Brookfield East students had an eleven-day winter break before classes resumed on the second. Many students chose to celebrate the winter holidays in the comfort of their homes while others like Anika Garg (9), Teagan Reilly (9), and Himani Chonkar (9) spent their time traveling across the world. 

Anika Garg 

Garg (9) spent the holidays with her family (mom, aunt, uncle, and cousins) in Phuket Thailand. Garg (9) and the rest of her family explored many different beaches, the most memorable: James Bond Island. Garg (9) says that “there was a movie filmed there 40 years ago”  and the experience was spectacular. Garg (9) and her family also ventured to Shark Point beach: an area with lots of fish and coral. Garg describes her encounter with a potentially dangerous school of fish saying that “it could have been dangerous, but I have no idea.”  Thailand’s culture was memorable for Garg. Garg (9) says that “the Natives told us ’no English’ whenever we asked for something” and she replied using Google Translate. Garg (9) also says that the religion in Thailand is Buddhism and “there are a lot of temples wherever you turn.” Garg (9) reflects on the experience saying that “it was special to spend time with my family for Christmas and the New Year.” 

Teagan Reilly 

Teagain Reilly (9) headed down to Central America to celebrate her winter break in Costa Rica with her brother, sister, parents, and grandparents. Reilly (9) has been to Costa Rica several times before, she says that “the first couple of times we went to the rainforest side and then this time we went to the Peninsula side.” Reilly (9) and her family took part in several activities in their trip this year including snorkeling, fishing, going to the pool, and seeing lots of monkeys.  Reilly (9) especially took note of a distinct custom in Costa Rica. Reily (9) says that Costa Ricans “do not open presents Christmas morning. They open presents at midnight on Christmas Eve, exactly at midnight.” Then, on Christmas day, “families would all head to one beach to celebrate Christmas together.” Teagan Reilly (9) said she would head back to Costa Rica in the future. 

Himani Chonkar 

Himani Chonkar, a freshman at Brookfield East, was all the way in Mumbai, India for winter break. Chonkar (9) is a part of an Indian dance school based in Milwaukee, and had to go to India to get costumes for a dance (there are not any tailors in the United States). Chonkar (9) explains that Mumbai has a lot of seafood and says that “my grandma took me to the fish market; it was not very hygienic.” The transportation in India stood out to Chonkar. “There are no traffic rules,” Chonkar says, “so if you are a motorcyclist you can go anywhere at anytime.” Chonkar and her parents visited a special site: the Tha. Chonkar says that “it is not like the Taj Mahal it was like a hotel.” “A terrorist attack happened over there in 2009,”  Chonkar says, “they had a whole museum made out of it.” Chonkar’s trip was especially memorable for her. She says that “I met a lot of family members on my mom and dad’s side, when I usually see my dad’s side.” 

Garg spent the holidays with her family in Thailand.

The Reilly Family spent their holiday in Costa Rica. From left to right: Teagan, Ryan, Tara.