Starving student blames stingy host family

msnbc.com ^ | Feb 27, 08

[paudio]

HALLOWELL, Maine - Jonathan McCullum was in perfect health at 155 pounds when he left last summer to spend the school year as an exchange student in Egypt.

But when he returned home to Maine just four months later, the 5-foot-9 teenager weighed a mere 97 pounds and was so weak that he struggled to carry his baggage or climb a flight of stairs. Doctors said he was at risk for a heart attack.

McCullum says he was denied sufficient food while staying with a family of Coptic Christians, who fast for more than 200 days a year, a regimen unmatched by other Christians.

[paudio]

It's difficult to assign a blame when the kid himself doesn't see anything wrong with what happened.

[cripplecreek]

The kid should have studied up on the customs of the people where he was going. Since he apparently didn’t do that he should have made a phone call and said he wanted to go home.

[FlingWingFlyer]

He just had a glimpse of the future of America after Obama gets elected. What happened to him in Egypt is the “change” and “new direction” everybody is raving about at the Obama “happenings.”

[stainlessbanner]

He’s 17 - that’s basically an adult; he could have made the decision to change hosts or return to the US.

[RichInOC]

“Del Taco Help Line, we’re here to feed your beast.”

[LADY J]

It doesn’t sound like we exchanged one of our best & brightest!!

[cripplecreek]

We left most of him there. LOL

[trumandogz]

When I lived in Cairo, dinner at Muslim Egyptian’s homes always meant that you had better be very hungry when you arrived since you would be a full as can be when you left.

The food was good and they kept serving even after you said you had enough.

[donna]

That’s what cults do - starve people.

[cripplecreek]

The food was good and they kept serving even after you said you had enough.

I've read that as well. In fact even people held as hostages by muslims are usually fed very well. They might kill you but you'll die with a full belly.

[org.whodat]

Already posted, kid was to dumb to phone home and leave.

[paudio]

That’s what cults do - starve people.

Coptic is a cult?

[trumandogz]

At one house in Cairo they kept putting food on my plate even after I said that I was full and they told me that it was not Egyptian Custom to refuse food at someone’s home.

I kept eating until I turned green.

But typically, they feed you very well. In a few cases I was eating at the homes of some poor Egyptians and they fed me very well.

[Grunthor]

“Jonathan McCullum was in perfect health at 155 pounds when he left last summer to spend the school year as an exchange student in Egypt.”

Almost a Darwin Award winner. Egypt huh? Gee, Mom & Dad why not go all out and send your “beloved” son to Iran?

Some people are dumber than a bag of hammers.

[guido911]

Mmmm, Macho Combination burrito

[paudio]

Already posted, kid was to dumb to phone home and leave.

My apology if it's posted, but my search came up with nothing. Unless it's under a different title.

[trumandogz]

That’s what cults do - starve people.

You mean "Cult" as in Jim Jones and David Koresh?

[ApplegateRanch]

If you read the entire story, his already planned summer trip will be to Zimbabwe, “to build homes & trails”!

Wish I was kidding.

If he thinks the Copts starved im....

[SENTINEL]

The little idiot should be glad he came back from Egypt with his head.

[Grunthor]

“If he thinks the Copts starved im....”

Apparantly someone has never read a Nat’l Geographic.