Here’s the poop. she’s 16, and she’s going with her Spanish class to Costa Rica for April vacation. She’s leaving on Sunday. This trip was her Xmas present from my parents, and she’s been looking forward to it for a looooong time. She’s never been on a plane, she’s never been out of the country.
Mama’s having fits.
I’m so nervous guys with this damn war on. Everyone in my orbit is telling me to relax, she’ll be fine, it would be wrong to deprive her of this experience for a reason as nebulous as something “may” happen. My kid isn’t nervous at all, and cannot wait to get the hell out of here.
After many debates, discussions and crying jags, I’ve decided to let her go. I’m still very nervous about it, and will probably spend the week tied up in knots.
Is this because I’m a provincial hick that’s never been on a plane or left the U.S myself? I’d love for her to experience the things I never got too. But the anxiety.
I’m over-reacting aren’t I? Or am I not?
After reading this if the mods think this belongs in IMHO feels free.
Honestly? Yeah, you’re overreacting a bit It may help to put things in perspective if you keep in mind that your daughter is traveling from a country that is at war to one that isn’t. In the (highly unlikely) event that “something” happens, it’s far more likely to happen in Boston than it is in Costa Rica.
And yeah, the way you feel probably does have a lot to do with the fact that you’ve never been on a plane or left the US – it’s human nature to fear stuff that’s outside of your experience or your comfort zone. (If we were rational creatures, we’d be far more afraid of driving than flying.) It might help to talk to some of the teachers or chaperones, especially if they’ve been on similar trips before.
Best of luck to you and your daughter. Hope she has a great time.
If any Muslim Extremists were to make an attack, it would be against the US in a way to impact our society or infrastructure. Costa Rica is a safe place to be in my opinion. I travelled to Saudi Arabia on business weeks after we bombed the medicine factory in Sudan and the empty training camp in Afghanistan, and I felt safer there than in the US.
You do know where Costa Rica is don’t you? They moved it from the Middle East to Central America a few years back.
I went there on my honeymoon 5 years ago. It is beautiful, very American friendly, safe, and clean. They don’t even have an army for god’s sake. Who is going to target them? Costa Rica’s medical care is almost as good as that in the U.S. Plus, there are American tourists and ex-pats everywhere.
I left Mar 21 for 2 weeks in Ireland, a route that took me to London for a weekend. I had a few family members beg me not to go. The war had just started, and news of SARS was spreading…but I went, and truthfully I felt safer in Ireland than I do at home.
It’s natural for a parent to worry, especially if it’s her first time away from home. But I predict she will have no problems, and have an wonderful experience to remember for the rest of her life. So chin-up, and try not to worry so much. I know it’s hard, but it won’t do either of you any good.
Yea, I know where Costa Rica is Shagnasty. I may have done alot of my growning up in the boonies, but I have me some book learnin.’ Snort.
And that’s what I’m worried about actually, that the place is swarming with Americans, who aren’t the most well-like people on the planet right now. I won’t even get into SARS…
And I worry too if something awful happens here…will she be able to get back in the country?
I know, I’m an ass.
They just don’t prepare you for this crap in Mom school.
I think she’ll be OK. I was in France when Clinton bombed something or other in the middle east and the worst that happened to me is that my Eurail pass was no longer excepted east of Germany.
Also, you say that she’s going with her Spanish class? People are always nicer to Americans abroad that speak the language, even if it’s just a little bit.
She will be fine. I sent my daughter off to Italy in April of 2000, and I was a nervous wreck for awhile. I am afraid I embarrassed her by calling once, but I couldn’t help it, I was worried!.
She will have no problem getting back in the good ol US of A (which, I have heard, is also swarming with American type folks).
You are not an ass.
Forgot to mention – safety and security precautions on school trips are tight. Very tight. Trust me, if there were anything remotely dangerous about traveling to Costa Rica right now, this trip would have been cancelled.
BTW, according to the WHO, there have been no reported cases of SARS in Costa Rica (or anywhere else in Central America). On the other hand, there have been 193 in the United States. I’d bet you anything that there is some Costa Rican mother right now who is worried sick because her kid is on the way to the US. If it helps, think about what you’d say to her, and say it to yourself.
Hate to rain on the parade, but having been a 16 year old boy not too long ago I’d be worried about other facets of the trip. Chances are she’ll be in a bikini, all the time, surrounded by teenaged boys, staying in a hotel, without a whole lot of supervision. School trips are traditionally pretty… rambuncious. The chances of something untowards happening in that department strikes me as a lot more worrisome, I figured that was what the thread was about from just the title. Sorry!!!
I might be heading down there next week too… I’ll say hi to her for you.
My first solo trip was in China when I was 14… After than I did South Africa and Zimbabwe by myself at 16… never had a single itty bitty problem. That wasn’t very long ago either. My folks were all about me getting as much experience as possible.
I’m sure your daughter will be just fine.
That’s crossed my mind too obviously, but the trip is going to be pretty well supervised. Only seven kids are going on there’s three adults.
And my girl’s damn sensible. She’s come to grips with her Celtic ancestry, and covers up and slathers herself in sunscreen.
Stop giggling at me dammit.
Thanks you guys, feeling a bit better. Gotta love the Dope.
It may help to put things in perspective if you keep in mind that your daughter is traveling from a country that is at war to one that isn’t. In the (highly unlikely) event that “something” happens, it’s far more likely to happen in Boston than it is in Costa Rica.