What Do Americans Do in the Summer? | Test Your Listening in English

Are you curious to compare what you do in the summer to what most Americans do? Well, there are certainly plenty of opportunities for summer fun, but how much fun a person has varies considerably. Let me start by explaining that a lot depends on someone's age and profession. And, of course, preferences and finances vary from household to household. But you don't have to be a millionaire enjoying an early retirement I should know. I'm not a millionaire, and I'm not close to retirement. I work nearly every day, but I'm pretty good at including some fun and relaxation in my summer days. I'll talk about the younger generations first. Most students have a summer vacation. A few might choose to take summer courses, but the majority of students are on break. The school year ends in June, and even earlier if you're a college student. Don't forget that when I say college, I'm talking about higher education. College students are usually 18 to 22 years old, and they've graduated from high school. Many undergrads find summer jobs or internships. Some get hired for full-time or part-time work and get paid minimum wage. Summer jobs for both college and high school students allow young adults to earn money for personal expenses and school-related expenses. Internships can be paid or unpaid. Upperclassmen in college are willing to accept unpaid internships if they can gain valuable experience and connections. Younger students often find ways to earn money as well during the summer. Teenagers might work at local grocery stores or ice cream stands. A lot of girls babysit for families in their neighborhood. School-age children sometimes set up lemonade stands in front of their homes and sell glasses of the cold beverage to people walking or driving by. Don't underestimate the entrepreneurial ambitions of these kids. They can earn fairly well on a hot day if they happen to be in a busy location. Children and teens also have many summer camps to choose from. Some are day camps, and some are overnight camps. Most camps have a range of outdoor activities, including swimming and canoeing. There are camps that are specific to the children's interests, such as sports, music, theater, or art. Some camps are affordable, and others can be pricey. Guess who the counselors are? Often they're college students who usually get free room and board and then receive a stipend for the whole summer. If you love working with children, then being a camp counselor can be fun. College students might seek a volunteer experience away from home or even outside the country. It's a time for exploration and adventure. I worked in an orphanage for a couple of summers in my early 20s. I didn't get paid. I just wanted the experience, and I've always enjoyed working with kids of different ages. Both volunteer jobs and internships are ways young people build their resumes. These kinds of experiences showcase a person's interests, values, and skills. But when people aren't volunteering, attending camps, selling lemonade, or working at a part-time job, what are they doing? I'd say many high school and college students are enjoying the chance to sleep in and stay up later than they can during the school year. If you're lucky enough to live near a beach or a lake, then swimming is a popular activity. There are public and private pools, and some Americans have enough space to enjoy a pool in their backyard. Swimming parties are fairly common. Family activities include mini-golf. This is a big business in the summer months. You might pay around $10 per person for one course. A course has 18 holes. Most mini-golf places have at least two courses, so you can choose to play one or both. You usually get a discount if you pay for both. In the evening hours, the demographics change, and young people come without their parents. They play with friends. Sometimes, in addition to mini-golf, a recreational park will offer batting cages for those who like to practice hitting baseballs. Do you think you can hit a fastball? I'd be too scared to try. But there may be another alternative. The place my family likes to go to has a driving range right next to the mini-golf course. Do you know what a driving range is? Whether you're serious or not about golf, a driving range allows you to practice your golf swing with different clubs. There's a long line of stalls, and at each station there's a mat with artificial grass and rubber golf tees. You can pay for a small or big bucket of balls. If you don't have your own set of clubs, you can borrow theirs. You'll see people with varying skill and experience at the driving range. A lot of people just have fun whacking away, trying to hit their balls at least 100 yards into the distance, hopefully straight. Sometimes they completely miss the ball. Then you have those quiet, serious golfers who are there to perfect their swing and stay sharp for their next game. What else? There are ziplining and ropes courses. These kinds of aerial adventures have really grown in popularity. There are fun ropes courses for different levels of ability. Small kids generally stay lower to the ground and need a lot more supervision. Older children and adults can handle bigger heights and courses that require more agility. If you're not afraid of heights and enjoy the thrill of being up near the trees, then ziplining or doing a ropes course is a fun summer activity. I've heard some courses have evening sessions with the course lit up after dark, but I've never tried it. Then there are the water parks. If you like being in the water and you like to get your thrills, you can spend the day at a water park. There are all kinds of tubes and slides. Some are smooth and gentle. Others are rapid and dramatic. Lightning slides are super steep, and you might wait a long time in line just to slide down in a matter of seconds. But the adrenaline rush is what you're after. I did that when I was younger, but honestly, I didn't enjoy having the water go up my nose and having my swimsuit get shoved into embarrassing places from the speed of the fall. Yeah, been there, done that. You can also get your adrenaline rush at amusement parks. They open in the early summer and close by early fall. If you like roller coasters, giant swings, and the merry-go-round, then you might find it worth paying $60 or more for a day pass. Small children pay less, but don't forget you have to buy lunch and possibly dinner along with snacks and overpriced water, so many families can afford only one summer trip to the nearest amusement park. The average American zoo is a bit more affordable, but food can still be overpriced. Some zoos allow visitors to bring food from home, so that can cut down on expenses. American zoos have improved greatly over the past few decades. Rescued and protected animals have better living spaces, and the zoos do a much better job at educating people and making children curious. Awareness of endangered species and vulnerable animal populations has also increased, thanks to the efforts of zoos. Even on a rainy day, you'll find Americans visiting zoos. It's a common summer outing. For those who want to get away from civilization, there's camping and hiking in the countryside and in the mountains. Some people go the whole nine yards, as we say, and they pitch a tent and make a campfire for dinner. American campers are not completely without any modern luxuries, though. Many campgrounds have bathroom facilities. Thank goodness! Some campgrounds have parking for RVs, that is, recreational vehicles. So camping is technically just being away from busy towns and cities. Some so-called campers sleep in their RVs or trailers, and others rent cabins. So actually, there are many interpretations of what camping means in America. It's generally an overnight trip of some kind in nature. Amenities and luxuries vary. Close to the campgrounds, you usually find hiking trails and possibly water activities like kayaking, canoeing, or tubing. Do you know what tubing is? Well, one version of it in the summertime is getting on an inflatable tube and floating down a river or stream. It could be either relaxing or adventurous, depending on the current. So if you ever agree to go tubing, be sure you understand what you're in for. Would you rather stay out of the water? Road trips are quite common in the summertime. National and state parks are popular destinations. But many Americans enjoy relaxing in their backyards or going over to friends' homes for casual gatherings. Outdoor grilling is very popular in the summer months. Some larger homes have nice patios with large outdoor grills. But even with a small grill, you can enjoy the usual American foods. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, steak, corn on the cob, veggies, and even fish. Grilled salmon is popular. Shish kebabs of all kinds are delicious. That's food on a skewer, a long stick. It could be shrimp and veggies or chicken. You name it. One of the best smells of summer is grilled food. You can always tell when your neighbors are grilling. It smells fabulous. What's for dessert in the summer? Some Americans head to their local ice cream stand. For others, whether they're in their backyard at a fire pit or camping out in the mountains, it's s'mores. A s'more is a really unhealthy but yummy campfire treat. We roast marshmallows on a stick, then put the melting marshmallow on top of a layer of chocolate, and then put that between a top and bottom layer of graham crackers. It's hot, messy, sweet, and wonderful all at once. Kind of like summertime itself. I hope you enjoyed hearing my thoughts on this topic. 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