At the top of the hill, Mieke is preparing to take her one-year-old daughter Meadow sledding for the very first time.
“We’re going to go down a big hill,” Mieke says while pulling her daughter in a plastic toboggan. “We’re going to go really, really fast.”
Watching at the bottom of the hill, 30-year-old Aya is experiencing his first snow day too.
“This is my first time [seeing snow],” said Aya, who is visiting from the Philippines and had only ever seen snow in the movies. “It’s really amazing!”
While he loved making his first snowball, and first snow angel, Aya says the prospect of racing down this hill for the first time feels more daunting.
Back at the top of hill, Meadow is unfazed.
“She’s stoked,” her dad Nate says, before sitting in the sled with Mieke, Meadow, and her older brother. “I think she just needs to hold on tight and have some fun.”
And seeing as her family is doing all the holding, all Meadow needs to do is start having the sort of fun that comes once you’ve flown down to the bottom of the hill and can’t stop giggling and smiling.
The sort of fun that Meadow’s mom, after overhearing that it’s Aya’s first snow day, lends the stranger their sled so he can experience it too.
“Thank you!” Aya says after accepting the kind gesture. “I’m feeling nervous.”
While walking-up the hill, Aya begins feeling like he’s going back in time.
“I feel like I’m six years old again.” Aya laughs.
“Steer with your hands and not with your rope,” Mieke offering some last-minute safety advice. “And that’s a jump, don’t hit it.”
As Aya starts sliding down this hill, a smile spreads across his face, “This is my dream!”
A dream come true. A reality even better than he imagined!
“Oh my goodness,” Aya laughs after his sled turns around half-way down the hill and he lands at the bottom of the hill backwards. “So much fun!”
While Meadow may not always remember her first time sledding in the snow, thanks to the kindness of strangers, Aya will never forget his.
“Thank you so much Canada!” Aya beams. “For [this] experience in the snow!”
