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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So how does the  YY trip work - when will it be?  How many parents will chaperone? How much will it cost?

What will the itinerary be?  How will they deal with parents who want to take their kids off-itinerary while there, kids or adults who freak out at Chinese food (hint: there's no General Tso's Chicken in China.  They do have McDonalds and KFC, but what is the point of going all the way to China to eat American fast food?)  Then there's issues like kids that get homesick, kids who cause disruptions or behavior problems, prostitutes who call on hotel rooms at all hours, unsafe vehicles and road conditions, food allergies and issues (guess what - the local Chinese restaurant isn't nut-free and doesn't care what little Billy is or is not supposed to eat).  Oh and let's not forget the stinky tofu, the filthy bathrooms when there even is a bathroom, the inevitable lost passports........

Personally I think the school is crazy to even attempt a trip like this.  And yes, I've been to China before - many times.  Back in my 5th grade, we did a week of "outdoor education" - trips to a state forest with campfire lunches.  Isn't that enough?[/quote]

Have you ever been on an international trip with students? It really doesn't sound like you have. Passport management and allergy management is the responsibility of the chaperones, which they will have.  The trip is like a vacation tour with all of the tourist stops, and with that comes the good and the bad. It is with a reputable organization, so there is little chance of the 10 year olds mingling with prostitutes. Your arguments are very xenophobic and, frankly, strange. Just send your own child to the woods for a week, but why all of the venom?
I'm not a huge fan of the trip for this young of a group, but the idea is warming on me. In part because my 9 YO is excellent and Chinese and looking forward to going. My 7 YO already wants to live in China some day. But every kid is different. My 9 yo will be ready by the time the trip happens. He is a very competant world traveler who easily fits into any situation and has fun doing it. My 7 yo is a different story entirely, and I doubt he will be ready for this type of thing by the time the opportunity rolls around to him. I think if the school waited 2 years more kids would be ready, but then they will already be at the DCI. Again, if you aren't interested for whatever reason then just move on to thinking about something else. [/quote]

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