Tot 'n Tow

Air France First Class Lounge - Paris Charles de Gaulle

Airline Delays….they happen.  Best scenario: you are ‘stuck’ in the first class Air France lounge for 4 hours.  This happened to us last week and we were well aware of our cushy predicament.  Surrounded by extravagance, we sat back and waited with no complaints.  What did we do?  We ate, played Lego, got a massage, ate again, explored, and I interviewed 2 brothers who were on our same delayed flight.

Could Have Even Taken a Nap!

The boys were enthralled with their shiny new iPads and didn’t seem to notice the hours tick by.  Jack was the older brother, who wanted to be called Ninja Platypus Four (which I’m assuming is a character from one of his video games).  Dash, the younger brother, took time with each answer and was never short on words.  Both boys were a delight to interview and never complained about the delay…they were pros, pros with iPads in the first class lounge.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Jack, 11 yr old : Yes. Well it depends kinda….I like the places we go, but there’s a lot of waiting in travel.

Dash, 10 yr old : Yes, I enjoy it.  It’s fun. And we travel a lot!  We do a lot of touring and learning.  I learn about history when we travel. And I like history.

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

Jack, 11 yr old : My favorite is being at the places that we are visiting and flying on planes.  I don’t like waiting or having to go through all of the stuff….like taking out my computer or iPad when I go through airport security or a delay like this.  Not fun.

Dash, 10 yr old : It’s nice to have a change of scenery. My least favorite is jet lag! I get so tired and can’t sleep when I’m supposed to.

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

Jack, 11 yr old : Oh, that’s hard…probably New Zealand.  There were a lot of sports and people with painted faces and trees and things. And there weren’t too many historical places that we had to go see.

Dash, 10 yr old : I don’t know my favorite, but we go to a few places every year (Antibes, California, and Paris). We used to live in Antibes and London.

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

Jack, 11 yr old : I would probably go to Brazil.  I hear a lot about it, but have never been there.  Or I could say India or Egypt.

Dash, 10 yr old : I do want to go to Dubai (my uncle is moving there). Also, China or Russia because they have a bunch of history I’d like to learn.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Jack, 11 yr old : Maybe 10 days.  So it still is kinda long, but doesn’t get boring.

Dash, 10 yr old : It depends where I’m going….. actually 1 week for one place and then keep moving.  I could do that week after week after week, and keep seeing new places. Up to 1 year. That sounds exciting.

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

Jack, 11 yr old : IPad, iPod, and ummm that’s pretty much it.

Dash, 10 yr old : It was my computer, but now my iPad.

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

Jack, 11 yr old : A mix…you could stay in a resort in a place and go on a safari.  Do both.

Dash, 10 yr old : I like it all….but I’ll tell you I don’t want to do another safari anytime soon.  Last time we went on safari, we got attacked by a crazy elephant.  Its’ tusk went into the front windshield.  We had to shoot it…well we didn’t, but the guy driving the truck use to be a hunter, so he knew what to do.  We were lucky…he was the only one on the reserve who would have known what to do.  It wasn’t my best experience.

What advice do you have for other kids that travel?

Jack, 11 yr old : Bring food and a screen (like video games, or computer, or iPad) and such, so it doesn’t get boring.

Dash, 10 yr old : I don’t know…traveling is carefree, you don’t have to worry about things because your parents do it all….you just have to enjoy it.

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

Jack, 11 yr old : Let your kids use their screens as much as they want (because my mom doesn’t like when I look at a screen too much).

Dash, 10 yr old : Don’t be late (my mom is always late). It is so annoying.

Who is your favorite person or people to travel with?

Jack, 11 yr old : My brother because he doesn’t get me in trouble.  He is always on my side.

Dash, 10 yr old : I’m always with my mom and brother, so I don’t know anything else.

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

Jack, 11 yr old : I learn a lot about different countries and stuff….history, new good apps to use when you are in a new place, and get to stay in new cool hotels.

Dash, 10 yr old : History mostly.

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?

Jack, 11 yr old : Vacation I hope…it’s a lot funner.  Well it depends…I want to make lots of money.  Can it be something that doesn’t exist?….like a video game tester, a professional traveler that tells people where to go and things to do, a food tester…those things.

Dash, 10 yr old : I think both.  I don’t really know yet, but I have time to figure it out….a lot of time actually. (laughs)

What has traveling taught you?

Jack, 11 yr old : I have learned a lot about other places.  And that it [traveling] gets easier…the more you travel the more you understand and the easier it is….you learn how not to be bored or go crazy on family trips.

Dash, 10 yr old : Knowledge.  It has given me a lot of historical knowledge. We do a lot of touring.

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