How Did You Tell Your Parents You Wanted to Go Abroad?

My mother is very understanding and open-minded person, so she helped me prepare and get ready emotionally.

"My high school had exchange program recruiters from AFS Intercultural Programs and a couple other organizations that arrange for students to study and travel abroad come and present. So I went to one of these meetings and then I ‘coerced’ my mother into letting me go. The scope of where I was allowed to go was very limited because she knew that a lot of countries wouldn’t give me what some other countries would as far as accommodations. I didn’t like [this limitation] at first, but everything went so fast that I ended up having a wonderful experience. My mother is very understanding and open-minded person, so she helped me prepare and get ready emotionally. She was very good about this. We’re originally from Russia; I was born there but haven’t been back. The Finnish culture and Russian culture have many similarities.” Eugene Aronsky, visual impairment, participated during the summer in a six week cultural homestay program with AFS USA to Finland while in high school.

"My parents were very nervous about it. My sister had gone to Spain two years before I went to England, so I kind of used that as leverage, and my sister doesn’t have a disability. My parents aren’t the type to say ‘Oh she can go because she doesn’t have a disability.’ They treat us as equals, and I had all the same abilities. I said ‘She got to go, and now I’m her age, and I have this opportunity. It would be just as good for me as it was for her.’ So they couldn’t really let their nervousness tell me ‘No.’ They also talked to the teacher who was supervising the trip, and they got to know him so they felt comfortable letting me go with him.”  Angela Winfield, visually impaired, traveled to the United Kingdom as a junior with her Law Academy high school group _{Photo Caption: Angela Winfield}

 

 

I did very well in German so that my mom was proud of me. But the thing that really convinced her was that I told her that I needed to learn how to use the language itself, and learn more about the culture through a firsthand experience.

"My mom, as always, was being very overprotective – she wasn't sure how I would be able to adapt to the new environment, especially because of the fact that I'm deaf. She was the one who encouraged me to take a foreign language; she actually forced me to take French in 6th grade. I hated it. Then Spanish in 7th grade, the same story. Then 8th grade, I loved German, partially because the teacher was really good and made the class fun. I did very well in German so that my mom was proud of me. But the thing that really convinced her was that I told her that I needed to learn how to use the language itself, and learn more about the culture through a firsthand experience. And I also told her that I am growing up and will eventually have to go on my own...[though] with my [sign language] interpreter, I wouldn't be ‘alone.’ My mom knew my interpreter for 4 years before I left for Germany, so that gave her some comfort.” Sarah Gordon, deaf, traveled before her junior year in high school with Educational Foundation Tours to Germany

 "My parents were fine with it, because I had gone away to camps before, that were still in my home state but only for a couple of weeks at a time. That was a good lead into me being away from home and them being OK with it. There were parent chaperones too [on the exchange], and that helps a lot.” Kim Borowicz, low vision, traveled to Bermuda for five days on a drug prevention education high school trip and throughout Europe as a band member as part of a summer high school camp _{Photo Caption: Kim Borowicz}

 

 

My parents liked the idea that I stayed with a host family. I guess it gave them the sense of security that I’m being taken care of by a nice family.

"My family doesn’t really travel. I come from a family who does not find traveling very appetizing. Nonetheless, they were very supportive with my decision. They mentioned a summer job, but I insisted otherwise, and my parents simply understood and allowed me to go on an exchange. My parents liked the idea that I stayed with a host family. I guess it gave them the sense of security that I’m being taken care of by a nice family. I had no idea who I would be staying with, and in fact the host family I had was really wonderful.” Patrick Rosenburg, deaf, traveled with the Experiment in International Living to various European countries when he was sixteen

"For two years before I went on this trip I would talk about how at sometime I wanted to go abroad. I had already told my parents I wanted to see the world, so when I told them I wanted to go on this trip [in high school], they were very open to the idea. I brought home information from my school and they supported it. My mom helped me to research different areas before going, different cultures and different things to expect in certain countries.” Paula Gieselman, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, traveled with her Social Studies high school class to seven European countries for two weeks in the summer _{Photo Caption: Paula Gieselman}