SSIMS Spanish Immersion Grads: What was your experience with Colombia Exchange Program?

[Anonymous]

DC wants to participate in the SSIMS immersion program this year but given the location is Colombia, I have reservations.

We initially signed up, but I’m getting cold feet and the school has not been forthcoming - or maybe they just don’t know - about things like security protocols and specifics about how kids will be transported and what kinds of protections are in place to ensure safety.

We’ve been assured that the families the kids stay with are wealthy and often have security guards / systems for their homes.

I’m more concerned about terrorism and kidnapping, which from what I read can be indiscriminate (not usually, but sometimes) and affects “civilians” vs just those in the drug trade.

Any parents of grads from SSIMS SI who went on this trip? What did you think and how did your child like the experience? Did you have any safety concerns and if so, how were these addressed?

[Anonymous]

They did a movie night to fundraise

[Anonymous]

My son went year before last (the last year they did it, because they only go every two years). He had a wonderful time. I also had reservations about their safety, and SSIMS also didn't seem very organized leading up to the trip, but they were very organized on the trip and there were no safety problems. The kids at the school in Colombia are wealthy and live in very safe areas. And they were wonderful, wonderful hosts. We also enjoyed hosting the Colombians here in the fall. Really was just a fantastic, memorable experience all the way around. I wouldn't let your worries stop your child from doing the exchange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son went year before last (the last year they did it, because they only go every two years). He had a wonderful time. I also had reservations about their safety, and SSIMS also didn't seem very organized leading up to the trip, but they were very organized on the trip and there were no safety problems. The kids at the school in Colombia are wealthy and live in very safe areas. And they were wonderful, wonderful hosts. We also enjoyed hosting the Colombians here in the fall. Really was just a fantastic, memorable experience all the way around. I wouldn't let your worries stop your child from doing the exchange.

+1. My DD went the year before last and I felt like you- SSIMS, as per usual, was disorganized and unimpressive in the planning stages, but once there the wonderful secretary (whose name I’m now forgetting) ran a tight ship and there were no worries. Wealthy families in high rises with security. It was a good experience and I’d do it again.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PPs. Encouraged to read your kids had such positive experiences. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Colombian here. If it is any help, my many relatives who live in Colombia travel frequently by car within the country and none of them have ever been kidnapped or attacked. It is definitely a place where I have always been taught to be very careful - keep your car doors locked, don't wear ostentatious jewelry, hold on to your purse, be very careful if strangers approach you in the street, mainly to void being robbed.

[Anonymous]

Colombia is totally fine. My husband is Colombian and I taught there for 5 years and we go visit once or twice a year. I actually drove with them Bogota-Cartagena 20 years ago (it was the first time it was safe enough for them to drive like that in years). But yeah the terrorism and kidnapping has been better since 20 years ago. What school do they do the exchange with? it's in Bogota I assume?