Hello, My 15 year old daughter wants to be an exchange student in Italy (not sure what part) should I let her?
She wants to go for 3 months to immerse in the culture, and she claims it will broaden her future career prospects (not sure if she made that up!) She is alomst fluent in Italian and speaks it all the time but it is frustrating for her that nobody at home can understand LOL. But I have heard of all the gypsies and Mafia and rapists and murderers in italy! especially the cities so I am worried. She would be staying with a host family and oging to school in Italy but I am soooo worried!
Studying Abroad - 17 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Couldn't hurt, and it would be good for her to see more of the world.
2 :
Let her do it. It is a great opportunity for her and it will look good in the future.
3 :
There are mafias and rapists everywhere honey. Right now is one of the only opportunity for your daughter to be able to be free and learn about other parts of the world. I think you should let her go.
4 :
Sounds to me like she wants some italian guy to *coughs* immersed in her...I wouldnt let her until she is a bit older. That way when she comes home with an italian mans baby, youll be more relaxed when shes older. Im totaly serious.
5 :
I don't know. Now a days its too much violence I wouldn't rust it. Last thing you would want to do is get your daughter mixed up in something or someone you done know the first thing about.
6 :
The ups outweigh the downs. In some places, Italy is like a museum you can touch. You think the US doesn't have all that? Check out the news, the stats.
7 :
Yes, you should let her go! She can learn about the culture and everything there and what it's ike to live there. Also, if you give her money to see if she buys things but is responsible and still brings some amount of money back! And, well, I may be only 11, but I know what I'm talking about. Hope this helps! P.S. Your going to have to let her live her own life sometimes. :D
8 :
It's true that doing a foreign exchange program can help future career prospects. Anything to set you apart from the crowd.
9 :
I would have loved to have an experience like that as a teen. It sounds like a great opportunity and a lot of fun. I'm sure a lot of Italians worry about their daughters coming to America (here I am assuming you're American) because they hear stories about shootings and gangs and so on. I would imagine that Italy would be no more dangerous than America. If you let her go though, make sure you have talked to her about safety, how you expect her to act around stranger, what she is allowed to do and not allowed to do, where she is allowed to go and with whom, and when she is allowed to go out. Also think about giving her pepper spray (if that's legal in Italy) for a little piece of mind. You know your daughter and how mature she is, so you will have to decide. If you think she is ready though, don't hold her back. Ask yourself if she is the one who is not ready, or if it's YOU who isn't ready. You'll have to let her go sooner or later and if you do it while she's young you can influence her in the right way. If you don't let her go until she is 18, then she will be outta there without looking back and you will have no control over what she does and what she gets into.
10 :
let her go, but find out where, get contact details with her and the family she is staying with, use a translator site if they don't speak english and don't think about what can go wrong! the first time i got on a plane was the day after i watch a movie about a plane crash, not the smartest thing to so, but i realized the odds of our plane going down and i went anyway, the odds of anything happening to your daughter are not very high, plus it sounds like a school organized trip so they wouldnt send her to an unsafe place.
11 :
I think criminals be everywhere in this world, there is no place be safe enough. the day which she face the whole society will definitely come. so now she is 15 years old and it's time for her to learn more by individual living. she is right, let her go and god bless her.
12 :
definately!!!you should let her go. its going to be a great experience for her..and dont worry that something might happen..she's 15 now and by sending her on this program,she'll learn more about the world around her,and become a mature person.
13 :
i am 15. i already when abroad for 2 weeks all by myself (with friends) to a summer school and i went alone to beijing for a week. i think maybe she has an italian friend she doesnt say you about or something like that. but i would let her go especially if shes going to live with a host family. but make sure that you contact a host family before she goes because they might not be good people and that is the case you should worry about more.
14 :
let her do it!!!!!! i'm italian and i live in milan. in july i'm going to nz for 6 months for an exchange program and i think that it's a very important experience. please believe me, italy is not so terrible and it isn't absolutely as dangerous as you say!!!!!!!!!!!!!! last year i went to L.A. and it is more dangerous than milan! mafia is everywhere in the world and not only here! this idea is only a prejudice! italy is very beautiful for its nature, for its history, for its culture and its art! and milan is fabulous for shopping(even if it's quite expensive)!!!! ^^ the best parts of italy where to live, in my opinion, are lombardia (where there is milan), toscana, umbria, piemonte and emilia romagna. but every area is fantastic!!! my mom is worried too. it's normal! i will go to the other side of the world alone!! but she knows that this experience is very important and it's my dream. (i'm sorry for my terrible english...)
15 :
about the mafia you shouldn't worry..they won't hurt her! rapists and murderers are everywhere, they don't have their general headquarters in italy!there are gypsies(but not everywhere!), she just have to pay attention to where she goes especially in the evening..but generally if she avoids some areas it's safe!
16 :
im an exchange student now in germany. and personally i think you should let her go. it might not open her prospects,. only being gone three months, but shell certainly become more independent. but i would honeslty only let her go if shes already pretty independent. otherwise its going to suck for her and shes going to feel like a total loner not knowing the language and if shes staying with a host family, most european host families are wealthy and live in safer areas ;D
17 :
Let her go!!! It will be an amazing experience and she will come back much more worldly! It will also look good for colleges! I don't think you should worry about rapists, Mafia, or murderers in Italy. It is a very 1st world country and is generally pretty safe. I wouldn't worry about the host family. These people are mostly just curious about other cultures and want to have an intercultural experience too! It would be really awesome for her!
