As a toddler, I made my parents suffer on our big California vacation.

We spent the bulk of our time at Disneyland going ’round and ’round on the “It’s a Small World” boat ride.

I’m sure they were thrilled.

But hey, Mom and Dad, you’ll be glad to know that seeing only a small portion of Disneyland was worth it, because the song’s lyrics prove to be true again and again some 20-plus years later.

Case in point: since writing columns about the Group Study Exchange team’s Brazil trip and sharing a little bit about Rotary International, I’ve had great responses from Prior Lakers offering advice, encouragement and connections.

The Prior Lake Rotary Club allowed me to visit one of its meetings to say “hello” and thank members for supporting the trip. I wouldn’t have expected that Captain Jack’s could be so hoppin’ at seven in the morning on a Wednesday.

Through the local Rotary and other readers contacting the newspaper, I’ve met two Prior Lakers with direct connections (family, friends) in the city of Vitoria, where we’ll spend most of the trip.

I’ve also connected with a Prior Lake a resident from Recife, farther north along the eastern coast.

Heck, our new intern at the Prior Lake American has traveled to Brazil with a different Rotary District – and she speaks Portuguese!

Talk about a small world, indeed.

All of these connections continue to show the “small-town feeling” that everyone always says Prior Lake exhibits – and apparently, it branches out to give the whole world a similar “small-town” feeling.

After all, it is “a small, small world.”

With the hubbub of Visa applications, figuring out electricity conversions, sorting through what to pack for a month (and fitting it into one bag…good luck with that one…), currency, transportation, etc., it’s easy to feel like Brazil is far away.

Then, when talking to Prior Lakers, it feels only one degree away from home.

Working for the American, I always joke that everything all comes back to Prior Lake. When watching the evening news, if there is a statewide event, I can gamble that I can find someone from Prior Lake involved or who will localize the issue.

Now, I’ve proven my theory applies at the international level. Even my trip to Brazil comes back to Prior Lake roots.

I’m excited to get input, feedback and tips. I’m not writing as an expert on Brazil or travel – it’s pretty much the exact opposite.

Like many of us, I spend most of my time in Prior Lake, and we all need a change of pace and scenery. This time, I get to go, and I hope to share the experience.

While we aren’t the “Prior Lake International,” it is fun to reach out, share a few unexpected things and have other people share experiences.

I’ve had travelers from other destinations tell me about their cultural snafus, places they’ve been, tips for surviving long, boring plane flights and more.

I hope readers will continue to participate and even post their thoughts on our Web site at www.plamerican.com under my blog, or checkout the Rotary International Web site at www.rotary5960.org/gse.

Obrigada! (Thank you!)  Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com.