<p>If you were sending a recent high school graduate to a Spanish speaking country on a Gap Year program, which countries would you consider and which ones would you avoid? DS has traveled outside the United States, but always with our family. This will be his first time completely on his own. There are so many programs available, that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the choices. We're open to South America, Central America and Spain. I'm just not that familiar with relative safety and how "welcoming" these different countries are - especially in Central/South America. Any cities off limits?
Thanks so much,
mwlgal</p>
<p>[Most</a> Dangerous Cities in the World](<a href=“http://www.mostdangerouscities.org/]Most”>http://www.mostdangerouscities.org/)</p>
<p>I would be doing a lot of research on crime, etc.</p>
<p>A lot would depend on how the program prepares them for being out and about, whether it is Spain or Venezuela. I doubt you’d be able to access information like the number of kids mugged, etc., but you might be able to get a good sense about how they prepare them by talking to a program leader, or some parents/kids who’ve already done a particular program. Or maybe online reviews. How well-run the program is in general would be a good indication to me of how well they know what they’re doing.</p>
<p>That said, crime is intense in some Spanish speaking countries, or better-said, some cities. So there are differences and greater/lesser challenges.</p>
<p>BTW, the State Department website has a huge amount of information on traveling to any particular country, and that could be a good place to start.</p>
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<p>Wherever you travel, you need to have common sense. Avoid bad areas, etc.</p>
<p>That said, certain places are likely to be bad. I was in Mexico this week, working with a firm that has a fair bit of knowledge about security. They said, say away from border cities and port cities. We’ve been to numerous other places in Mexico that seem safe. However, they were commenting on a lovely town an hour from Mexico City, saying that it was impressive how lively things were at night – the folks weren’t afraid of the narcos and told us that the narcos just fight each other but don’t bother the rest of the population.</p>
<p>I travel a lot and am not an expert on any one area, but I will give you a few impressions. I haven’t been to Spain in a few years (although I’m going to Barcelona in a couple of months), but unless the dramatic economic collapse has really changed things, Spain would be safe (caveat: all cities have bad areas, etc.). Again, haven’t been there in a few years, but Panama seems pretty safe – I think you have to stay away from the Colombian border as FARC narcos/guerillas live there to escape occasional forays of the Colombian military. I think much of Nicaragua outside of Managua would be safe (Granada is particularly nice and seemed quite safe). I took my kids for a vacation. But, it is a poor country and I think there may be crime against rich-looking tourists (we never saw anything, but there are reports of crime in the beach area of San Juan del Sur). I would be wary of Guatemala and El Salvador (lots of drug related violence in the capitol, I believe), but people’s kids have gone for things in the countryside in Guatemala with no ill effects. I’d stay away from Venezuela. Unstable. Run by thugs. The government is generally anti-US. I have lots of Venezuelan friends, so it is not the people. Buenos Aires and Montevideo are big cities that seem a bit like my imagined image of Southern Europe in the 50’s. I’d guess Chile and Uruguay are generally the safest. Ecuador, according to the site hanaviolet provided, has a fair degree of security risk, which surprises me. In Peru, there are some rural areas, according to the site hanaviolet provided, that are dangerous because of remnants of the Shining Path. I’ve been to Peru three times, including Lima (not a great city with bad neighborhoods), the Andean Highlands (places like Arequipa), the ocean (Ica), … . Great country to visit. I personally really like Colombia. Really nice people who are really great at getting stuff done. (It also seems to have an extraordinary number of beautiful women, which might make it of interest to your son). I think the security issues have really diminished there – the previous government did a lot to defang the FARC-- but I assume the risk is not over. You should check.</p>
<p>hanaviolet’s suggestions about vetting the program are good. I’d suggest getting the names of kids who attended in the last couple of years. I’d ask girls rather than guys about safety, as teenage boys seem to feel invulnerable and if nothing bad happened, they might detect no risk, whereas girls are more likely to be observant of risk factors.</p>
<p>My friend’s husband, a GA Tech grad, is Panamanian. They make trips back to Panama to visit his parents regularly. He just took their two college age daughters there for Spring Break. My friend raves about how nice it is. </p>
<p>S1 knows a guy who did an intense Spanish immersion class after college in the U.S. then spent two years in Buenos Aires getting his masters. Loved it.</p>
<p>mwlgal, I looked at my post and it is pretty rambling. Sorry. Here’s the executive summary:</p>
<p>If safety were your sole concern, I’d guess that Chile, Spain, Uruguay and Panama would be high on the list, but it is quite possible to be safe in many other places. On my skip list: Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala.</p>
<p>We were in Costa Rica for a vacation a few years ago. If I were looking for a Spanish program, I’d check it out–I know there are some.</p>
<p>I researched Spanish-speaking countries for my son’s summer exchange program. Argentina, Chile, and Spain were our top three choices. We’ve been to Costa Rica and Panama and they seem fine. I would not pick Mexico, Ecuador, or Columbia (Rotary actually has Columbia as a choice). If you choose Spain, stick to Madrid and areas south, as other areas speak dialects.</p>
<p>My son spent the summer in Bueonos Aires with a friend - volunteering - he was fine. You have to use your head anywhere.</p>
<p>I have a friend who has happily sent both her kids to a program in Costa Rica. </p>
<p>Now tell me what Arabic speaking countries, my son should spend his junior year abroad in. ;)</p>
<p>If its a gap year program, the kids are probably not on their own all that much. These kind of programs tend to be well planned and supervised.</p>
<p>D spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica almost 2 years ago in a foreign exchange program with a HS group. She loved the people there and said they were extremely friendly and helpful.</p>
<p>My D went on a Rotary Gap year to Peru. Application deadlines are long over for this next year, but it was a great experience, living with a host family. There is some violence in the country, but she was well taken care of by both the Rotary club and her host family. </p>
<p>One of the considerations is the sort of Spanish spoken in the country. Peruvian Spanish is a bit slow, as well as clear. Easy to learn. </p>
<p>My S did a semester abroad in Ecuador. He really did his research and felt he was in the best place possible to study abroad. I visited, and was bowled over by the sweetness of the people, as well as the amazing scenery and cultural diversity. There were some muggings in his exchange group, wallets taken, etc in Quito. Nothing violent. There are many interesting programs in Ecuador, and it has Amazon rain forest as well as high altitude, cloud forest, and many things in between. Plus, close to the US, so cheaper to get to and visit than some places.</p>
<p>It isn’t just about the spanish but what your son wants to focus on during his gap year? Art? Music? service? Mountain climbing? If you want exotic…Ecuador/Peru/Bolivia. You want high brow art/music/opera–Argentina and Chile…like Europe but much more fun. Bird watching…Paraguay, Ecuador. Business school or business internship–Colombia…hands down…entrepreneurial spirit times 10. Poverty–sadly, central america, paraguay, bolivia. Perhaps he wants to learn a native language,Quechua as well as spanish? Once he has focused on his interests, then you help him decide where he gets the experience he wants and you have minimal heartburn. Anywhere he goes, he needs to learn to listen to what host families and local people tell him. They know…same if he were going to Pittsburgh or Chicago. </p>
<p>OK…My H is from Ecuador, Ecuador is perhaps more exotic but not as safe even though it is our second home.I did study abroad in Colombia during some of the worst of the violence and came home unscathed and with excellent spanish. I understand it is now one of the safest countries for foreigners and hope to take the kids to Bogota and Cartagena next trip. We travel throughout spain and latin america frequently. I just returned from Argentina and Uruguay. Last year I was in Ecuador and Peru. My husband spends time for work in almost all central and south american countries (not venezuela or cuba). My kids are fluent in Spanish but look very foreign and are naive like most americans so as my son contemplates study abroad (to study art) we are pushing Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. Spain is great fun but very expensive. Also, a little too much in his comfort zone. As a mom, my preference is for Uruguay. ABSOLUTELY the safest country in latin america. The place is full of Brazilians and Argentinians who crave a little safety as well as beautiful beaches. Food is good, water is safe, girls (and guys) are very cute, people are SOOO polite and the cars…OMG…they stop! at stop signs and red lights? No kidding. There is jungle near the Paraguayan border, you have the most stunning beaches I have ever seen, you can pop over to Argentina when Montevideo seems too small. The wine…well, perhaps that is not essential but they have a unique grape that makes a great wine. …
Where would I say 'no" to my kid going for study abroad/gap: Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela…over my dead body…I wouldn’t sleep a wink. Sadly, that is the situation.<br>
OK. PM me if you have more questions.</p>
<p>Oh…yeah…critical consideration…where would YOU like to visit him? Uruguay in January is heaven if you are in snowbound Minnesota. Think about what country you are interested in visiting. Why did we tell our son to do study abroad in the WINTER term? yeah…it isn’t just about him you know…</p>
<p>My daughter spent six months in Buenos Aires as a high school junior. Loved the city, traveled throughout the country, wants to go back. Oh yea – it was fabulous to visit her there as per fineartsmajormom’s “critical consideration.”</p>