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Yikes--Today Is the Day

Yep. Today is the day. Today is the day I send my baby (17 years old) off with a pack of relative strangers to tour Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. She has joined up with People to People, a program started by Eisenhower to encourage young people to understand other cultures instead of trying to conquer them. The group leaves today, and by tomorrow they will be in Fiji. they'll be there for several days learning about the island's government, culture, and environment. They'll spend time with a tribe and an elementary school, and they'll play on the beach until their body clocks recover.

Then they'll spend several days in New Zealand learning everything they can learn there in a few days. They'll split up in groups of two or three and stay in homes with locals, getting to know what it's like to live day to day there. Each student is to bring a home-stay gift for their hosts, something small that represents their own homeland, so Daughter No. 2 is taking a book about Warther the local carver and a pair of wooden pliers from the Warther gift shop, and she's taking a jar of peanut butter because she was told people in New Zealand don't have peanut butter and are curious. We'll see.

The next stop on the trip will be Australia. Yes, I realize it's a large country, but I am not exactly sure where they will spend most of their time beyond visiting Sydney. I have access to their itinerary online, so I can loosely follow their journey.

The entire trip will take 19 days, and my child has never been away from me for that long. She has gone on group trips for a week at a time and visited cousins now and then--but 19 DAYS! I keep telling myself--don't cry like a baby, don't cry like a baby, don't cry like a baby. There is nothing wrong with my crying when my daughter leaves for this trip, but I don't want her to feel bad, so I think I'll save my blubbering for my drive home from the airport.

Comments

Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
That sounds like such a great opportunity for any kid to experience. I’m sure your encouragement advice and guidance has played a big role in her decision to go
8:13 AM
Ms Mac said…
What a fabulous experience for her. I am quite jealous!

As for you, she'll be home in no time. You'll wonder where the time went!
9:18 AM
Gina said…
That does indeed sound wonderful!

I'm not sure I would be able to hold the tears until the car.
12:08 PM
Sassy Sundry said…
How exciting! That's a great opportunity.

Don't cry. She'll be back.
1:09 PM
Old Knudsen said…
That program has shown its age since Eisenhower's day, the cultures are now full of immigrants and racism, just like home, ah well travel broadens the mind and I suggest that to all Americans it will be great for her.
6:19 PM
Scout said…
Old Knudsen, travel does broaden the mind. It will be interesting to see if she discovers racism while she's away.

Sassy, I did cry a little. But when I got home and took one look at her messy room, I was less motherly and more perturbed.

Gina, 23 kids went on this trip, and all the parents stood there an waved goodbye--some cried and some just waved. Interesting.

Ms Mac. I believe you're right about the sense of time while she's away. It will fly.

Rich, she's had a traveling bug since she was a little kid when we took her to Brazil for two weeks. We've created a monster.
11:20 PM
Alifan said…
Oh dear Robyn, one of the things about being a parent, have to let them loose sometimes.....

She will have a wonderful time I am sure, and you may even get that bedroom tidy by the time she gets home!!!!

Thinking of you.....
3:04 AM
Anonymous said…
Don't cry Robyn, think of it as an amazing opportunity for her. It sounds like the trip of a lifetime.
And you learn something new every day. I didn't know new zealanders didn't have peanut butter. I wonder what they have on their toast?
Make the most of your time off and then you'll have that wonderful time hearing all aboutit and sharing her trip when she gets back.
5:12 AM
Scout said…
Alifan, I have thought about cleaning that room--it will take days and days, but I am up for the challenge.

Kate, I was skeptical about the peanut butter when someone recommended we give it as a gift. I envision a whole bunch of New Zealand families getting peanut butter as a gift and having to pretend they are pleased. hee hee
7:43 AM
Anonymous said…
Lmao the joke with new zealanders is that they will probably eat it with lamb.
8:25 AM
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