My son’s fifth grade year: 97,737 miles, 40 flights, 6 continents and 16 countries
Jan 4, 2015, 12:57 pm
#152
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Ever since Jay wrote me last week with his kind note, I've been reading through what I've written until now. It does need an ending so I've begun to write. Also it deserves an epilogue too. So much has happened since the trip. Our journey affected our lives in many ways. Lots to share.
Stay tuned.
-Carl
Stay tuned.
-Carl
Looking forward to updates!! Your trip report of your family's remarkable year is one of my favorites.
Nov 2, 2018, 3:04 pm
#154
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FALL 2018 Update:
I still hear from people about our trip and wondering how our son Corbin turned out after experiencing this incredible year of travel and cultures at age 11.
Well, Corbin continues to be an amazing person. He graduated high school here in the Bay Area and now is off at university. While in high school, he did EMT training and is currently studying pre-nursing. He has a special ability to work with people and help them especially in difficult times. I believe that our year long trip helped him develop empathy and love for all humans, especially those on the fringe of society. He is funny and loving. He never experienced the "terrible two's" and did very well with adolescence.
Just the other day, I came across a slideshow of Corbin's moments of Fifth Grade Around the World. It is truly full of thousands of memories. It's 13 minutes long but if you'd like to watch part of it, here is the link:
Here's a picture of our little boy all grown up as an 18 year old man. And of course, there's a girlfriend that greatly influenced where he chose to go to college. We are happy he's on a good pathway in life. Travel has been a part of his life since he was a four month old and made his first trip to South Africa. And I believe it's his foundation of travel that will continue to guide his life as he gets older.
I still hear from people about our trip and wondering how our son Corbin turned out after experiencing this incredible year of travel and cultures at age 11.
Well, Corbin continues to be an amazing person. He graduated high school here in the Bay Area and now is off at university. While in high school, he did EMT training and is currently studying pre-nursing. He has a special ability to work with people and help them especially in difficult times. I believe that our year long trip helped him develop empathy and love for all humans, especially those on the fringe of society. He is funny and loving. He never experienced the "terrible two's" and did very well with adolescence.
Just the other day, I came across a slideshow of Corbin's moments of Fifth Grade Around the World. It is truly full of thousands of memories. It's 13 minutes long but if you'd like to watch part of it, here is the link:
Here's a picture of our little boy all grown up as an 18 year old man. And of course, there's a girlfriend that greatly influenced where he chose to go to college. We are happy he's on a good pathway in life. Travel has been a part of his life since he was a four month old and made his first trip to South Africa. And I believe it's his foundation of travel that will continue to guide his life as he gets older.
Nov 3, 2018, 11:49 am
#156
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
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I still believe this is one of the better and most interesting trip reports out there. Thanks for sharing!
Nov 4, 2018, 11:55 am
#158
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NCE, MCM
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Posts: 167
i would also like to comment that this report was so interesting, i wasted spent a huge chunk of my sunday working my way through as i was not on FT when it was first posted -- so well written and a lovely and fascinating read even 7+ yrs later
thanks so much for sharing your experience and reviving the report -- best of luck to you and your family moving forward!
(also, as apolitically as possible two days before election day in the US, i found your analogue in reference to the chilean winery "Think “Donald Trump wakes up one day and says ‘I want a winery.’"" both amusing and depressing!)
thanks so much for sharing your experience and reviving the report -- best of luck to you and your family moving forward!
(also, as apolitically as possible two days before election day in the US, i found your analogue in reference to the chilean winery "Think “Donald Trump wakes up one day and says ‘I want a winery.’"" both amusing and depressing!)
Nov 4, 2018, 12:20 pm
#159
Join Date: Mar 2010
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I remember when this first came out, it was about when I first joined FT. I’m only a few years older than your son, and I really enjoyed reading about a family that cared as much about travel as my family did/does. Travel provides so much to youth, it provides valuable experiences, I’ve certainly made good use of my experience, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was a joy to read the report again.
It was a joy to read the report again.
Nov 5, 2018, 3:19 pm
#161
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
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Posts: 1,530
Loved this story - and have missed frequent TR's from you since -
Great to see that Corbin has turned into an amazing young man- he did have two amazing Dads to guide him thru life
thanks for the epilogue
Great to see that Corbin has turned into an amazing young man- he did have two amazing Dads to guide him thru life
thanks for the epilogue
Nov 5, 2018, 3:44 pm
#162
Original Poster
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I still travel a lot but it's funny. I feel like a lot of the stories about the geeky travel part have been told by me and others. I'm booked to go to Japan for cherry blossom festival. The outbound is in SQ First and the return is JAL First. I've written several reports on both of these experiences. I've also flown quite a bit on Emirates in first but I'm not sure what new insight my experiences bring. I still love each and every minute of international travel especially in First. Yes, I'm still the same travel geek that I was when I joined Flyertalk and then ended up buy a million miles worth of Nutrigrain bars to fly on Concorde and lots of other international first travel. Since then, I continue to chase the travel dragon.
First and foremost, travel is about people. I still remember the outstanding station manager of Air India at LAX when we left our home to live in Europe before we did our year of travel. He was so lovely and warm. He really made us feel like we were about to fly on HIS airline. We were the only passengers flying in First that night and he showed us wonderful hospitality. Then he introduced us to the Purser once on board. He, along with the other lovely "auntie" FA and a stunningly beautiful young FA continued to give us one of our most memorable flights. It was a wonderful start to an outstanding experience of a lifetime.
First and foremost, travel is about people. I still remember the outstanding station manager of Air India at LAX when we left our home to live in Europe before we did our year of travel. He was so lovely and warm. He really made us feel like we were about to fly on HIS airline. We were the only passengers flying in First that night and he showed us wonderful hospitality. Then he introduced us to the Purser once on board. He, along with the other lovely "auntie" FA and a stunningly beautiful young FA continued to give us one of our most memorable flights. It was a wonderful start to an outstanding experience of a lifetime.