Get ready for takeoff! 🛫 Sergio and Mimsy are heading to the airport to learn how flying actually works, from the roaring engines to the tiny buttons that keep a plane soaring 30,000 feet high. With help from their pilot friend Luca, we discover how travel connects cultures and turns the sky into a classroom. This episode is perfect for young travelers getting ready for their very first flight!
Get ready for takeoff! 🛫 Sergio and Mimsy are heading to the airport to learn how flying actually works, from the roaring engines to the tiny buttons that keep a plane soaring 30,000 feet high. With help from their pilot friend Luca, we discover how travel connects cultures and turns the sky into a classroom. This episode is perfect for young travelers getting ready for their very first flight!
SERGIO: Hi There. I’m Sergio, The Accent Explorer. Thanks for joining me on another super exciting sound journey across the world. And this here, as usual, is my chirpiest pal, Mimsy the Mockingbird. Hello, Mimsy!
MIMSY: Bonjour!
SERGIO. Aaaahhh… bonjour, Mimsy! Hear that, Explorer? That’s how you say hello in French. Can you say it with me? Ready? “Bonjour!” [BEAT] Great job!
Now guess what Explorer? My flight to Australia is coming up next month. So, I figured this is the perfect time to find out what it’s like to journey from little ole’ Green Ridge, North Carolina…all the way to the Land Down Under (that’s Australia!). And lucky for us, I have a good friend who knows everything about flying …because he is a REAL LIFE airplane pilot. His name is Luca. Yup! That Luca. The friend I mentioned in an earlier episode…the one who taught me all about vegemite, cricket and those funny hats with corks hanging off the brim!
MIMSY: Cork Hat!
SERGIO: That’s the one! Anyway, I’m hoping that Luca can show Mimsy and me how to get ready for such a loooong flight. So we’re going to visit him…at the airport! Are you excited, Mimsy?
MIMSY: (nervously) No. I’m a little scared.
SERGIO: Aww, I get it Mimsy! Lots of people feel that way before their first big flight. But guess what? Luca promised that once you see how amazing airplanes are (and how fun it is to soar above the clouds), you’ll feel braver than ever. You might even want to join us on our next trip.
MIMSY: Hmmm…maybe. If they have bird snacks!
SERGIO: Deal! Okay, Explorer. Grab your travel bag and lace up your shoes. We’re off to the runway of discovery. Next stop…the airport, to see what flying is all about!
[TRANSITION STING]
SERGIO: Okay. Here we are at the Green Ridge airport. Wow, it’s busy in here! There are travelers rolling their suitcases to the gates, little electric carts darting through the crowd, and friendly crew members sending messages over the loudspeaker to one sleepy passenger who is late for their flight.
MIMSY: And look out the window, Sergio. There are BIG planes everywhere!
SERGIO: And I think Luca’s around here somewhere. Can you see him, Mimsy?
MIMSY: There he is! In the black suit and big shiny hat!
LUCA: (Warm and confident) Sergio! Mimsy! Welcome to the busy, buzzing Green Ridge airport!
MIMSY: Hey Luca!
LUCA: What do you think of the planes, Mimsy?
MIMSY: They’re ginormous!
LUCA: And beautiful! They’re majestic things, planes. Giant metal birds that can lift hundreds of people high into the sky. Pretty cool, huh? Without airplanes, we’d still all be right where we started,.... no adventures, no exploring! (Chuckles) Aaaanyway, what can I help you with today?
SERGIO: Well Luca, it’s been a very long time since I’ve flown in an airplane. And with my trip to Australia coming up, I wanted to ask you how I can make the most of the experience.
LUCA: Great question, Sergio. Let’s see, the flight from Green Ridge, North Carolina all the way to Australia is really really far…about 10,000 miles. That’s almost a whole day of flying! And for most of that time, the plane is flying about 30,000 feet high in the sky. That’s even higher than the clouds and higher than the tallest mountain! Can you imagine flying that high, Mimsy??
MIMSY: Not that high!
LUCA: Oh, well that’s okay. You’ll learn to love it! Imagine it Mimsy, soaring through the air faster than a racecar, looking out the window at soft, marshmallowy clouds, while eating something tasty, chatting with new, fascinating people, and learning all about other cultures.
SERGIO: You can learn about other cultures on an airplane?
LUCA: Of course! The airplane is your very first peek into a new country. From the artwork on the airplane, to the uniform the crew wear, even to the food they serve, every little detail tells a story about the place you’re headed to. I’ll tell you what, Sergio. How about I teach you how to make the most of those twenty hours in the air?
SERGIO: That would be great Luca!
LUCA: Okay. Let’s start from the beginning…which happens the moment you board the airplane…
[MUSIC STING]
LUCA: When you step through the airplane door into the cabin, you hear gentle boarding music playing over the speakers. And listen closely… that deep humming sound? That’s a didgeridoo. It already makes you feel like you’re in Australia. Then, you’re greeted by a smiling crew of flight attendants, all dressed in matching, colorful uniforms. Flight attendants are awesome because, along with helping you throughout your journey, they’re also kind of like your “Cultural Hosts” for the flight. They give you your first little taste of the country you’re travelling to.
MIMSY: Thank you, flight attendants!
LUCA: One of them greets you, but she doesn’t say hello. Instead, she says…“G’Day!”
MIMSY: They’re Australian!!?? I had no idea!
LUCA: They surely are, MImsy. Before you even get to Australia, your cultural adventure has begun! The flight attendant then walks you over to your seat and shows you where to store your luggage.
MIMSY: Ooh, fancy!
LUCA: It certainly is Mimsy. And hey, listen to this…if you ask the flight attendant nicely, they might even let you visit your pilot (that’s me!) in the cockpit before the flight takes off.
MIMSY: What’s a cockpit? Where you keep all the chickens?
LUCA: (laughs) Not quite, Mimsy. The cockpit is the little room at the front of the plane where the pilot sits. Inside, there are glowing screens, and shiny buttons, and big levers that us pilots have to watch, push, and pull the whole flight. It's like a giant video game…except this one flies across the world.
MIMSY: Whoa can I try pushing a button?
LUCA: (grinning) Only if it’s the snack button…that one’s for my secret stash of vegemite sandwiches! Once you see all of the controls and lights, it’s pretty amazing! Pilots know what every single one does. We use them to guide this giant metal bird safely through the sky, and land exactly where we need to be.
SERGIO: That’s incredible, Luca. I don't even know what all the buttons on my remote control do!
MIMSY: So what happens next?
LUCA: Well Mimsy, next the flight attendant takes you back to your seat where you strap on your seatbelt. Right away, you’ll notice a little TV screen on the seat in front of you. Just then, a voice speaks to you from over the speakers. “Welcome aboard flight AE1127 to Australia, passengers.”
MIMSY: Whoa! The plane can talk?
LUCA: Not quite, Mimsy. That’s me talking through the speakers … the plane just helps carry my voice so everyone can hear it! “Please take a moment to watch our in-flight safety video,” The screen in front of you flicks on. A cheerful voice on the video starts explaining all the ways to stay safe and comfy while you fly…how to buckle your seatbelt, where to find your life vest, and even how to stretch your legs mid-flight.
SERGIO: You don’t have to worry about that, Mimsy! When you’re two inches tall, every seat is like first class.
LUCA: As you watch, you notice the friendly people in the video are wearing traditional Australian clothes and standing in front of famous Australian landmarks —Ayers Rock, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Sydney Opera House!
SERGIO: It’s like a mini trip to Australia before we even leave the ground!
LUCA: Exactly, Sergio. Not only is this video teaching you how to be safe, but it’s giving you a sneak peek at Australia’s amazing culture! And by the way, Mimsy, this won’t be the last time you hear my voice during the flight. I’ll be checking in to share updates on how the flight is going, and to let everyone know when the meals are ready.
MIMSY: Ooh, we get snacks and a movie?! Flying’s amazing!
LUCA: You got it Mimsy. Safety first. Snacks second. Now, it’s time for takeoff. You sit back and relax, as the plane begins to roll down the runway. It gets faster… and faster…louder and louder..until WHOOOSH! It lifts into the air. You look out the window and see tiny houses, fields and the tops of tall buildings below. You know how fun plane-spotting is when you’re lying on the grass in your backyard?
SERGIO: We do that all the time, don’t we Mimsy?
MIMSY: Yup! Sure do!
LUCA: Well, imagine how fun house-spotting is from your plane seat! Can you see your house from up here? Maybe your grandma’s? Maybe your school? The higher we get, the smaller everything looks…like little toys on a giant map. Higher, and higher, and higher still, until we glide through the clouds!
SERGIO: Wow. House-spotting sounds like a lot of fun! I’m going to try and find ALL my friends' houses when we take off.
LUCA: You might need super eyes for that, Sergio! But before you know it, time flies…literally! By the time you’re flying over Texas, you realize that two hours have already passed. A friendly flight attendant walks over and offers you a cup of water and…a snack!
MIMSY: Yay! Snacks make everything better!
LUCA: Before you know it, a few more hours have passed…we fly over California as the sky has turned golden. It’s time for dinner! The flight attendant brings over a warm tray of Australian beef and a side of potatoes.
SERGIO: Oh, that sounds delicious.
LUCA: You fill up on all the food, and you hand the flight attendant your empty tray. The cabin lights dim, the windows glow with moonlight and you hear gentle snores all around you. You yaaaawwwwn, close your eyes…and drift into a peaceful sleep.
MIMSY: But what if I can’t fall asleep in new places?
LUCA: Well, Mimsy, the soft hum of the plane helps a lot! It’s like a big lullaby in the sky. Listen….hummmmmmmmmm. See? Nice and steady! And guess what, there’s no waking up early for chores or alarm clocks here. On a plane, you can sleep as long as you want. It’s actually encouraged.
MIMSY: That does sound nice!
LUCA: By the time you wake up, the sun is saying hi through the window, and the plane is flying over the beautiful blue water of the Pacific Ocean. Yep! We’re already half way there! Now it’s time to open your travel bag. Inside you’ve packed coloring sheets, dot-to-dots, and a book about Australia that you borrowed from your local library! You color, you read, you finish every puzzle. And now there’s only eight hours left in the flight. You tuck your things away, switch on the screen in front of you, and scroll through the list of Australian music.
MIMSY: Ooooh! I LOVE Australian music.
LUCA: Then you’re in luck! You can listen to songs, watch an Australian movie, or even catch a game of Australian football…all right from your seat!
MIMSY: You can do ALL of that on the plane?
LUCA: You sure can, Mimsy! Planes are FULL of surprises. And after aaall that fun…guess what? There’s only one hour of flight left! So you pull out your diary, and start writing down all the incredible things that you’ve learned: about the uniforms, the safety video, and the snacks that tasted just like Australia. You write and you write and you write so you don’t forget. Then…a familiar voice comes across the speakers once again: Hello Passengers. We’re beginning our descent into Australia. Please fasten your seatbelts as we prepare for landing.
MIMSY: It’s time to land already?
LUCA: Yup! And as we begin our descent, and pass back through the clouds. Sunlight spills across your window. You press your face against the glass and see it….beaches, cities, and red earth below. The plane glides lower and lower, until the wheels touch the ground with a soft thump. You’ve officially landed in Australia!
MIMSY: Yay! We made it!
LUCA: That’s right, Mimsy! And before you rush off, here’s one last tip. When you exit the plane, don’t forget to look around the airport and take in everything it has to offer. You’ll find art, architecture, and food that tell stories about Australia’s people and culture. Because once you land, that’s when Round Two of your adventure begins!
SERGIO: What do you say, Mimsy? That doesn’t sound too bad, right?
MIMSY: No. It sounds like a lot of fun, actually!
LUCA: It is! There really isn’t anything to be scared of, Mimsy. Maybe you can join Sergio for his next trip.
MIMSY: Only if there’s a snack button!
LUCA: Deal!
[END OF MUSIC]
SERGIO: If I wasn’t already super excited about my trip, I’m super DOOPER excited now! There are so many fun things to do on an airplane that I never thought about before! What part did YOU like best, Mimsy?
MIMSY: Sleep!
SERGIO: Good choice! I do love sleeping too. Anyway, before I go, guess what landed in my mailbox? A postcard from my Kangaroo friend Matilda. She’s been listening to our fun cooking episodes, and she had an idea ... she sent me her Nana’s recipe for Aussie sausage rolls. They’re warm, flaky pastries filled with tasty pork inside, and people in Australia love them. Matilda says her Nanna used to make them for her when she was a little kangaroo—and now she wants to share that recipe with you and me. I can’t wait to try it out; what better way to prepare for my trip to Australia than learn to cook like the locals. And, of course, I’d love for you to join me. So get your aprons ready…next episode, we’re heading Down Under! I’ll also have a recipe card waiting for you so you can follow along at home. Have a great week, and remember…
MIMSY: Keep exploring!