<p>Would you let your kid go to Russia for fall semester? Not Moscow, but another major city, and it's too early, of course, to see how Putin responds.
Of course, there were bombings in the London tube, and I suspect that didn't put much of a dent in the English study abroad programs.</p>
<p>^ exactly. This is kind of like the questions about letting your child go to Mexico for Spring Break. Could something happen to them there. Sure. Could something happen to them anywhere (including at school or home) absolutely. Thinking they’re safer because they’re nearby is just enforcing a false sense of security. </p>
<p>A few commonsense precautions are reasonable. I would not, for example, send my child to study abroad near the Chechen border. Just like i wouldn’t let them vacation in Juarez. But would I let them go to St. Petersburg or even Moscow, of course. London, Madrid, Paris, New York, California, Kansas City, terrorism can happen anywhere. If you let the threat of it keep you from doing what you want to do, living a full life and going where you want to go, you’re going to find yourself boxed in pretty fast. After all, hatred born out of fear and ignorance and dehumanization contributes greatly to the creation of terrorists. What better way to combat that then by sending your child out to interact with children in other parts of the world, to learn from each other and learn that there’s nothing to fear.</p>
<p>I agree with SmithieandProud, but I would think twice about any place on the CIA watch list. That’s not to say I wouldn’t go, of course, but I’d pay close attention to the condition of the country and assess whether the risk there is inherently higher than it is elsewhere. Stanford, for example, strongly discourages students from travelling to countries considered dangerous for American citizens by the CIA. You can find that information here:</p>
<p>[Current</a> Travel Warnings](<a href=“404 - Page Not Found”>404 - Page Not Found)
[Current</a> Travel Alerts](<a href=“404 - Page Not Found”>404 - Page Not Found)</p>
<p>^^^
US State Department Travel Warnings</p>
<p>I would let my son go to Russia – but I am still undecided about Mexico (he wants to go stay with friends this summer). Of course, I tend to be rather accepting of risk – my son spent several weeks in Palestine last spring and has traveled all over Europe, including Romania, Slovakia and Turkey on his own and spent a summer in Egypt.</p>
<p>A lot depends on the kid’s personality – is the student a risk-taker? Will he/she take precautions and be alert – or act like nothing will ever happen?</p>
<p>My son is very cautious, alert and an experienced traveler. he has had a few nervous moments (dark alley late at night in NYC, witnessing a shooting in Turkey, IDF in Palestine) and he knows when to worry.</p>
<p>[Student</a> Beaten Into Coma Recovering In Miami - cbs4.com](<a href=“http://cbs4.com/local/zeke.rucker.cancun.2.1600164.html]Student”>http://cbs4.com/local/zeke.rucker.cancun.2.1600164.html)</p>
<p>I just saw this story on our local evening news a few minutes ago. It’s really disturbing - I feel so bad for these parents. I wouldn’t advise anyone to go to Mexico right now.</p>
<p>“Palestine”?</p>
<p>^^had the same question?</p>
<p>Yep. West Bank and Gaza Strip. Quite the experience! You should see the dross in his passport. Believe it or not, it was a high school trip.</p>
<p>I meant “stamps in his passport”</p>
<p>Without trying to stir up trouble, I think a more accurate characterization of the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be “Palestine aspirant.” Not really Israel anymore, particularly Gaza, but not (yet?) Palestine either. </p>
<p>Not to take anything away from your son’s experience or your message about it. I agree that the thought of a visit to Ramallah, Amman, Jerusalem, Beirut or Damascus would likely scare most Americans but in fact the odds are that it would be fine. Congrats to you for allowing your son to make that trip.</p>
<p>@NJ Paladin - Sorry. I was confusing the State Department warnings with another CIA list I frequent (hot languages).</p>
<p>It’s quite common for the area to be referred to as Palestine. </p>
<p>In my Modern Middle Eastern History class, in fact, we took a map test and had to label both Israel and Palestine. </p>
<p>I’m not really qualified to answer the question because I’m not a parent, but just so we don’t get off topic: a terrorist attack occurred in the United States, as well. </p>
<p>I do not think such incidents should deter a person from traveling to another country, if the country is generally stable and safe. Clearly, it can happen anywhere and everywhere.</p>
<p>I agree with using the State’s Department travel advisory webpage as a good rough guideline.</p>
<p>May be a personal assessment of what constitutes “Risk”…I am alive today…and have been to several areas most people would not send a teen/or travel as an adult-I did-my parents felt I could handle myself…I consider the trips “calculated risks”…
Guatemala-had to deal with a machete in the head of a patient upon arrival-
Honduras-bullet holes on the sides of homes, military w/machine guns traveled with me
Egypt-one time when Sadat was killed-however-I did not travel to Morocco while on that trip around the world because of the stories about kidnapping of white women.
London-between bombings-Daughter arrived morning after the first bombings to study in Cambridge
Moscow is known for issues around the Mafia. These latest bombings are more systemic of terrorist activity that can be found almost anywhere in the world, unfortunately.
Again…travel has its inherent risks, at the same time, experiences that can not be duplicated by just staying home. 
I share this, in hopes to encourage you to determine what constitutes a “calculated” risk.
APOL-a mom</p>
<p>Our S is studying abroad. He left home at the age of 15 to continue his eduation in the US. We had our concerns (to put it mildly). The (Asian) country where are living and the (European) country where we are coming from may be more familiar territory, but that does not mean they are really that much safer. Somehow, one gets a bit blind for the dangers in the immediate neighborhood.This is probably due to the fact that you witness everything yourself and you judge without being influenced by the press.</p>