Posted on 09/07/2010 9:59:07 PM PDT by pillut48
My 9 y/o daughter got a letter from this organization, inviting her a "one-time-only opportunity to travel and study in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in the summer of 2011."
Anyone ever heard of these people? Is this on the up and up?
I did a P2P trip when I was a sophomore in HS. Back then the trip lasted 38 days. We went to Ireland, England, Denmark, Sweden, and the (then) USSR. We spent about a week in DC beforehand for briefings and meetings about behavior and foreign culture.
In Ireland, England, and Denmark when you arrived in the country we went to a school where actual families picked us up individually. We each got to stay in a family’s home for about a week before regrouping for a party and moving on to another country.
Got busted by Soviet customs agents trying to smuggle black market “magazines” across their border on a train (hidden in a heating vent). Thought I was going to the gulag for sure. Once I saw the decrepit condition of Leningrad, I stopped fearing that the Russians were going to take us over.
That Summer held some of the best memories of my life. Although at 15, Europe’s casual approach to a “drinking age” led to some memories that I wouldn’t want my own kids to have.
My kids started getting the literature at 9-10 years old as well. Seems way to young to me but I hear the program has changed quite a bit since I went. 15-16 seems to me to be about the right age to be a “student ambassador”. The cost is what will prevent my kids from having the same experience.
Intimidated? My kid? Surely you jest! :-)
She’s been listening to Rush her whole life, and she is VERY politically knowledgeable. Somebody tries bashing America, she’d be all over them like a duck on a June bug, LOL. ;-)
With facts to boot! She’s also a Christian and if there’s anyone who can argue facts with stubborness and determination, it’s my Maya. ;-)
And if things get physical, she’s also a First Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. :-)
All three of mine got invites too. It’s expensive and has no value outside camp type vacation you get for your money imo
Actually, she’s had a savings account since she was 3, but not a checking account. Thanks for the link, I had a feeling this was more of a ‘you pay the big bucks, we’ll pretend you’re special’—kind of like those “Who’s Who in...” books! :-)
We’ve traveled across the US from California to Texas in an SUV for a week, vacationed across eastern Australia for 3.5 weeks, and now India for 5 weeks.
She’s a natural at world travel. Knows how to get her passport and boarding pass ready for security like a pro. ;-)
No worries about the traveling part. She’s independent and would love to go somewhere without us, LOL. Not that we’d let her at this age though. ;-)
That poor mom! :*(
This is kind of what I thought, more of a money making enterprise, but not really based on academic merit.
Thank you for the link. Interesting reading! At least P2P donated to those charitable organizations.
Unaccompanied minors *are* allowed on airlines, there’s certain procedures to go through for safety and security reasons, but the last I heard it was still allowed. Has that changed and I somehow missed it? < puzzled >
This was for everything - air, meals, hotels, all events, buses, rail travel, etc. The only thing we sent with him was a reloadable Visa charge card for incidentals. I felt it was a good program, and he had an absolute blast. Cost was not my main issue. Him getting to see Europe, gain some self-confidence, and experience places like the Louvre were what I wanted out of the program. For three weeks, it seemed reasonable to me.
His experience, and mine, with P2P was positive. If people want to claim that this is some sort of rip-off, I guess that is their prerogative, but I would disagree. My advice is to go to the meeting if you are so inclined, and talk to people who have actually done the program. It’ll cost you nothing and you can form your own opinion.
People to People is a legitimate org . . . if you can call any globalist indoctrination, propaganda program legitimate.
It’s probably fairly benign to her at that level . . . if she is well grounded as a conservative and a Christian.
However, it really is a globalist program fostering greater globalism mentalities and sentiments in youth—particularly those who may be candidates to be local leaders in coming years.
I’d sure make certain she would not accept any chip implants in such escapades . . . though I doubt that would be a problem, yet.
Thanks for the info. The husband is still recovering from the cost estimate ;-) so this is not going to happen at this time—the more I hear, it probably won’t be in the future either. We’ll continue to take family trips around the world when we can and expose her to natural/man-made wonders, etc. with *our* ideals influencing her, rather than other people we don’t know.
Thanks, Quix! That was kind of what I thought once I saw their website, but they coach everything in pretty vague terms, which is a clue what the org. is really all about.
Sounds like this might be a mini-UN type thing—yeah, they do *some* good, but overall, no thank you!
I think that’s a fair summary.
Broooo! i got one too but i dont even know why i got it....
Well i just want to know if this is free or i gotta pay alll that money this people are saying:) im confused so help me out!
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