what do you do?
I know everyone knows about what has happened with the UK & those foiled terrosim attacks. Just dreadful. But this is a more selfish post about that - my darling gal, ms*Sophie has been asked to go on a trip to Egypt. Not til next year in September. It is for a trip with her Ancient History class. To me - this would be a trip of a lifetime. But - well I am sure you know my worries. And I guess it is a year away but we will be needing to make decisions soon.
Many times we have travelled as a family and even travelled in the December of 2001, just after September 11. But that is 5 years ago and the world is again in turmoil.
This is my baby. I am finding it so hard to 'let go' of this gal.
What to do?
posted by Miss Robyn | 6:29 am
11 Comments:
Who knows where the world will be one year from now, but if we stop doing what we do then who has won?
Robyn, this is really a difficult decision isn't it? I know people don't stop travelling but Egypt is getting towards the danger zone, but really who can know what will happen between now and then, I presume your daughter is desperate to go? To be quite honest I don't know what to advise and wouldn't know what to decide if it were my daughter, but she is an adult now and would make her own decision. If she decided to go I would have to accept it and would probably be a worrywart all the time she was there. I suppose the school or college wouldn't be considering it if it were dangerous. I think I would probably say ok and trust to fate to be kind. xx
My 2 cents is this. Before 9/11, I wouldn't have thought twice about putting the teenager on a flight by himself. After 9/11, the thought of him being in a terrorist attack by himself just about drives me crazy. With that said, she will not be alone and will have friends--and of course, nothing will happen. As far as Egypt, I think the school will be as cautionary as they can because wouldn't they be liable if something happened over there? She is under 18, right? I don't see a school going somewhere that will be unsafe. If things escalate even more by next year, I'm pretty sure they would call it off. But, yes, of course, you have to use your gut feeling on this one. The answer will come to you and be the right one, I'm sure. xoxo
Many times in all the years that my daughters were travelling overseas, people would ask, "Don't you worry about them?" My answer was, "Of course I worry about them. But I have to accept that this is what they have chosen to do, even if something happened to them." Fortunately, nothing did happen to them, so it's very easy to be calm about it now. Certainly, they were both in their 20s so I couldn't have stopped them going even if I'd wanted to.
The world is a more dangerous place now, but as Jeremy puts it "If we stop doing the things we want/need to do because of these terrorist attacks, then they have won."
None of which really makes your decision much easier since YOU are still responsible for Sophie. I tend to agree with Rosa.
It's a difficult decision, particularly as the situation will have changed and changed again by then. One of my daughter's best friends went to the American School in Cairo and never had any problems. I have been to Cairo many times and never experienced problems. As long as your daughter is with a group and an experienced, reliable guide, she should be fine. The Egyptians are a wonderful, charming, happy-go-lucky group of people - despite their alarming poverty and difficult living conditions. I think your daughter would benefit from seeing the culture and landmarks, such as the Pyramids and meeting the people. But you must make the decision perhaps nearer the time, according to what's happening in the region. If she doesn't go that trip, perhaps she will take another in the future. If she were planning to go tomorrow, I'd say wait. But by next September, it will probably be fine.
It's too early to speculate, so I'll just say: wait and see. There's no point worrying now, because things change. As far as I know Egypt is fine.
xox
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I went to Israel in 2003. Family and friends were DECIDEDLY uncomfortable! But I went. And I went on those buses. And I lived right in the centre of Jerusalem. People there live by the day. They never know what will happen as the hours unfold.They see their children off to school and work and never know if they'll ever see them again.I admired, and still do admire, the level of faith that lets you live in a place where death seems to be waiting around any and every corner. We only have one life and we have to live it the way we need to live it,despite all that goes on.Day by day by CHILLY (in Aussie anyway) day.
I will pray for you Robyn that as her mother you find guidance and peace about this decision. Being a mother is difficult at this age. I will pray for Sophie too...that her mother's love and wisdom will carry her on and the inner voice that she carries within her will guide her steps and journeys safely. Bless you both! ps The beautiful name Sophie means "wisdom" but you probably know that...
ps. I had the opportunity in 1978 when I was 21 to study and live on a Kibbutz in Israel for a summer for my social work degree as an undergrad...my parents forbid me to go. I have always regreted this.
I know the feeling Robyn. Krista had a chance to go to Rome for World Youth Day in 2000, at the height of the Serbo/Croatian War. I was a wreck just thinking about her in Rome (she was 15 at the time) with all those millions of extra people there and the war just across the Adriatic. It felt way too close. As it was, she ended up not going.
Post a Comment
<< Home