Studying Abroad

[A_B]

So, my daughter (sophomore in HS) comes home last night raving about a program her teacher mentioned today. It's a language program, and right now these are the languages offered:

Arabic
Chinese (Mandarin)
Hindi
Korean
Persian (Tajiki)
Russian
Turkish

And the countries are:


China
Estonia
India
Jordan
Korea
Latvia
Moldova
Morocco
Oman
Russia
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Turkey

Something like that terrifies me, and the fact that it isn't exactly in the most developed nations even moreso concerns me. She did a mission trip to Haiti earlier this year and loved it, but that was with more of a group than this would be, plus we knew the people she was going with. THis is true, stay with some foreign family for eight weeks, not a sponsored adult in charge.

Have any of you guys had kids that did anything like that? Anyone do it themself? How did you get comfortable with the idea? Am I just an insular hilljack?

[mister d]

Have any of you guys had kids that did anything like that? Anyone do it themself? How did you get comfortable with the idea? Am I just an insular hilljack?

Considering I got to "So, my daughter (sophomore in HS)" before having a minor panic attack, I'd say you're not alone.

[tennbengal]

That list of countries scares the shit out of me if it were my considering sending one of my kids there. Might make me an ignorant hilljack in Balt City, but I would have concerns, rational or not.

[sancarlos]

My daughter is also a sophomore. If she told me she wanted to go to Morocco to study Arabic, I would not consent. I'd also shit my pants.

[Pruitt]

I'm a cosmopolitan sort of guy, but there's only three or four countries on that list that I would be even somewhat comfortable sending my daughter to for an extended time. And that's assuming that it's South Korea.

Tajikistan, Moldova and Oman? I don't think the UN would even send peace keepers into those holes.

There are plenty of interesting places in western europe where she could learn a foreign language... and that are all a quick train or subway ride from an embassy.

I am not being glib here, and obviously don't know your daughter's level of self sufficiency. But even if the family is a solid one, some of those countries scare the crap out of me.

[BSF21]

So, my daughter (sophomore in HS) comes home last night raving about a program her teacher mentioned today. It's a language program, and right now these are the languages offered:

Arabic
Chinese (Mandarin)
Hindi
Korean
Persian (Tajiki)
Russian
Turkish

And the countries are:


China
Estonia
India
Jordan
Korea
Latvia
Moldova
Morocco
Oman
Russia
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Turkey

Something like that terrifies me, and the fact that it isn't exactly in the most developed nations even moreso concerns me. She did a mission trip to Haiti earlier this year and loved it, but that was with more of a group than this would be, plus we knew the people she was going with. THis is true, stay with some foreign family for eight weeks, not a sponsored adult in charge.

Have any of you guys had kids that did anything like that? Anyone do it themself? How did you get comfortable with the idea? Am I just an insular hilljack?

I had 2 chances to study abroad in HS and college and turned them both down. I've regretted it quite a bit. However, I had the opportunity to go to France and Australia, which is pretty apples and oranges to the list you provided.

Taiwan probably wouldn't be too bad, nor would China assuming she stays away from the chemical plant tours. Korea would likely be awesome if it weren't for Kim Jong-Itchy-Trigger-Finger.

This is why I don't have kids (yet). Some of the things you parents have to weigh just terrifies me.

[A_B]

The baltic countries and Korea would be what I would lean towards, but those aren't what I'd call useful languages. Sabo mentioned on IM Chinese or Arabic, but I am not even considering middle eastern. China I could probably be talked into.

[BSF21]

The baltic countries and Korea would be what I would lean towards, but those aren't what I'd call useful languages. Sabo mentioned on IM Chinese or Arabic, but I am not even considering middle eastern. China I could probably be talked into.

BSFG/F studied for a semester in China her freshman? year of college and enjoyed the hell out of it FWIW.

[Pruitt]

This is why I don't have kids (yet). Some of the things you parents have to weigh just terrifies me.

It is amazing how having kids can change you. I realize that 99% of everything that happens in the world is okay and safe. But still...

I read the book "The Sheltering Sky" in university and it scared the crap out of me. I won;t ruin the ending, suffice to say that I have never even thought of partaking in "adventure travel" since.

[degenerasian]

That's a strange language list to me. Isn't there a Europe program to learn French, Spanish and German?

[A_B]

That's a strange language list to me. Isn't there a Europe program to learn French, Spanish and German?

Apparently these are offered at little to no cost. I'm assuming there are plenty of people willing to pay to do the main languages, so there isn't any interest to provide those. I would assume it's to encourage kids to go to different cultures than what we think of when we think of studying abroad.

[P.D.X.]

That's a strange language list to me. Isn't there a Europe program to learn French, Spanish and German?

Arabic and Mandarin are the in-demand languages these days.

[The Sybian]

I studied Russian in Jr. High and HS, and went to Russia my Junior year as part of a Sister City program. A group of 10 of us and our teacher went to a small shitburgh in the middle of nowhere and lived with host families. We went to their HS and sat in on classes and they had a couple special classes just for us. We alternated, they would send a group, the following year we would send a group. I think I was part of the third group to go over. Their English teacher came with them, and spent an extra year living with my Russian teacher, so we had a really special relationship with her. She was the only person in the town who actually spoke English. The students spoke a little, but we talked almost exclusively in Russian.

This trip was the most incredible experience of my life, and had a huge impact on me. Living in a foreign country is the only way to become truly fluent in a language, and I think it is a critical skill few American's have (excluding immigrants and children of immigrants). I don't think there is any more valuable experience in HS than studying abroad. It will completely open her mind to other cultures, and it is the only way to truly understand your own culture, by viewing from another culture's perspective. The experience completely changed me. Writing about my experience in admission applications was the difference in getting scholarship offers at several law schools. One Dean actually hand wrote comments on the scholarship letter making a jokey comment about something I wrote, and saying he'd love to talk to me about the experience.

Before having kids, I would have railed on you for even debating the decision. Now, I totally appreciate your concern. My parents never showed any concern or hesitation, but I want to ask them now about their thoughts at the time. They must have been concerned, especially since this was less than a year after the fall of the USSR and shit was really unsettled. I think a lot depends on your daughter. If she is a responsible, mature kid or not, if she is prone to making bad decisions and getting into trouble... Sending a girl to an Arab country would worry me a bit. Estonia and Latvia are really laid back, more Western places. Younger generations don't speak Russian, as they are rebelling against the old Soviet regime. Adults will speak Russian, so not learning the languages of these countries would be a bit strange. See if you can talk to parents who sent their kids in the past and see what they say. If she really wants this, I say let her go for it.

[howard]

Russia, china, Taiwan and Korea (South) are not third world hell holes and very unlikely to be war zone. in the next three years. (china's sending two army divisions to their border w/North Korea last week quieted that shit down in a hurry.)

sybian will tell you how cool Russia is.

eta: syb, you beat your cue

[Steve of phpBB]

The only countries on that list that scare me are Oman, Jordan, Morocco, and Tajikistan. And that's probably already showing irrational fear. I'd be afraid of Oman, Morocco, and Jordan because of the slight chance of a terrorist kidnapping. Tajikistan because it just sounds primitive and scary.

I think she would be fine in the others.

I assume you would know where in these countries she would go? I.e., if she goes to Turkey, presumably it's a particular place in Turkey, and you could find out how stable that area is.

[P.D.X.]

Morocco isn't a scary terrorist country.

[Steve of phpBB]

Morocco isn't a scary terrorist country.

You're probably right. Jordan probably isn't either. I guess it's my "Muslim countries are dangerous but Turkey is kinda European so it's okay" thinking.

[duff]

China and Taiwan would be great. Curious as to where in China she would go. As mentioned, the Baltic states would be a great experience also. Not sure if my wife would be comfortable to send our girls to a foreign country all alone, but I would be.

[Gunpowder]

I'd stay out of Oman but Tajikistan looks pretty normal and quite interesting. I'd love to go to a -Stan. Not Bronto.

I work with a guy from Jordan and he says it's fine to visit. I understand this is for your daughter studying abroad, not for you, so it's different, but that's what I know about Jordan.

Turkey is two different countries, Istanbul and the rest of Turkey.

[Gunpowder]

Morocco isn't a scary terrorist country.

You're probably right. Jordan probably isn't either. I guess it's my "Muslim countries are dangerous but Turkey is kinda European so it's okay" thinking.

Depends on where you are in Turkey.

[Moreta]

Depends a lot on your daughter too. My 17 year old daughter? I wouldn't send her to Canada to live with a family for 8 weeks. My older son I would have been able to send anywhere at 16. Of my younger kids, I think 2/4 of them would be able to handle it when they reach that age.

[sancarlos]