WonkaKid
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2009
Around 5:00 as I walked up Main Street bound for the gates, I spied an Asian couple, about 25. The girl was dressed in Disney-bound attire and was crying as they also made their way up the street. I never like to see anyone cry at DL but sometimes it's best to give them a wide birth -- you don't know what's going on.
I cut through a store to catch a last few precious seconds of cool air -- the day had been a hot one. When I made it to the gate, the same couple was also there. She was still crying and shuffling through a stack of FPs and, apparently, park tickets. I wondered if perhaps they'd lost their tickets and that's why she was upset. Again, as you'll all understand, I wanted to offer to help but you have to be careful of situations like that. You don't know what's going on and an intrusion, however well intentioned, may not always be welcome. So I set aside my desire to help, exited through the gate and began to step towards the tram.
However, they were close behind me. When I saw she was still crying, I decided to take a chance. I'd be able to sense if my help wasn't wanted or needed. As I approached and spoke to them, neither replied. I touched the guy on the arm and he turned to me. I asked if I could help. They looked at me, uncomprehending. I guessed, rightly, that they didn't speak English. I took two years of Japanese in college (although it's rusty) and rolled the dice. I asked in Japanese if they were, in fact, from Japan. They were. I asked if I could help. The guy then explained, nicely and with a touch of shame, that he'd said something bad to her. Once I realized it was a personal thing and not about lost tickets (I was going to refer them to Guest Services), I apologized and again began to move towards the tram. But the girl smiled and she seemed gladdened that someone cared enough to ask. She called "Thank you!" after me in English. I turned, smiled and replied in Japanese that she was welcome. I'm glad I took the risk, even if it only made her feel a little better.
I cut through a store to catch a last few precious seconds of cool air -- the day had been a hot one. When I made it to the gate, the same couple was also there. She was still crying and shuffling through a stack of FPs and, apparently, park tickets. I wondered if perhaps they'd lost their tickets and that's why she was upset. Again, as you'll all understand, I wanted to offer to help but you have to be careful of situations like that. You don't know what's going on and an intrusion, however well intentioned, may not always be welcome. So I set aside my desire to help, exited through the gate and began to step towards the tram.
However, they were close behind me. When I saw she was still crying, I decided to take a chance. I'd be able to sense if my help wasn't wanted or needed. As I approached and spoke to them, neither replied. I touched the guy on the arm and he turned to me. I asked if I could help. They looked at me, uncomprehending. I guessed, rightly, that they didn't speak English. I took two years of Japanese in college (although it's rusty) and rolled the dice. I asked in Japanese if they were, in fact, from Japan. They were. I asked if I could help. The guy then explained, nicely and with a touch of shame, that he'd said something bad to her. Once I realized it was a personal thing and not about lost tickets (I was going to refer them to Guest Services), I apologized and again began to move towards the tram. But the girl smiled and she seemed gladdened that someone cared enough to ask. She called "Thank you!" after me in English. I turned, smiled and replied in Japanese that she was welcome. I'm glad I took the risk, even if it only made her feel a little better.
So glad you put your kindness into action. That may be one fond memory that couple takes home with them of how a total stranger cared enough to offer help and a kind word.
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