On the humid evening of August 20, 2007, Paul Knieser drove a minivan while his five children rode in the back seats. He drove slowly searching and praying for a gravelly gray opening between two painted lines: a parking spot in Walt Disney World, Florida.
In the back left seat, sat a young man of fourteen who wore comfortably an average height and weight for his age. His noticeable blue eyes were pacing back and forth, reading and re-reading notes on his iPod. This young man was me, Nigel Knieser. After scanning the information, I switched to the main screen which read “Beginner Lesson # 86 — Rough Weekend.” The lesson title refers to a Japanese language course which I have been studying independently for the past year.
Already late for our dinner reservation. we finally pulled into a newly vacated space as the sound of unbuckling seatbelts quickly filled the van. “Everyone watch for cars, ” Dad cautioned as usual, “and hurry.” “Alright, stay with me, hold hands,'” Dad told the two youngest. They each grabbed a hand while my two other siblings engaged in a quiet, happy conversation.
Suddenly, across an empty section of the parking lot, I spotted a large unknown object in the distance. The streetlight above it made its appearance dark and shadowy. A large piece broke off of it, and then a smaller one. After the last piece broke away, I could tell from the shapes that the figures were human. One of them was pushing an empty stroller. Another was apparently a child and the last, a woman maybe, was cradling a moving object.
They cautiously approached. The figure pushing the stroller looked to his left, then to his right. Seeing my father, the tallest in our group, the man’s eyes became fixed on him. “Excuse me.” I could see clearly now an Asian man, a boy and a woman holding a baby girl. The man was clutching a glossy catalogue covered with colorful photographs. “We…find,” he stammered, “Umm you where is”
As he approached, I noticed that he was holding a Disney brochure printed with Katakana, Japanese writing! I announced “I speak Japanese!”
The man looked at me, not understanding. I said it again in Japanese. “Nihongo wo hanashimasu yo.” The man’s eyes suddenly lit up. ‘Wow!” he said in English, amazed.
“What’s wrong?'” I asked in Japanese. He paused. “Where is the entrance to the Magic Kingdom?” he said slowly, hoping I would be able to understand. I knew exactly what he was talking about. “Follow us,” I told him in his own language.
They were appreciative and overwhelmed. The boy walking alongside asked, “Mommy, he speaks Japanese?'” We eagerly began to converse in the man’s native language. “Who taught you Japanese?” “Actually, I taught myself. There are no Japanese classes in my school.” “Really? That’s amazing. Why did you want to learn Japanese in the first place?” “Well, I’ve always found Japanese culture very interesting.'”
The father continued. “Where are you from?” “New York state” I replied, distinguishing our home from the city of New York. We conversed as we walked, until we reached a gate that housed a vast area of well-lit ground. He asked, “Is this it?” “Almost. First we must board the monorail.” We led them to an empty compartment, jumping on with only seconds to spare. “The view is so pretty,'” the father said looking through the monorail window. Cinderella’s Castle was in plain view, lit up in all its magnificence.
Soon, we reached the point at which we would go our separate ways. “Well, we’re here!” I said in Japanese.”Yes,” the man said. “What’s your name?” I realized I hadn’t shared my name with them. “It’s Nigel,” I said. “Nice to meet you, Nigel. Thank you,” he said in English. He put his hand out for me to shake, which most Japanese natives are not comfortable doing.
“Thank you,'”I said, grateful for an experience no Japanese lesson could ever teach me. My hard work, invested in what started as simple curiosity, could lead to an opportunity to help other people traveling far away from their homes.
Afterward, as I ate dinner, I happily replayed the evening’s events in my mind. Most people, I realized, wouldn’t hold so much to a chance encounter like this, but I had a feeling that this would be the first of many Japanese conversations I would have in my lifetime.
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1 Reply to “An Unexpected Opportunity”
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P.E. Island was amazing! If you ever have the chance to go there take it! It was so beautiful and all of the places in the books were fun to visit.
your picture of the horses on the beach remind me of Sweden. Thanks for bringing back the memories
You wrote a really good article on such an interesting & sad topic!
I’ve always wanted to go to P.E. Island! I loved those books. Luuuucky
nicely written 🙂
This is a wonderful story, you will be a great doctor.
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Hello, Ralph. An email voice from the past. Would like to catch up some time. I left Amtrak in '95 and have been living in the Boston area since '97. Have wonderful wife and 3 daughters (the oldest a senior at Barnard). Hope you and Fran are well. Send me a note some time.
Peter
Its really informative. Thank you Goldenberg.In Australia I like Sydney more because of its added attractions. Thank you .
Its really informative. Thank you Arrien .In Australia I like Sydney more because of its added attractions.
thanks for the information. I can use this for my child, since i do not like ANY thing that moves!!!
http://www.orlando4holidays.com
Parents and guardians with questions about transporting minors between countries other than the U.S. should ask the Visa Division of each country's Embassy for exact regulations. Canada, for example, can be very strict about granting children visas and may require a health exam.
The paperwork for vacations and short stay visits can be found at this link:
http://www.familytravelforum.com/how/advice/10545-Required-Documents-For-Travel-With-Minors.html?p=4
Would appreciate a copy of the sample formpermission letter for minor traveling with other than parent situation.
Yoga today is very important in people’s life. Yoga is gaining more and more importance as there is a lot of stress at workplaces. Yoga is the best and easy way to reduce the stress. And I have some good yoga tips at http://www.jiyohealthy.com/category/stress/
Playground Safety Common-sense rules. We are getting parents and professionals to pool together to create a kid-friendly understanding of how to have fun safely on any playground.
Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze is so much fun, and clean for an outdoor facility. Pumpkins arriving in one week!
hi looking for a quote for a pick up from newark airport on the 22/10/09 for four people to east 88st
i had a report to do on martinique, and before my teacher told me what i had to write about, i had know clue about martinique. now i want to go there. this site helped me do my project,and hopfully i will get an A
Looking for what ever we need for my Fiance to bring his daughter from Jamaica to Canada. He is a single parent and has primary custody, but I'm sure travelling internationally, that he will need a letter from her birth mother.
Thanks
Pattii
The mother of my daughter left her with out my consent to D.r and left her there with her mother returning to the United State abondoning my child for 5 years and just to go visit her every year a 1 year old little girl ..Wjat u think is dat
love the pix, you really capture what’s so beautiful about all these places. thanks for bringing those thoughts to my screen.
I had the best family reunion ever with primo events beach homes in virginia Beach. They gave me a beautifyl resort house and provided family games which made it fun for everybody.
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New Jersey
Eva, the document is available on page 4 of this story. Thanks!
Please send me Permission to Travel Form
THanks for this resource!
Hello,
I would like to introduce a famous restaurant in Budapest, Liszt Ferenc square 9. Café Miró Grande restaurant is located in the heart of Budapest.
I think Café Miró Grande's chef prepared the best Hungarian dishes in Budapest, for example Goulas soup, 'Lecsó', etc.
Don't miss it, when you visit the beautiful city of Budapest.
Another attraction of note is taking a canopy tour. When we filmed the pilot episode for our TV series "Paradise Hunter" we filmed with The Original Canopy Tour. They were excellent and provided some great knowledge of the bio-diversity in the cloud forest.
I would like to obtain a sample form or letter to authorize my mother in-law (my daughters grand mother) to travel to orlando florida where they will be meeting up with the other parent & then in a few days travel on a domestic flight to miami
please email me. Need a sample Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent.
read the instructions first
We've book a number of trips to Phuket for beginners and more advanced divers. The've all had a great time. Although is a bit further than the Caribbean. If you stay longer it's worth the flight time.
I need sinple form traveling with my step daughter, her mother is deceased. Her Father will not be traveling with us to the Bahamas
Hi to parents and grandparents traveling with minors, in need of this Permission Letter.
You can get a free sample of this blank form by filling out the email request at the end of this story. We ask everyone to sign up this way so that we can send you email updates as these regulations change, which is often!
Please read the story through to the end so that you understand the issue in full. Thanks for your interest in family travel!
FTF Editors
please send me the Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent form.
This resort is totally top notch. It's great there. And Amelia Island is one beautiful relaxing place. Love Fernandina Beach and also visiting Fort Clinch. All the best.
My granddaughter a minor,is travelling out of the country with me for two weeks, and I need a permission form for her parents to sign, in case of emergency, so that I can make medical decisions for her. Thank you.
This is really interesting take on the concept. I never thought of it that way.
Thanks for the comment, Paola! Fun story and glad you took the time to write.
Here's to roses and wine!
Can you please send me a standard document for a minor travelling with one parent.
Thanks
Javier,
You can request a sample Permission to Travel letter by using the form at the end of this story. For information on a temporary resident visa, please check with the Canadian High Commission at this webpage: http://www.visabureau.com/canada/canadian-high-commission.aspx
good luck!
Hello there i am looking for a letter sample of the one paren tarvel with child,the one Canadian Embassy requiring to extend temporary resident visa. Thanks for your kindly help.
What a great story, you were so lucky to be home at that time of year and your pictures are beautiful… Wish I could see it too.
This is soooooo right for all of us, not only Americans.
Anyway,about the roses, he is right especially about the odd number….
I liked hearing about Verona, I never knew there really was a balcony there and that any of that R&J story was true!
The legend of H? Long has it that, “Once upon a time, soon after the Vi?t people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to earth to help the Vi?t people fight against their enemy. Right at the time invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.
Diane:
Please go to the last page of this story and fill out a request form. Then the documents will be e-mailed to you.
Jillian
Need a sample Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent.