Posted on 06/03/2011 3:57:18 AM PDT by South40
“... had the parents read the State Department’s warnings...”
Many schools have these foreign trips that boggle the mind. Mexico, Russia, etc... I am probably more neurotic than a lot of parents but I have told my high schooler no. He was offered the chance to go to France. How I see it: he is still my kid and I won’t relinquish his safety to a group of chaperones. I know, I know... I’m a meanie.
When he’s 18, he can sign up for an all-expenses-paid US Government tour of some of the world’s sh**ty places. My daughter is having a swell time on hers. I think she was in Costa Rica fairly recently, assuming that’s the place that’s “just like the Tulsa Zoo rainforest exhibit, including tropical birds landing on the bridge while you’re on watch.”
What is amazing to me is how many people assume that “people from other countries are just like us”. I know a couple (both educated with Masters degrees etc...) that went on vacation to mexico about six months ago. Just how stupid are you? They did get into one “hairy” incident while in town doing some shopping. (liberals... if you guessed it). They live in California (like that should surprise you /s)
When I was a teenager, I was researching the possibilities of going overseas as an exchange student.
I had a choice—to go, free of charge, with an organization that gave students no choice about where to go, and very possibly end up in a hellhole, or to go with an organization that was fairly expensive (my family wasn’t rich), and have a choice about where to go.
I applied to the second organization and ended up going to France for a year. It was a wonderful experience. Plus, I have made an effort to maintain fluency in French and can still carry on conversations, some 30 years later.
More on topic: Those adults chaperoning that trip did not do enough, IMO, to impress upon those students the dangers of the place they were visiting. Were the students aware of the “shoot on sight” policy re: suspected thieves?
I hate to say it, but a hotel is a natural target for thieves; how could the security guard have possibly known that the people running around after curfew in the dark were tourists? It’s a tragic situation, but I can’t lay any blame on the security guard under the circumstances. He may have even been extra vigilant, knowing that there were American students staying at the hotel, and wanting to make sure no one got into their rooms.
What I remember is that I was a teen once, too. You are away from your parents (maybe for the first time), in an exotic location and given a ten o’clock curfew. What I’m saying is it is possible that a bunch of them snuck out to meet each other. Isn’t that what being 16 and stupid is all about. I remember our big high school trip was a two night excursion to Florida. Perhaps a lot of high schools should start considering U.S. destinations instead of some of the foreign/diversity/rain forest etc. types. Yes, Florida can have some dangers as well. However, from last I hear, Florida didn’t have a “shoot on sight” policy for kids in a hallway after curfew.
I’m a lot more positive about Mexicans and Central Americans than many FReepers are, because I meet the ones who come to church every Sunday plus weekday prayer groups ;-). However, there’s a reason these nice people left the countries they came from: because those countries are awful! Much as I’d like to see the pre-Columbian ruins in Mexico and Central America, I’ll make do with seeing them in books and on video, rather than take the risks of tourism there.
That said, many people do travel to places much less safe than home. It works out, usually, for adults/families who are serious about the risks involved and follow safety guidelines. I think people have to assume that in any group of teenagers, some are going to take very foolish risks, as happened in this case and with Natalee Holloway.
“I’ll make do with seeing them in books and on video...”
I am probably not very adventuresome. That being said, I am also the type of person who wants to know somewhat what to expect. I am uncomfortable visiting a country without fully knowing and understanding their laws. Teens are a whole different breed (and not just this generation of teens but all of them for all time IMHO). Away from parents and wanting as much fun as possible. What saddens me is that his parents have to meet his coffin at the airport instead of their son with pictures and tales of his trip. No parent should ever have to do that.
You’re probably not aware of the very high level of crime around these resorts.
The hotels actually employ Blackwater types in some of these resorts. They’re equipped with night vision goggles and machine guns and patrol the resorts all night because the tourists are a target. If they didn’t do this there would be more massacres such as the one that happened in St. Croix and even more abductions than are happening now. The hotels and tourist associations don’t want you to know about this - for obvious reasons.
I agree. Unfortunately, saying, "This shouldn't have happened," doesn't "un-happen" it. All we can do is pray for the family.
bump
Thanks for the link. I had heard that there was a problem with crime in CR.
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