It's a Small World

My parents took my brother and I to Disney World in Florida when he was 9 years old and I was 4 years old. The two rides they always reminisce about around me are the Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World. Why, you ask? I cried the whole time I was on the Haunted Mansion ride; I clapped and giggled the whole time I was on the 'Small World' ride. See! I loved the world and every culture even when I was 4.

Everything I've learned from traveling so far tells me it really IS a small world. A large street market looks the same in Guayaquil, Ecuador and Barcelona, Spain. Mountain ranges provide beautiful views, whether it's the Adirondacks or the Andes. So far, my journeys have taught me first hand each country has something special but all are more similar than I could have imagined. At the core, at least, people are people. It doesn't matter where they live. Hey, my "Ecuadorian mother" that housed me for a month reminded me of my very own Nana!

Speaking of Disney...did you know there is a Hong Kong Disneyland?! The description of the street entertainment in Main Street USA boasts, "Enjoy the simple pleasure of pure, sweet American feel-good nostalgia." If you check out the interactive map you will soon realize "American feel-good nostalgia" translates to a marching band in Hong Kong.

By the way, if I do end up going to Hong Kong Disneyland, I am definitely taking a ride on "It's a Small World."

Oh, and do not worry, you mainland Chinese! China and Disney came to agreements this year which will lead to a Shanghai Disneyland in 2014. Yay!

I will post at least once more before I leave for China. I have plenty of movies, music, and books I've been "preparing" with that I will discuss! (Ooops...I forgot to watch Disney's Mulan).

For now, I leave you with a young Singaporean girl singing "It's a Small World." Click here to watch the adorable video.