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Posts Tagged ‘Traveling Kid’s Interview’

Another Interview: Joseph 6 1/2 years old

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , , on March 2, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Joseph's Picture of His Traveling Circus Story- written in Polish

I know it has been awhile since I posted another kid interview.  Fortunately for you, this one was worth waiting for.

Charles and I met young Joseph in NYC (his mom is a model and had a job in the city with Charles’ parents).  I was struck by how mature Joseph seemed and how easily he took to both Charles and I.  The boys hit it off and we planned to meet up in Paris (his home) when we were in France.  Today, the boys were elbow deep in Lego, and during a lull, I snagged Joseph for a brief chat.

Joseph is 6 1/2 years old.  He was very concerned that I included the half, since he is no longer simply six.  He lives in Paris with his mom.  He speaks French, Polish and English fluently.  Oozing with confidence and never short on words, he loved our little ‘research’ moment and was pleased that we had something in common: we both were writing books about travel.

Do you like to travel?

We travel a lot since my mom is a model.  It is very cool to see new places and I get to visit my dog and dad in Poland and my friends when we go to Los Angeles.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to?

The Grand Canyon!  It was so beautiful.  We went up in the biggest helicopter I have ever been on–it had 8 seats, not just 4!  We also went up to see it in a hot air balloon.  It is the most interesting place I have ever been to.

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

When I fly by myself, I get to meet the captain and ask what all of the buttons are for in the cockpit and how the computers fly the plane.  I learn a lot about airplanes this way.  Also, when I wait, I look out the window at the airport and watch the people put the bags in the planes and driving around important things.

What advice do you have for other kids who are traveling?

Pack light.  Do not try to put too many toys or things to do in your bag.  The problem is: it is too heavy and you spend more time playing with the things that you already have at home and can’t enjoy the place where you are.  Spend less time on your computer or iPad and learn about the place you traveled to.

What advice do you have for parents who plan to take their kids traveling with them?

Don’t lose your kid.

How is traveling similar or different to a school field trip?

On a field trip, you can’t do anything you want or go to another museum if you don’t like the one you are in, so it is less fun than traveling.  But a field trip is more fun in some ways because you are with all of your friends.

What has traveling taught you?

Travel has given me an idea for a book my dad and I are writing.  I want to show it to you, but it is on my dad’s computer in Poland.  (Joseph runs to his room to find his sketchpad/journal to show me pictures of his characters.) It is about a boy named Nulils.  He and his parents work at a traveling circus.  His dad is a clown and his mom is a tightrope-walker.  Nulils has a trick.  A matchbox full of lice (not sure with the translation if he means fleas, but it is his story, so I say nothing) that he uses a magnifying glass and a projector to show the audience on a big screen the lice doing their tricks (Joseph laughs at this thought). There is also a cat named Madame Miau Miau and then the nasty Maestro Abra Kadabra.  (Joseph goes on and on about his story and shows me so many sketches of lice and characters.  He is so proud of his work.  And, honestly, I’m impressed.)

The Matchbook of Lice and Magnifying Glass

Madame Miau Miau and the Cat Pyramid

 

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Moroccan Kid Interview

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , , , on October 24, 2010 | 2 Comments »

Ophelia and Charlie

Poolside at the Amanjena Hotel in Marrakesh, I met two charming kids vacationing with their parents.  Ophelia (6 yrs old) and Charlie (7 yrs old) are a sister and brother from North Cotswold, England.  I had noticed them the day before in their adorable matching swimsuit jumpers and simply had to interview them.  Here are their responses.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Ophelia – Medium. Because planes are noisy, but it’s fun once you get to the place you’re going.

Charlie – Sometimes because I do like staying at home.  Some places I like and some I don’t.

What is your favorite thing about travel?  Least favorite thing?

Ophelia – Swimming is my favorite, but going out somewhere like a museum that is really boring and you have to be quiet is not my favorite.

Charlie – I like to have a nice time, but I don’t like when things don’t go well.  Like this morning, I was walking on the tiles that were wet from the rain and I slipped and fell. I don’t like when unfortunate things happen when we travel.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled?

Ophelia – Scotland. We went for my granny’s birthday and my 3rd biggest cousin and I played and had so much fun together.

Charlie – Umbria, Italy because I had quite a lot of fun there.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

Ophelia – Australia because I was born there, but I haven’t ever been back.

Charlie – Australia. I’ve been there like 5 times, but I don’t remember it because I was so young. Once my mom, dad and I went whale watching in a helicopter when my mom was pregnant with my sister in Australia, but I was so young and don’t remember it. We have only one picture of it.  I want to go back.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Ophelia – To go for my whole life and never have to go to school or go to work!  Holiday all the time.

Charlie – One day.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Ophelia – I’d love to take my huge snow tiger called Tigger but it’s gi-normous! He comes up all the way to here (she says with her hand under her chin) but I can’t take it because it wont fit in my suitcase.  He would need an entire bag of his own. So I have to take my little teddies instead.

Charlie – Normally I choose what I want to bring, like lego and cars, and have to fit it all in a small bionicle box.

What kinds of things do you learn when you are traveling?

Ophelia – You can learn about different birds and what they do.  Or learn how to swim so you can have other opportunities to swim, like at parties with friends.

Charlie – You gain experience.  You know a lot about your own country you live in, but you don t know anything about others until you go there.  Here in Africa, we may think their houses are strange, but if they came to England, they would think our houses looked strange.

Who is your favorite person to travel with?

Ophelia – My friends because they always give us presents for taking them with us.

Charlie – My dog.

What kind of vacation is your favorite?

Ophelia – Everything put together! (she says with a toothy grin)  A campsite with a fancy pool in the woods and a wooden room all to my own on the beach.  In my room, I’d like a wee fridge and in the fridge are all fizzy drinks and sweets just for me.

Charlie – I like places that are warm and nice, but you never know what the weather is going to do.  Like yesterday and that thundershower.  We were in the markets and my shoes and socks got soaking wet.  When I took off my shoes there was a puddle of wetness.

What advice do you have for kids?

Ophelia – Bring a computer because you can play on it if you have nothing to do or send an email to your friends.

Charlie – You can’t always be certain about a place before you visit it.  You might not expect what it truly is. The place could be bad or it could be amazing when you think it will be boring.

What advice do you have for parents that take their kids traveling?

Ophelia – Always bring your own towels.

Charlie – I’d tell my parents to start bringing our pet dog, Beach. We’ve had him since he was so tiny.

When you are older, will you travel more for work or pleasure?

Ophelia -  Work.  My job would be to ride a horse and rescue people on that horse.  That would be grand.

Charlie – Work. I might not marry.  I just don’t want to. I just don’t. I don’t like girls too much. I may work in engineering and travel, but not do something like diving because if you dive too deep, maybe past 30 meters, you get crushed!

What has traveling taught you?

Ophelia – I’ve learned to stuff lots of things, like all the toys and teddies that I want bring, inside my little suitcase.

Charlie – I’ve learned basically people live quite differently than us, but do some things the same, like eat food and have language. We all get dressed in the morning and go to sleep at night.  We are basically the same.

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Wise Words from 11-Year Old Naz

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , , on August 31, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

I met 11-yr. old Naz at the airport on my way to Louisville, KY.  I was sipping hot green tea when she caught my eye.  She was giggling with her brother and father and she flashed me a smile that lit up the terminal.

When I introduced myself to her family, she was very eager to put away her iPod and sit with me.  Under the watchful eye of her grandmother, Naz answered each of my questions with her hands folded neatly in her lap.  After the interview, she reached out her 11-year old arm to shake hands with me and politely said, ‘It was nice to speak with you, Elisabeth.  This was fun.’  Her mature response left me smiling and a bit amazed.  Naz’s responses to my questions about travel are below.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

I love to travel because it is fun to go to different places and seeing everything that is new to me.

What is your favorite thing about travel?  Least favorite thing?

My favorite part about travel is I get to go in a plane!  (Least) Going back home.  I’m always a bit sad to leave.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled?

Florida because it is so hot and sunny and its beautiful!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

I would go to California because I have heard it is really sunny and bright there and kinda different from where I live (Cincinnati).  There is a lot of rain here and I don’t like rain.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

10 days.  Not too long or too short

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Probably a toothbrush.

What kinds of things do you learn when you are traveling?

If you go to really different places, you learn about new cultures.  I am from Turkey, so if you go there, you will see and learn new things.

Who is our favorite person to travel with?

My mom because she always comes prepared.

What kind of vacation is your favorite?

I like staying at a hotel.  They always have great service where I go.  And I don’t have to make my bed.

What advice do you have for kids?

Always stay close to your parents.

What advice do you have for parents that take their kids traveling?

Take your kids to more places that are fun for them.  Like maybe an indoor pool, a zoo, a huge playground, or a great museum.

When you are older, will you travel more for work or pleasure?

Probably for pleasure, but I have no clue what I want to do.

What has traveling taught you?

It has taught me that many places are different than where I live.  I am always surprised at how different we are, but we are really just the same.

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Interview with Max in Paris

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , , , on July 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Jardin du Luxemburg

I found Max standing with his mom outside of the kids pay park in the Jardin du Luxemburg, while his younger brother, David, and younger sister, Sarah, were playing on the playground.  He was traveling with his family and had just gotten to Paris the day before.  Max had an infectious grin and could have chatted about travel all afternoon.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Max, 13 yr. old : Yes.  I really like ancient history, so I like going to places that I have read about.  Seeing all of the magnificent buildings and experiencing the culture directly in front of me is amazing.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Why?

Max, 13 yr. old : Greece. (2 different places in Greece actually) The Temple of Poseidon, just outside of Athens is number 1.  I love Greek mythology, so seeing the cliff where Theseus’ father threw himself into the Aegean Sea was amazing.  My friends and I climbed to the bottom of the cliff and back up.  And number 2 would be Delphi.  It was great there.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Why?

Max, 13 yr. old : Right now, I’d like to go and pop my head into the Roman Coliseum.  We are going soon and I can’t wait.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Max, 13 yr. old : 2 weeks. 3 weeks is too long. I’d want to go home already.  2 weeks is perfect, especially if you spend a week in one place and then travel to a new place for a week.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Max, 13 yr. old : A book or my iPod  (which recently got stolen, but that is a whole other story)

What kind of vacation is your favorite; ie. camping, hotel, house exchange, safari?

Max, 13 yr. old : A resort in the center of town that is convenient and close to everything, so my little brother and sister wont whine (as much) with walking or traveling from place to place.

What advice do you have for other kids that travel?

Max, 13 yr. old : Slow down.  Don’t miss anything.  Learn all you can about the place you are visiting.  And try new food.

What advice do you have for parents who want to take their child traveling?

Max, 13 yr. old : Don’t try to see too much.  Really learn about one place, instead of going from place to place and seeing too many things.  It is too much to handle otherwise.

Who is your favorite person or people to travel with?

Max, 13 yr. old : My friends.  We had such a great time in Greece.  Especially if you stay at a place that has no rules and you get to have as much fun as you want.

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

Max, 13 yr. old : You learn about people’s culture, I’d say.  Overall, I see their values compared to mine.

When you are older, do you think you will travel more with work or on vacation?  What kind of job do you think you might enjoy?

Max, 13 yr. old : Why not both?  My mom says I could be a writer or a poet, but I’d love to be an archaeologist and travel to see and study ancient ruins.  That would be my dream job.  So, I guess I would travel a lot for that.

What has traveling taught you?

Max, 13 yr. old : Never forget your charger.  But on a serious note…Expect the unexpected.

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More Kids’ Thoughts on Travel

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , , , on July 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

In Honor of Esme

Here are 3 more interviews with traveling kids.  This time the interviews were done in Stockholm, Sweden.  These 3 are older and more traveled…so less lego-talk and more profound insight into their travel experiences.  To read the previous interviews with Beckett, Charles and Owen, click here.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : Yes, because you get to go to nice places, go swimming and do fun things.

Esme, 13 yr. old : Yes because every place is different.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : Yes even though I travel a good deal, I find it quite exhilarating to discover and rediscover places I go or have yet to go.

What is your favorite part about traveling? least favorite part?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : My favorite thing to do when traveling is explore where you are.  My least favorite part about travel is going to sleep on a plane.

Esme, 13 yr. old : My favorite part about travel is when you get to meet people who live where you are visiting.  I like being able to do what they are doing—to be part of their culture, like participating in a ceremony in Indonesia.  My least favorite part is being on a plane or the long car ride—all the waiting…oh and jetlag.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : My favorite part is being there at my destination. My least favorite part is airport security and…..yeah, airport security about covers it.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Why?

Wallis, 9 yr. old :  Italy was my favorite.  Florence.  It was pretty, and you could walk everywhere practically, and they have great food.

Esme, 13 yr. old : I would have to say India.  It is full of culture and one of the places that hasn’t been taken over by the American idea—big buildings, huge glass structures—it still has culture.  The people are nice and happy even if they aren’t in the best living conditions.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : Sweden is probably my favorite place because it is like home to me.  Although, in my past traveling experiences, I have found Africa to be educational.  India to be mind-blowing and Buton to be surprisingly fantastic.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Why?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : Orlando, Florida! to the Harry Potter amusement park!

Esme, 13 yr. old : Antarctica because it isn’t really explored.  No one really lives there—it is barren, nothing like a big city.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : Antarctica because it is the continent I have yet to visit.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : 2 weeks because you can do as much as you want in that time, then repeat the things you liked.

Esme, 13 yr. old : 2 weeks.

Bailey, 16 yr. old :  1 week for an intensive (like Africa). 2 weeks for relaxation (like the Bahamas).

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : My blanket.

Esme, 13 yr. old : A book, my IPod and a camera.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : My passport, cash, my toothbrush….I am pretty easygoing—the bare necessities is good for me—nothing special.

What kind of vacation is your favorite; ie. camping, hotel, house exchange, safari?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : I like to stay in resorts because it is kinda having your own house, but not exactly. But good.

Esme, 13 yr. old : Beaches because there is so much to do at the beach—surf, tan, go into the village…my favorite.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : I find it is always nice to have a pairing.  Like building a school and teaching children and then going to a hotel or resort.  Camping or a safari paired with a relaxing moment.  Ultimately, pairing relaxing with something intensive.

What advice do you have for other kids that travel?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : Always make sure you help pack your things.  Don’t over pack or under pack. And always remember to have fun.

Esme, 13 yr. old : Always bring something to do.  Choose a book over an IPod because it never runs out of batteries and is much more interesting.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : Figure out how to deal with being bored because whining to your parents wont get you anywhere and will make your vacation worse.

Who is your favorite person or people to travel with?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : My mom…but if I could choose more people—my family.

Esme, 13 yr. old : I like traveling with my family when I can bring a friend.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : My family…we work well as a traveling unit.

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : I don’t know. (pause)  You learn how to look at the same thing differently.

Esme, 13 yr. old : Whenever we go, I try to learn the language—at least 5 words.  When you travel, you have an opportunity to be part of the culture and interact with the people who live there.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : Not only do I get to experience other cultures and see how other societies work, but I develop a global perspective about the world around me each time I travel.

When you are older, do you think you will travel more with work or on vacation?  What kind of job do you think you might enjoy?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : Do you mean business travel?  Yes. Maybe both or maybe doing make-up, so I’d travel mostly to L.A., if I don’t live there.

Esme, 13 yr. old : I hope personal—vacations.  I guess it depends what I want to do.  Sometimes I want to be a chef.  I used to want to be a pilot (so if I was a pilot, I would travel more). Maybe I will be a director or lawyer.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : I would travel more for vacation—I find it more fulfilling.  Then I wouldn’t associate travel with work.  I would travel on my own free will, free to pick and choose.

What has traveling taught you?

Wallis, 9 yr. old : To be patient.

Esme, 13 yr. old : Traveling has taught me to be more open about different cultures—embrace other cultures.  It has taught me to be more easygoing—go with the flow.  If things change, I can be flexible.  If it rains or plans change, I just go with the flow.

Bailey, 16 yr. old : Traveling has taught me to be more easygoing.  It has also helped me identify things in my life that I don’t necessarily need. Things are nice to have, but not necessarily needed.

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Kids’ Thoughts on Travel

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , , , on June 29, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Canal Cruising in Amsterdam

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : Yes, because it is fun and you get to buy something.

Charles, 6 yr. old : Yes, because it is fun.  We stay in different hotels every time.

Owen, 7 yr. old : Yes, because you can go to fun places. Well also no, because sometimes things are boring.

What is your favorite part about traveling? least favorite part?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : I like to play, like at Legoland.  I don’t like to travel when I can’t bring a computer.

Charles, 6 yr. old : My favorite part is to get to see so many places.  I don’t like it when sometimes my parents have to work when we travel.

Owen, 7 yr. old :  I especially like to travel to places that have water because I like to swim.  And I like to see how other places look, besides NY.  I don’t like that I can’t play doodle jump that much when we travel.  Also, that my mom doesn’t pay attention to me because she is talking to other people.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Why?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : My favorite place is Amsterdam because I got to eat pancakes on a boat and play in a ball pit.

Charles, 6 yr. old : Legoland in Los Angeles, because it is full of Legos!

Owen, 7 yr. old : Legoland in Los Angeles, because it is really fun.  I am going to Legoland in Denmark and staying there for a night.  I am so excited.  There is also a Lego shop and I get to buy something.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Why?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : I would go to an amusement park because it is really cool to play games and go on rides because I am 4 now.

Charles, 6 yr. old : India because there aren’t many cars and stuff. And that is where my dad is from.

Owen, 7 yr. old : Even in an imaginary world? I would go to an imaginary place and meet people…there would be an invisible bathroom and a bed that pops out of nowhere when you are tired.  It would be called NothingWorld.  And also there would be lots of palm trees, alligators, and cows.  Basically I would do anything I would like to for as long as I want.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : Like 100 days.

Charles, 6 yr. old : 1 or 2 weeks I think.

Owen, 7 yr. old : If it was good, probably a week.  Like Legoland or my country house.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : Lego, they are called mini-figures that I like. I love play with them.

Charles, 6 yr. old : Lego!

Owen, 7 yr. old : Like Lego and other stuff.

What kind of vacation is your favorite; ie. camping, hotel, house exchange?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : Hotels are awesome.

Charles, 6 yr. old : Hotels because they have neat furniture and it is always a new one.

Owen, 7 yr. old : Well, I like staying in a house, especially in California.

What advice do you have for other kids that travel?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : Have a good day.

Charles, 6 yr. old : Bring a lot of stuff to keep you comforted, like card games, toys, stuffed animals, and ugly dolls.

Owen, 7 yr. old : Well, it is fun to travel and don’t be scared of new places. You should probably see California and if you aren’t from NY, go there because the houses are great and my mom said they always have the best food there.

Who is your favorite person or people to travel with?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : My brother is my favorite person to travel with.

Charles, 6 yr. old : My mom and my dad.

Owen, 7 yr. old : My mom, my dad and my brother, except sometimes he is annoying.  Like I was sleeping in bed this morning and the pillow was so comfortable (I never felt like waking up), but my brother was sitting at the edge of the bed trying to wake me up! And he was being really annoying.  Like that.

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

Beckett, 4 yr. old : I learn about how to use goggles.

Charles, 6 yr. old : That each place has a different landscape, sometimes there are boats, trams, bicycles and cars.  Each place has a different flag. There are different roadsigns and languages.  It is cool because it is new and when I go somewhere new, it is fun.

Owen, 7 yr. old : I learn that every place is different. And I also learned in Sweden to never doubt your mom, because she was right about something (I won’t tell you what it is, but she was right).

When you are older, do you think you will travel more with work or on vacation?  What kind of job do you think you might enjoy?

Charles, 6 yr. old : Definitely vacation and I will bring my family with me.  I would like to be a photographer maybe.

Owen, 7 yr. old : I hope I will travel more with vacation than work.  Being a director or a writer or a person that makes lego.com would be my choice.

What has traveling taught you?

Charles, 6 yr. old : It is always a new adventure.

Owen, 7 yr. old : If you always stayed where you lived, you wouldn’t learn about other places and other languages.  If you are worried about travel, you should try it and never doubt a person who tells you that a place is great, unless it is a stranger, because you shouldn’t listen to them.

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