbs)

This way of spending time exists in Japan too, right? Staying for a while at the home of grandparents living in the countryside or suburbs. Often, they have a garden, so you grow all kinds of vegetables and fruits together there.

My grandmother also had a garden. Since the garden was visible from the apartment window, she could always keep an eye on it, making it the perfect spot for planting especially exciting vegetables and fruits like cabbage, strawberries, and various gourds.

A short walk from the house, she grew potatoes. These potatoes weren't for hobby or sale. They were vital winter food. Because in Russia, vegetables couldn't be harvested in winter and were almost impossible to buy. So, what was grown during summer was eaten during winter. If you didn't store them, you might go hungry. She worked hard to grow many different kinds of potatoes and other crops.

There were also tomatoes on the balcony. Vegetables other than potatoes were preserved in vinegar or salt for winter. They added color to the table. As summer drew to a close, jars filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, mushrooms, jams, compotes, and more lined the house (of course, you can buy anything at the supermarket now, but this was about 25 years ago).

The grandchildren worked hard helping their grandparents with the farm work. They learned everything from how to grow vegetables and fruit, to fertilizers, pests, and how to control them. As autumn approached, they learned various things like how to make pickles and jams. Doing it every year naturally built up their knowledge.

Some grandparents grow apple trees and berries. Beyond that, they teach knitting, embroidery, woodworking, playing traditional instruments, and much more. Here, children could experience many things their busy parents rarely had time for.

○ Relaxing at a dacha surrounded by nature

Another way to spend time is going to the dacha with family. A dacha is a suburban "vacation home," similar to what you'd find in Japan. But it's not luxurious; it's quite simple. People living in the city tend to have one.

They basically live there during the summer, and some even commute to work from there. What do they do? Nothing special, really. They just relax and enjoy nature.

They go into the woods to connect with nature, pick berries, mushrooms, and herbs, or swim in lakes and rivers. Some also grow vegetables and fruit in their gardens. In the evenings, they play cards or dominoes with neighbors and family. Some places lack running water, and others require splitting firewood to start a fire.

It's a different kind of life from the city. The children learn about the forest, plants, living in nature, and a bit of survival. Since they usually live in a seven-story brick apartment building, this place is crucial for them to learn from their family how to live with nature.

○ Camps Packed with the Excitement of Being Away from Parents

This isn't your typical one-night camping trip in Japan where you just pitch a tent at a campground. It's a place where children leave their parents and live together for one to two months, staying at a facility similar to what we call a forest school in Japan, learning all sorts of things.

Children from first grade through high school can attend. But it wasn't easy to get in, so it was also a kind of status symbol. They enjoy summer just among themselves, doing crafts, putting on performances, having parties, and engaging in all sorts of activities.

Some camps have themes, like math camps. Attending a camp focused on your interests lets you meet many like-minded peers. You can steadily hone your skills and deepen your passions.

Some camps are near forests or the sea, letting kids experience a different lifestyle than the city and return home a bit more mature. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy vacations elsewhere or focus on work. Yes, parents get a month-long summer break too.

○ A two-week+ family trip just to relax

The Russian dream: warm seas. Go as a family and do nothing. Just rest endlessly by the sea. Swim a lot, sleep a lot, eat a lot, lounge around a lot. That's it. Those unable to reach the sea might go to lakes instead. The minimum duration is two weeks. But many go for a whole month.

In a country with long winters, sunbathing is a precious experience. A tan from the strong southern sun is the ultimate status symbol. Especially in the past, when travel wasn't so easy, a warm seaside vacation was a point of pride. That's why grandmothers with sunspots cherish them as proof they enjoyed plenty of vacations in their youth.

The northern sun has weaker UV rays, so it doesn't cause spots so easily. Some might think this way of spending time is a waste, but taking it slow is surprisingly the most important thing for both adults and children.

Some might think three months is too much leisure, but Russians are trained from childhood to rest and enjoy it in their own way. They discover hobbies, learn skills, and recharge. That's why they can work with such focus and energy even as adults.

Conversely, without this time, people might not have the energy or food reserves to work through the long winter. I feel this could offer hints for Japan's work-life balance.

And above all, it's not just summer vacation that's long. Schools also have winter break, spring break, and fall break, of course. Despite taking so much time off, there's no particular gap in academic achievement compared to other countries. In fact, they might even be ahead in certain subjects.

Thinking about it this way, what exactly is a break? Perhaps the break itself is a free research project of life. Considering this, the duration of summer vacations in different countries becomes a fascinating topic.

So, I've decided to fully enjoy a Russian-style summer break myself for a while. That means this column will probably take a summer break too. The start date for Part 2 is undecided, but if there's demand for more, I'll definitely write it! Until then, have a great summer break, everyone!