Travel in Europe- what to take? (1 Viewer)

[Tecumseh]

The original post is below, but now I just need to know what I need to send with my kid on her trip. Special credit card? Adapters? Small arms/weapons? Deodorant for the French?

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My daughter is a rising sophomore and in the marching band at school. The band is scheduled to go to London the day after Christmas, spend a few days there, then go to Paris where they will lead off the 2018 Paris New Years Day parade down the Champs Elysee. 

I have some obvious misgivings about letting her go considering the situation over there. On the one hand, I'm sure security will be absolutely insane for the parade itself, and I'm almost more concerned about the time prior to the parade in London. My wife and I are very torn about whether we should let her go, and I am half-hoping the school takes the decision out of our hands and arranges an alternate trip.

What would you do?

 

[ChiefD]

I would let my kid go. Wonderful opportunity.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Let her go, with no reservations.

But, I am sending my 8th grader on week long class trip to Costa Rica next year, so maybe I am a bad parent...

 

[shadyridr]

Let them go. Can't live life scared. That's not saying I wouldn't be nervous the whole time but id be nervous about things they can do at home too. 

 

[Tecumseh]

Let her go, with no reservations.

But, I am sending my 8th grader on week long class trip to Costa Rica next year, so maybe I am a bad parent...

Not much of an Isis threat in Costa Rica.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Not much of an Isis threat in Costa Rica.

10 times more likely to get murdered in Costa Rica than England or France.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Let them go. Can't live life scared. That's not saying I wouldn't be nervous the whole time but id be nervous about things they can do at home too. 

Yep - I will be far more worried about my daughter driving than I would be for any trip to England or France.

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

I don't see how going to Europe is any more dangerous than driving on American highways or walking down American streets.

 

[Brony]

Never even thought about terrorist concerns until you brought it up.

 

[Brony]

Never even thought about terrorist concerns until you brought it up.

I was camping all weekend and wasn't following news.  nevermind me.

 

[Tecumseh]

Scary mooslims 

Don't be an #######.

 

[Shula-holic]

Don't be an #######.

too late

 

[Tecumseh]

I don't see how going to Europe is any more dangerous than driving on American highways or walking down American streets.

I'd have similar concerns about her going to Times Square for New Years. 

 

[The Ref]

Absolutely not.  Keep her home.  Another 15-20 years and she should be good to go

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Scary mooslims 

I went to England and Ireland alone when I was 17.  I went about a week after this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_847.

My mom said she was worried.  I told her "for the last 8 months I've been delivering pizza in some of the crappiest neighborhoods in town and you never said a word."  She called me a smart ###.

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

I'd have similar concerns about her going to Times Square for New Years. 

Probably safer now that Kathy Griffin has been fired.

 

[Tecumseh]

I went to England and Ireland alone when I was 17.  I went about a week after this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_847.

My mom said she was worried.  I told her "for the last 8 months I've been delivering pizza in some of the crappiest neighborhoods in town and you never said a word."  She called me a smart ###.

I would argue that it's very different now. 3 successful attacks in three months on soft targets in England. PM May says that they prevented at least five other attacks since March. 

 

[elbowrm]

The "situation over there"?

 

[gianmarco]

I would argue that it's very different now. 3 successful attacks in three months on soft targets in England. PM May says that they prevented at least five other attacks since March. 

As bad is it sounds, think of the number of people in England during those spans of 3 months.  Even if a total of 200 people were killed and injured, the % chance of something happening to your daughter at the time she's there is <<<<< her getting into an accident the next time she gets in her car or any other number of "dangerous" activities.  We are not talking about an unstable region here.  These are isolated attacks that affect an incredibly small percentage of people.

 

[Ned]

go to Paris where they will lead off the 2018 Paris New Years Day parade down the Champs Elysee. 

She will remember this for the rest of her life. 

 

[bigbottom]

Sounds like a major boondoggle. How much is this running you?

 

[DaVinci]

As bad is it sounds, think of the number of people in England during those spans of 3 months.  Even if a total of 200 people were killed and injured, the % chance of something happening to your daughter at the time she's there is <<<<< her getting into an accident the next time she gets in her car or any other number of "dangerous" activities.  We are not talking about an unstable region here.  These are isolated attacks that affect an incredibly small percentage of people.

She's much more likely to get kidnapped and sold into sex slavery than be killed by a terrorist. Don't worry so much and let her go have a good time.

 

[top dog]

I guess I'm not sure.  On one hand I'd say #### the terrorists!  They won't let us live in fear... But on the other hand, this is not ME standing up... It would be my daughter.  I'd probably let her go, but I'd be a wreck until she got home.  

 

[Dr Oadi]

Sounds like a major boondoggle. How much is this running you?

Need to know info. 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

I would argue that it's very different now. 3 successful attacks in three months on soft targets in England. PM May says that they prevented at least five other attacks since March. 

Meh. ISIS has nothing on East Bakersfield hoodlums.

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Sounds like a major boondoggle. How much is this running you?

Major Boondoggle was my favorite Beetle Bailey character.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Meh. ISIS has nothing on East Bakersfield hoodlums.

Wait, are we talking teachers or students here?

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Wait, are we talking teachers or students here?

Yes

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Uhm I'd let her go AND GO WITH HER TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT.

No way I'd miss that.

 

[Apple Jack]

She's much more likely to get kidnapped and sold into sex slavery than be killed by a terrorist. Don't worry so much and let her go have a good time.

Settle down like rain, Neeson.

 

[NutterButter]

Sounds like a major boondoggle. How much is this running you?

That's the more important question that I had

 

[bigmarc27]

Let her go. 

Lifes short. 

Caveat: I don't have kids

 

[rockaction]

Don't be an #######.

That's his MO. To be an #######. 

As for the trip to Europe; my niece elected not to go on her own. First in her class. Very aware of the world. Decided a trip to France with band wasn't worth it. Until they clean up their problem, this will be an issue with Americans.  

 

[McGarnicle]

I would let my kid go. Wonderful opportunity.

 

[HellToupee]

Once in a lifetime experience. I'd be praying it gets cancelled 

 

[Mile High]

That's his MO. To be an #######. 

As for the trip to Europe; my niece elected not to go on her own. First in her class. Very aware of the world. Decided a trip to France with band wasn't worth it. Until they clean up their problem, this will be an issue with Americans.  

But she will get into her car tomorrow and drive.

 

[Scoresman]

I feel like part of being a responsible traveler these days, especially in Europe, is avoiding high profile, large crowd events. I have no reservations traveling because these sorts of things are fairly easy to avoid for the average person. 

Sounds like the thing your kid is attending fits the bill, however and it's on a holiday no less.  

 

[HellToupee]

Yep - I will be far more worried about my daughter driving 

one of ther scariest times of parenthood . 

 

[Insomniac]

This sounds like a great experience for her. If she misses out on it she'll probably regret it for the rest of her life. 

 

[Tecumseh]

Sounds like a major boondoggle. How much is this running you?

Wife's parents are graciously picking up the tab.

 

[James Bond]

Sure, let her go. What could go wrong?

Now watch "Taken" to comfort you with that decision.

 

[SkyRattlers]

So you're considering choosing to harm your daughter yourself by denying her the chance to participate in one of the greatest opportunities she will experience in her life, rather than risk the one in a billion chance that a terror attack happens during the few days your daughter is traveling? Seems like a bad bet imo....

 

[msudaisy26]

I would let my kid go. Wonderful opportunity.

Let them go. Can't live life scared. That's not saying I wouldn't be nervous the whole time but id be nervous about things they can do at home too. 

 I'd be praying it gets cancelled 

This is pretty much how I would feel about the whole thing, but you have to let kids grow up even though you don't want them too.

 

[bigbottom]

For the record, I would let my daughter go. But I do think people are possibly overstating how this will be one of the greatest experiences/memories in her life. I went on multiple international musical performance trips in high school. They were fun but honestly, I hardly remember any of the details today. Of course, I'm an old fart now with a rapidly fading memory.  

 

[bigbottom]

Wife's parents are graciously picking up the tab.

Excellent!

 

[bentley]

My daughter is a rising sophomore and in the marching band at school. The band is scheduled to go to London the day after Christmas, spend a few days there, then go to Paris where they will lead off the 2018 Paris New Years Day parade down the Champs Elysee. 

I have some obvious misgivings about letting her go considering the situation over there. On the one hand, I'm sure security will be absolutely insane for the parade itself, and I'm almost more concerned about the time prior to the parade in London. My wife and I are very torn about whether we should let her go, and I am half-hoping the school takes the decision out of our hands and arranges an alternate trip.

What would you do?

Let her go. She's way more likely to be killed by a pool, trampoline, car wreck or accidental gun violence here than anything that might happen in Europe.

 

[rascal]

My daughter is a rising sophomore and in the marching band at school. The band is scheduled to go to London the day after Christmas, spend a few days there, then go to Paris where they will lead off the 2018 Paris New Years Day parade down the Champs Elysee. 

I have some obvious misgivings about letting her go considering the situation over there. On the one hand, I'm sure security will be absolutely insane for the parade itself, and I'm almost more concerned about the time prior to the parade in London. My wife and I are very torn about whether we should let her go, and I am half-hoping the school takes the decision out of our hands and arranges an alternate trip.

What would you do?

FYI...new years in Paris can be dangerous.

But id let them go

 

[shadyridr]

For the record, I would let my daughter go. But I do think people are possibly overstating how this will be one of the greatest experiences/memories in her life. I went on multiple international musical performance trips in high school. They were fun but honestly, I hardly remember any of the details today. Of course, I'm an old fart now with a rapidly fading memory.  

This is true. It's not like they'll be traveling all over the city, sight seeing.

 

[[scooter]]

Hey look, kids -- there's Big Ben, there's Parliament!

 

[The General]

Of course.