19 year old going to Israel. I'm scared.

Jody

Active Member
My 19 year old college student daughter is going to study at the University of Jerusalem for 6 weeks this summer. Her passport arrived yesterday. She is a biblical studies major, in her sophomore year. She leaves June 8th and will be gone for 6 weeks. I am scared to death. She will go to Palestine, Bethlehem and going on Archealogical digs at Tel Dan with the Hebrew college there, she will see the dead sea. I am scared for her safety. I see pictures of how beautiful it is and what an opportunity. But how safe is it? I think we had a member from there and I cannot remember her name. I know that I will not sleep the 6 weeks she is gone. Has anyone visited? I want to say our board member is Helen but that doesnt sound quite right.
 

DammitJanet

Well-Known Member
Her board name is Esther and she also knows two other people, Alan and Chava. I would not worry too much really. They will keep her safe I am sure. No one wants US students in any harms way. That isnt good for business. Im sure she will have a great time. Congrats on having a kid who is doing such great things!
 

Jody

Active Member
Oh Janet, I am so proud of her and excited for her too. She is a super sweet young lady. I just worry so about her being safe. Thank you for the names!!!! I dont know where I got Helen from!!!!!
 

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Janet do you have Esther's email address? If you do maybe you can ask her to respond to this person. I would be very worried also and would appreciate talking to someone who knows the area. Perhaps she can even keep in contact with her while she is there.

Nancy
 

DammitJanet

Well-Known Member
I believe PM's go straight to the email if that is set that way...otherwise we as mods dont have access to email addresses but Cheryl does...or maybe TM. Probably TM does too.
 

Estherfromjerusalem

Well-Known Member
You are all so funny. I come to the board at least two or three times every day. This is the fourth or fifth time today. Of course I see any PMs. I'm here all the time. I just don't "talk" so much these days. Jody, I'll PM you with my details and I'll be happy to be in touch with her, and with you, more directly. And don't worry -- you'd be amazed how the media inflate stuff -- we live quiet and quite boring lives here really, no more or less than any other part of the world. What's safe, anyway?
As for people not knowing me -- well, my difficult child is already 25, and he's on the other side of the world in Australia, so I haven't really got much to grumble about as far as he is concerned. So I don't join in very much any more -- except if anyone has a problem with encopresis, and then I ALWAYS step in to help if I can.
Love, Esther
 

hearts and roses

Mind Reader
Jody, just wanted to chime in that my 24 y/o daughter is traveling to Ghana, unescorted, with her friend, to volunteer at an orphanage this summer as well. Much as I am proud of her altruistic values and desire to help those in need...I am scared out f my wits!

Hugs to you, I'm sure Esther will be able to reassure you f your daughter's safety.
 

Jody

Active Member
You guys are great. Esther reached me by private message and has eased my mind about my daughter going to Israel!!!! I am excited that my daughter will get to meet her as she has so generously offered. I talked to my daughter today and she is so excited about her trip.

HR, that is wonderful news about your daughter. It is scary but I am so thankful that she wants to help and learn and has thought beyond just the United States. I would love to travel all over.
 

Estherfromjerusalem

Well-Known Member
Nancy, I don't see how I can ever detach from this wonderful board. Yes, truly I come here several times a day. I still feel so involved with everyone, but I don't want to join in too much because since Oriel is in Australia, life has improved so much, although he still does manage to disturb us slightly on Skype and on the phone (and the bank here still phones me because he has left a large debt!!!!). But slowly, slowly, the feeling is getting better. I can't say we live a quiet life, because we have 24 grandchildren (yes, 24, the newest, a girl, was born three days ago), and one great-grandchild, and although each individual one doesn't come often, there are so many of them (children too) that our house is not ever quiet for very long. But just having Oriel so far away -- well, it is A.GOOD.THING.

Nancy, I'm not sure how many years we have known each other. I've been here for at least 13 years, maybe more. I don't know how long the board has been going. When I first came, Abbey was the owner . . .

Anyway, I'm still around.

Love, Esther
 

Estherfromjerusalem

Well-Known Member
Oh, and Jody and I have been PMing, and I'm looking forward to finally being able to be a real "board auntie" to one of "our" children in the summer.

Love, Esther
 

buddy

New Member
I love this board, this whole thread made me smile.

Esther I always feel honored when you chime in because you are not a needy one like I am these days... thanks for that (and to all of you who do that)....

Jody, I remember like yesterday when I was a sr and did my student teaching abroad... we also planned for holiday trips around europe, just quick train rides and a few days here and there... at that time (85ish) politically there was some scary stuff... So the most dramatic thing that happened to me over those three months??? MY MOTHER! She was a wreck, LOL... I love her so much and really I am teasing. I do remember her bawling though.
 

muttmeister

Well-Known Member
I've been to Israel a couple of times. I have a feeling you are much safer there than on the streets of some of the major cities of the United States.
Do bad things happen? Sometimes, but that is true anyplace. I"d much rather take a chance on a wonderful trip like that than stay home and run the risk of falling out of bed and hitting my head and dying in my own bedroom.
 

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Well I am comforted to know that you are still lurking Esther. You have been an important member of this board for years. I came here in 1998 and Deb ws the owner then too. I've been thrugh many phases with difficult child, the latest one being addiction, but truth be known I believe she was an addict in training way back when. She is doing great righ tnow, been through rehab, relapse, sober house, relapse, sober house, and finally shares an apartment with another recovering young woman who just had her two year sober anniversary yesterday She has a great sober support group and (fingers crossed) looks like she is serious about staying sober.

Wow 24 grandchildren and a great grandchild...how wonderful. Life goes on and on. I knew you would be a wodndrful resource for Jody and would love to take her daughter under your wing. I'm sute that is a huge comfort to her.

Nancy
 

TerryJ2

Well-Known Member
Sending comforting thoughts, Jody ... and also, know that the areas she is going to are generally safe. She wants to stay away from the West Bank, obviously.

Ghana? I haven't heard much about that. Fingers crossed!
 

Hound dog

Nana's are Beautiful
I'll keep your daughter in my prayers that she stays safe. I can understand your worry.

However, I'm extremely jealous. She is one lucky lucky girl, despite the risk.

Hugs
 
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