We’re the Ostmo family, and we love learning about countries and people. Our oldest daughter, Melaya, has tons of friends all around the world! Melaya has a lot of friends from around the world, and today she’s been talking to her friend Aarav from Mumbai, India, over 4,000 miles away from Melaya’s home!

Aarav in Mumbai Travels on a Rickshaw

Aarav was telling Melaya about his first experience traveling in a rickshaw in Mumbai. Rickshaws are like taxis, but instead of cars,  they are carts pulled by a man on foot. He said the rickshaw drivers were really nice and they helped him find his way around. 

Melaya wanted to know how the rickshaw drivers were paid and Aarav said that they get paid by the hour. The rickshaw drivers are very strong because it takes a lot of effort to pull those carts around all day!

Although there are not any seatbelts in an Indian Rickshaw, Aarav thinks they are very amusing. Amusing means it provides fun and entertainment.

Would you like to ride on a rickshaw?

In South Korea, Yi-Joon Rides the Subway

Now, Melaya has a friend named Yi-Joon who lives in Seoul, South Korea. Yi-Joon loves using the subway, which is best known as Seoul Metro, with his mom. The last time he spoke with Melaya, he told her that every time he uses the subway he gets to sit down and relax while he’s on his way to school. 

The people who work at the subway are very kind and helpful. They are always there to help if you need something. The stations have lots of maps and signs to help people find their way around, and there are always lots of people around. When Melaya asked Yi-Joon why this is so, he told her that it was because the subway is very clean and well-maintained. The floors are always shiny and free of dirt, and there are no signs of graffiti anywhere on the walls or ceilings. Yi-Joon said he has never had an unpleasant experience using the Seoul Metro.

How often do you use the subway?

Giovanna and Her Dad Use a Scooter to Get Around

Pretty far from South Korea, in Italy, lives another of Melaya’s friends named Giovanna. Giovanna’s dad has a really cool scooter which is commonly known as Vespa in Italy because of a popular company that builds them. The Vespas are very popular in Italy and many people ride them around. 

Giovanna’s dad rides his scooter everywhere he goes. It’s easy to see why they are so popular: they are very convenient to use since you don’t have to worry about traffic jams or finding a parking spot. All you need is a helmet and some gas money!

Giovanna loves going on scooter rides with her dad because of how gratifying the wind feels on her face and hair.

Racing Cars are Julia’s Favorite Cars

Melaya has a friend named Julia who lives in Breslavia, Poland. Julia loves cars, especially racing cars. Her favorite color is red because she says it is the fastest color. Julia’s dad has a very nice and authentic car from the 70’s that he uses to take her and her mom on special trips around town, like when they go out for ice cream or when they want to visit friends in another city.

One day, Julia wants to learn how to drive. She asks her mom if she can get behind the wheel and practice driving. Her mom says yes, but only on one condition: that Julia gets a driver’s license first, so she must wait until she’s is 18 years old! That’s a lot of time, but Julia’s mom said she will personally teach her how to drive, so she thought “ok, that’s an agreeable deal.”

Would you like to learn to drive when you grow up?

Mùchén Takes the Bus to Go to School

In Pekin, China, over 5,000 miles away from London, lives Mùchén one of Melaya’s friends. The last time Mùchén and Melaya chatted, he told her about the bus he and his sisters take to school every day.

Mùchén’s family lives in a small apartment above their uncle’s store. They don’t have a car or any other transportation, so they must use the bus to get to school and back home again. Mùchén said he enjoys riding on the bus because he gets to see all of his friends every day. 

He also likes the bus because it takes him through the countryside, where he can see amusing and beautiful landscapes. 

How do you get to school every day?

Matias Rides his Bicycle Everywhere

Now, this is Matias, he’s also Melaya’s friend and he lives in Mexico City, really far from Melaya’s home in London. Matias loves to ride his bicycle, he does it every day, even when it rains. He told Melaya that he has a special waterproof coat for riding in the rain. Matia’s parents also have a car but since there’s a lot of traffic in Mexico City, most of the time they ride their bikes to get around town.

Matias told Melaya that he and his parents love riding their bicycles not only to avoid traffic but also because they want to be environmentally friendly and save money on gas!

There are a lot more amazing ways people get around in different places of the world. Melaya says she would like to take a trip on a train or ride a horse one day!

Tell us in the comments how you and your family get around where you live! If you want to learn more, make sure to download the activity pack. We have flashcards, a learning guide, handwriting sheets, and drawings pages all dedicated to how people get around in different parts of the world!

Also Melaya loves chatting with kids from all over the world! If you want to teach Melaya about where you live or your favorite activities, please tell your mom or dad to use @learningtail on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to get in touch with us.

Ciao friends, until next time!