<p>Remember, I know many parents who will not send their children to the US for college because they don't think it is safe. This is the alternative side of the coin. I could talk to them until I am blue in the face about safety issues and location etc.etc. Then there are those who have travelled there and understand that much depends on wearing the robe of the country where you reside. Bad things can happen anywhere. It is important to use common sense. Also it is a good idea to be alert when you are not in your normal surroundings.</p>
<p>at etselec: </p>
<p>I didn't mean to say "India is safe! How dare you say it's not?!". I was just really shocked at what she went through. Especially since Kolkata's a metro, and (from talking to people who live there), less conservative than my town. I know it's possible to go through all that. I just didn't know it actually happened to people, if that makes any sense? I mean, I know people could go through that because of some Indian attitudes, in theory, but I didn't know it actually happened in practice (as in, I've never heard of a real person going through it.)</p>
<p>overseas, I totally agree. My parents are pretty scared I'll get mugged and / or raped.</p>
<p>I am always thrilled to see students go far away to study. It takes something special. But you'll get back so much understanding in return.</p>
<p>Congrats on Oberlin, theone!</p>
<p>My oldest returns from Brazil in two weeks. Some of his time was spent in the larger cities such as Fortaleza. He did his ISP out on the MST with the landless migrant workers. I must admit my primary fear was over parasites/illness not threats to his physical safety. Another student from his university spent her time in the Amazon.</p>
<p>Not only does he now speak a mean Portuguese, but he has done a sit in at a Federal Building, and seen a futbol brawl, slept in a hammock and lived without electricity for weeks at a time, grown a wicked beard, and met some wonderful and inspiring people. He wants to go back on his own time some day. It looks like Venezuela is where the action is though.</p>
<p>Perhaps I am better at compartmentalizing my fear because my husband is in law enforcement. If I really thought about what he did all the time, I'd be a basket case.</p>
<p>Jim Henson died of a staph infection in a US hospital which regularly has foreign dignitaries and heads of state flown in for medical attention. Libby Zion died from neglect after a hassled, overworked, and under-slept resident ignored obvious signs of distress. There are people in some of the finest hospitals in the US who die from stupid mistakes every single day-- it doesn't mean that the hospital isn't first rate... but it does mean that human beings are fallible... even famous ones who are highly trained surgeons and para's.</p>
<p>If you are worried about the sanitary conditions in the hospitals in the country your kid is traveling in, you should probably not send your kid. Some people/families are suited to this kind of experience and others are not. Simple as that.</p>
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<blockquote> <blockquote> <p>Perhaps I am better at compartmentalizing my fear because my husband is in law enforcement. If I really thought about what he did all the time, I'd be a basket case.<<<</p> </blockquote> </blockquote>
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<p>I think this is key. But for me, "mom" worry is a weird thing. I don't at all worry, for example, when son is away at school. Yet know that he's home for the summer, I find myself unable to sleep soundly until I hear him pull into the driveway.</p>
<p>When he's in the middle east next year, the solution for me may be to totally ignore international news for a few months. ;)</p>
<p>In my more rationale moments, I agree with parents here who think it's great for kids (everyone, really) to explore as much of the world as they can and to push out of their comfort zones. But occasionally -- like yesterday when a friend heard what my son was up to and said, you're nuts to let him to that -- I question my judgement.</p>
<p>A note to the OP:</p>
<p>If your son wants to visit Israel, tell him that he should to there FIRST. Not just because we're Jews :) but because he'll be much less likely to be questioned by the authorities when they go through his passport. The more stamps from Arab countries that he has, the more difficulties he will have trying to enter in Israel (though he will get in...eventually because it's a US passport). However, if he wants to visit Lebanon or Syria, again, he must go to Israel first because if the authorities in Syria and Lebanon see an Israeli passport stamp, they will turn him away and force him to leave the country (though some travelers have requested the Israeli authorities to place their passport stamp on a piece of paper, separate from their passports.</p>
<p>Definitely blend in with the local customs, language, and people as best as he can- it's really amazing to be part of it in that sense and not be targeted as an American. And the people will definitely be more likely to speak to you in their language instead of heavily accented English :)</p>
<p>I understand IK. When my oldest first left for school, I worried about him doing stupid things like falling off balconies at parties, or missing classes. When he came home on breaks we had to reinstate the house rules because I certainly don't like playing "Dude where's my car" at 2 am, either. But my MIL had ten years worth of insomnia worrying about her adult children even though they had moved out. I've decided I'm not doing that because I already have a full compliment of gray hairs.</p>
<p>TMP--that is very valuable information about passport stamps. Thank you.</p>
<p>FWIW, I've been to Israel 3 times within the last few years for extended periods of time--4 weeks, 1 week, 1 week. I've never had a problem.</p>
<p>thanks, tickleme, for the info on the passport stuff. our plan was to meet our son when the program ends in december and visit egypt and israel, but i think now we should make it israel, egypt. I suspect my son's passport will raise suspicions if he travels around the region, as he wants to. His arabic professor told him it was safe to go to beirut, but who knows what will happen this summer. I'm counting on the program to give him good guidelines on where he can/can't go. Meanwhile, he invested in Rosetta Stone CDs to try to improve his very rudamentary arabic this summer.</p>
<p>I don't get why Jewish kids want to travel orr study in countries that dislike them so very much. And please I don't need the PC political lecture that their problem is with Israel, not Jews -- been there, heard it all. </p>
<p>Evidently it is possible for American Jews to study in Arab countries hostile to Israel. All they have to do is pretend they're something they are not. What a choice.</p>
<p>To not admit a tourist because he's already visited Israel is yet another way that Syria and Lebanon try to ruin Israel, for whom tourism is a key industry. </p>
<p>I wouldn't put up with it. If a country is boycotting me and my people, I'm going to boycott them until they figure it out and get it right.</p>
<p>Notice that Israel responds differently by admitting those who've been to Arab countries (of course they'll ask more questions if you have multiple passport stamps from Arab nations -- they're not crazy --- but they will let you in after that.) As well, Israel came up with this separate paper business for the passports, to accommodate the rest of the world that wants to cross-travel among countries.</p>
<p>I really want to go to Egypt, so...</p>
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<blockquote> <p>I don't get why Jewish kids want to travel orr study in countries that dislike them so very much.>>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>well, i can only answer for one Jewish kid, my son, who wants to learn arabic and study in the middle east because he feels this region is at the epicenter of everything that matters in the world these days. he also feels that any hope for peace in the middle east will come from a deeper understanding of the region and its people on the part of the US.</p>
<p>All of the Jewish kids I know who have spent time in the Arab world had previously spent significant time -- in one case, several years -- in Israel.</p>
<p>Without overgeneralizing too much, I think their experiences in Israel did not accord with the American Jewish view of what Israelis think or do. They were horrified by the effect of the occupation on Israel, and drawn to those Israeli Jews who want to continue to be engaged with the Palestinians rather than building walls. They thought it was important -- as Jews, and as Americans -- to have a much better, much more personal understanding of the Arab world.</p>
<p>My brother will be in Israel for 6 months the next school year. I'm not at all worried.</p>
<p>JHS: I agree with much of what you say, except "They were horrified by the effect of the occupation on Israel;" Rather, here is my D's perspective and why she wants to study abroad in Jordan. D spent time in Israel, and now as an IR major, with an emphasis on middle east issues, she recognizes that as a Jewish american, she needs to work hard to get a balanced view of the situation. She recognizes that she has natural biases that need to be tempered. Your last statement is closer to the truth, I think, than any reaction to the occupation or wall. </p>
<p>To other cc'ers: I am still hoping that someone with first hand experience sending a S or D to Jordan, will offer comments on the current/recent environment there, especially for females.</p>
<p>...........IndianKate: I think your S and my D are on the same path. D is learning arabic, and after she studies in Jordan, wants to go back and spend a longer time in Israel in a Hebrew immersion program. Thankfully, there are still kids who feel optimistic enough about the middle east, to want to do something about it.</p>
<p>Thanks for that cyber slap blossom but you're simply mistaken. I live in a country with amazing health care--but I still have to go back to the US for certain procedures. If they have the expensive machines here--and often they cannot afford them--the doctors haven't done the same level of training. If the treatment in available, often there is an unacceptable wait. At the top levels, the science and medical training in the US is unsurpassed becuase the US spends THREE times the amount that it's nearest competitor, the EU spends, supporting academic research, funding scientific education. A couple of Harvard economists did an interesting paper on the subject in 2005.</p>
<p>I'd be happy for my sons to be treated for run of the mill illnesses in the countries they travel or live in--four to date--two first-world and two third world--but in the case of life or death or major surgery or cancer--I'd like the opportunity to whip into one of the top academic hospitals in the US--superbugs and human error nonwithstanding. The EU or Asian Tiger countries would be a second choice.</p>
<p>Believe me, the level of tolerated human error in other countries would make your hair stand on end. I say this as a dear friend to surgeons practising around the world.</p>
<p>"They thought it was important -- as Jews, and as Americans -- to have a much better, much more personal understanding of the Arab world."</p>
<p>I understand the wide range of political opinion inside of Israel, and I wish the students success in their efforts to generate peace through deeper understanding. </p>
<p>My cousin plays in Daniel Berenboam's orchestra for peace; she's an Israeli and along with musicians from more than half-dozen Arab nations, they perform in Europe and last December at Carnegie Hall. So I do understand. (They don't talk politics, she says; it's too painful; they just stick to the music and are friendly.) </p>
<p>But...from where do the new crop of IR (etc.) American-Jewish students anticipate working? They'd be a great asset from here in the U.S. with that training and educational background. I don't think, as things stand today at least, they'd find acceptance to work in Arab countries of the Middle East, any more than an individual black person in 19th century Mississippi could amend Jim Crow. Nobody would give him the chance. As an individual, you can't work where you are hated, distrusted, or iced out of the communication. </p>
<p>I know American Jewish kids understand themselves as Americans, but I wonder if the people in the Middle East, with whom they intend to work (here or abroad) would see them first and only as Jews. I hope they wouldn't have to decide between these two identities; shed one for the sake of the other. </p>
<p>Of course, I presume the continuation of antiSemitism as we've known it for the past 2,000 years. While there's great progress in our own country, I see no evidence from the Arab nations of the world that I can look forward to a lightening up of this form of hatred. I would so love to be proven wrong on this; I think I could die a happy woman if things improve with the next generation. So I wish them hatzlachah, strength and good luck. Am just sharing some heartfelt thoughts. Troubled about it all. I do wish them success.</p>
<p>Now as a courtesy to my friend blucroo, who really has something tangible in front of her, her D about to go study in Jordan then Israel, perhaps the next poster or so can reply: who knows anything about young women studying now in Jordan?? Let's help Blucroo answer that open question. </p>
<p>Young women studying in Jordan...???</p>
<p>We send our students to Jordan for academic and sports conferences. The students stay with families while they are there. My son went several times and considers Jordan very safe as far as crimes go. I haven't been there since 1993. They were far more strict with airport security than the States until of course just recently. Israeli passport stamps are o.k. when entering Jordan and Egypt. I just had experience with that.</p>