<p>Marnimom, so terribly sorry your D was treated so badly. She should definitely report the incident to both the local and college study co-ordinators - - not just so that other students of color are forewarned, but so that the college can bring institutional pressure to bear.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the messages of support. She's actually doing fine. I don't think it will negatively impact her feelings about Spain as a whole. She's been in Seville for the most part and has enjoyed her stay there. She still plans to tour other parts of Spain during her semester abroad. I, too, reminded her that there are idiots all over. Hopefully, the remainder of her stay will be pleasant.</p>
<p>Actually, Spain and Barcelona are no strangers to events of blantant racism against Blacks. I recall such incidents being reported against black tourists during the Olympics in Barcelona years ago. Also, if you think anti-immigrant opinion is at a fever pitch in the United States, read up on the attitude the Spaniard government has against would be immigrants from north AND southern Africa. Parts of Spain's southern coast are tremendously fortified to prevent a 'Cuba-to-Miami' style exodus.</p>
<p>Marnimom, </p>
<p>Spain and Greece, among other countries, are notorious for their treatment of blacks. Didn't you know this? Read the sports pages. Check the Internet for past editions. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world outside the United States. In Spain and Greece and other European countries, it's bigger than the NFL and NASCAR are in the U.S.A. People are nationalistic about their country's teams. And racist. Most international teams contain a few black players (most are from African countries). In Spain, Greece and Germany, among others, the black players are subjected to terrible harassment and racism from the fans! It's so bad, it's hard to get blacks to play for Spain and Greece. The opposing teams with a black player or two are tormented with racial slurs, bananas thrown on the field, monkey and ape sounds, its horrible, and FIFA frankly doesn't know what to do to really stop it. </p>
<p>Now take those fans and put back in their cities and towns. Now blacks show up, like your daughter. I don't mean middle aged people on safe tour buses, but young people who want to hang out where the "natives" hang out to have fun. Well, those bouncers and disco goers are the same people in the stands at soccer games.</p>
<p>Stay out of Eastern Europe (the old iron curtain countries) too. Visiting for a week as a tourist is one thing. Moving in for months is a whole different story.</p>
<p>Plainsman - not a big sports fan, unfortunately. I mistakenly relied on the college advisor to know these things in counseling students about their study abroad choices. I know, big mistake. My D is now more aware of the situation, as am I. I just wanted to share the info so that others would know.</p>
<p>Marnimom: I was especially advise your D not to go to any soccer games in Spain, or most of Europe for that matter. </p>
<p>Here's a good article from the Washington Post (includes Spain): Fans</a>' Racist Taunts Rattle European Soccer (washingtonpost.com)</p>
<p>This particular article is 4 years old but the problem is current. Here is NYTimes article from 2008: Not</a> Everyone Cheers Harsh Penalty for Racism - Goal - Soccer - New York Times Blog</p>
<p>Mafnimom, I'm so sorry to learn of your daughter's horrible experiences in Spain. My daughter and I were in Madrid this summer and I was also robbed. When I went to the police office to file a report, the place was packed. In fact, I left and came back another time because I would have had to wait hours to file a report. Many people had been robbed in the subway but my wallet was stolen while I was talking to some street vendors. One distracted me while his friend ripped me off. I realized I had been robbed immediately after it happened because the guys ran away. I was really upset because the guys who robbed me were Africans. It was a big hassle to have my wallet stolen. Thank goodness my daughter had credit cards to pay for our hotel and got get us back to the States. She's seriously considering attending the University of Edinburgh for her study abroad program next year.</p>
<p>This is my first post in this thread (I'm an African American) and I want to add my input:</p>
<p>If you are black, <em>ONLY</em> visit Western Europe. Northwestern Europe even more so (because Spain, Greece, Italy and the other countries are generally racist to outsiders. Remember the Spanish Olympic teams doing the "chink" eye sign to their faces in their group photos?). Stay out of East Germany too because of the growing neo-Nazi movement. Eastern Europe (the former Soviet block countries) is notoriously racist against immigrants, especially Africans. Besides, if you must travel to Eastern Europe, you better have a guide with you who is native to Eastern Europe. It's just not worth risking your life.</p>
<p>lmpw, and marnimom , I am so sorry for the awful experiences your daughter (marnimom) and you (lmpw) had to endure in Spain. Thanks for sharing and warning the rest of us. D is planning a summer in France. H and I were somewhat worried before now we are downright frightened. Frankly, I am angry. AfAm are US taxpayers, supporting Europe for more than a half-century. We and our children deserve better treatment than what we are receiving. JMO</p>
<p>A little update...</p>
<p>2 weeks ago
""College ..frantic call..tears...sobbing..."I'm going to drop the class" Mom--well how was the mid-term. "I haven't taken it yet" Mom-- "...." ""</p>
<p>Yesterday
Paper returned. Grade, A. Mom's response? ...<br>
lol oh the drama!!!
She did thank me for listening. It's kind of fun watching our relationship hit a new level. She called complaining about something else, and I gave her some advice, but she didn't want to hear it. I then told her "I see you just want me to listen to you complain". She laughed and said yes and that perhaps she'd be open to solutions later, but just wanted to vent at the moment.!!</p>
<p>All is well and I can hardly wait to go and visit for Thanksgiving!!</p>
<p>sad story from USA TODAY</p>
<p>African-American student stabbed in Russian city </p>
<p>MOSCOW (AP) — An African-American exchange student has been stabbed by unknown assailants in a southern Russian city in an attack officials say may have been racially motivated.
Eighteen-year-old Stanley Robinson, of Providence, R.I., was in grave but stable condition Friday, said the head doctor of Volgograd's Hospital No. 12. Investigators were trying to determine if the Dec. 5 assault on Robinson was a hate crime, said Svetlana Smolyaninova, a spokeswoman for the city police.</p>
<p>Robinson's mother, who has spoken twice with her son by telephone since the attack, has no doubts.</p>
<p>"I believe it happened because he is a person of color," Tina Robinson said in a telephone interview Friday from her home in Providence. "It was completely unprovoked."</p>
<p>Russian authorities have not ruled out robbery or random violence, Smolyaninova said. No suspects have been detained.</p>
<p>The stabbing took place in Volgograd, an industrial city of 1 million people about 550 miles southeast of Moscow.</p>
<p>Tina Robinson said her son had developed pneumonia, and said she was trying to arrange his transfer to a Western-style medical facility. "I'm very concerned about the care he's getting there," she said.</p>
<p>The U.S. Embassy declined comment, citing privacy concerns.</p>
<p>In recent years Russia has seen a rising number of attacks against members of non-Russian ethnic groups, particularly people from the Caucasus region and Central Asia, who often have darker skin.</p>
<p>Students and immigrants from Africa are also frequent targets of attacks, but attacks on Westerners are rare.</p>
<p>Rights organizations have accused authorities of downplaying the problem by classifying ethnic attacks as hooliganism rather than hate crimes.</p>
<p>Tina Robinson said she was unaware of Russia's troubles with racism when her son left for a year abroad. "If I had any inkling that there was any possibility of this happening, I would have tried to dissuade him," she said.</p>
<p>The victim's mother and police gave slightly differing accounts of the attack.</p>
<p>Smolyaninova said three men approached Robinson at about 6 p.m. in a dark street far from his host family's home. The assailants stabbed Robinson twice in the chest, she said.</p>
<p>Tina Robinson said her son had just finished working out at a gym and was headed for a bus stop when a single stranger approached and punched him. Robinson punched back, his mother said. The attacker then pulled a knife and stabbed Robinson in the chest and side, she said.</p>
<p>Relatives said Robinson, a graduate of East Providence High School in Rhode Island, was three months into a year's stay in Russia. He was studying Russian on a program arranged by the American Field Service, or AFS.</p>
<p>Tina Robinson said she did not blame the host family. The host family could not be reached for comment Friday.</p>
<p>Galina Kozhevnikova, the deputy head of a group that tracks hate crimes, said Robinson was the 386th person to be injured in an apparently racially motivated attack this year. According to the rights group, called Sova or Owl, at least 85 people have been killed this year in such incidents.</p>
<p>Wow, how awful. I had not heard about this story. Thanks for posting.</p>
<p>I am both saddened and outraged by this incident. I pray that the young man recuperates quickly. I think what this points out, in addition to the comments I got in response to my daughter's experience in Spain, is how little information is out there to help African American students and their families to make informed decisions about study abroad options. Most colleges are encouraging students to take advantage of study abroad, but there clearly are special considerations for students of color. I, similar to what the article says about the mother of the young man in Russia, made the assumption that the college advisors and the study abroad program would caution students considering certain study abroad locations. The lack of transparency about racism and risks of racist attacks for students studying abroad is dangerous.</p>
<p>Minorities need to stay out of Eastern Europe, especially East Germany and Russia.</p>
<p>Texasmama,</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing. My prayers are with the Robinson family.</p>
<p>DS got into Franklin & Marshall ED today. Wahoo. Just wanted to share with my virtual family. Although the acceptance to Hampton was good this was special because F&M is his first choice. Other parents please keep posting updates as life unfolds.</p>
<p>Congrats TriG! How wonderful. Keeping my fingers crossed for your S for big scholarship $$!</p>
<p>Congrats to that son of yours Triguena. </p>
<p>Will you be decking your halls with in your new favorite colors: F & M Blue? I am sure that your son will look pretty darn good in these colors.</p>
<p>Wishing you are yours more blessings for the holiday season</p>
<p>S</p>
<p>Congrats! That's wonderful news. Merry Christmas!</p>
<p>I'm suffering from college hunt withdrawal. I wish I had a reason to stay glued to CC like old times, troll my kid's email for free college apps online, and plan glamorous college visit trips! Man, that was THE LIFE! <em>grin</em> </p>
<p>Oh well. Guess I'll have to wait til' Fall 2010 (at which time I'll moan along w/other parents of "C" students who gripe about the "super-elitist" set on CC. <em>sigh</em>). On a positive note tho -- you KNOW if there's free $$ to be found for middle-of-the-roaders I'm gonna sniff it out and POST IT!</p>
<p>Cheers parents of 2009ers!</p>