I did a Europe trip after grad school on my own dime. If my kid was responsible I might consider a gap year in a foreign language institute—I spent a year abroad and it’s pretty much the only way to reach a reasonable degree of fluency, since university foreign language education in the US is terrible (I tested into second year German at UChicago after a decade of not speaking any German, which tells you how low the expectations are at a place that’s supposed to have one of the strongest programs).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC's have doing study abroad since 6th grade. What OP is bragging about would be boring to my DC's.

Is that because your DCs are losers?

You do know that most of these European hot spots are populated by other…Europeans who still get a ton of enjoyment training from say France to Barcelona or Germany to Italy for a couple of weeks over the Summer.

I gather you live in the US and also travel to other parts of the US, no?

Not because they're "losers."
But because being in kitchy European spots with kitchy Europeans or Americans is boring, unless you're a loser.

So….they are losers. Thanks for confirming that it’s because they don’t have any friends that would want to spend two weeks with them.

They don't have friends who want to spend their summer collecting cheap Eiffle Tower keychains made in China. But if that makes your DC's feel cultured and "sophisticateé," have at it (as I LMAO).

Your idea of what these teens might be doing with their time and what their motivations might be by travelling through Europe is telling. . . . It really makes me wonder about you & why you are so triggered by this in general.

Eighteen year olds going to Europe during the summer involves collecting cheap Chinese made magnets at the Eiffle Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, etc. But if you think that's taking in "culture," I wont try to disabuse you. (It also involves drunken debauchery and getting laid, but that's an entirely different conversation.) BTW, I'm not triggered at all, I'm sitting next to a private pool abroad, as you're stuck in your cute, little cubicle. Cheers.

My teen didn't do any of the things you mention - she did a lot of pretty great things! None of it involved cheap trinkets, getting drunk or laid. . .again - your assumptions about what a teen will do on a trip like this says a lot more about YOU than you are willing to admit! Enjoy your "private pool abroad" and I mean that sincerely. You need some R&R.

Anonymous wrote:DC is there for about 3 weeks with several groups of high school friends. Living the 11pm-4am disco life.
Going to some museums during the day. They are staying at hostels. My son is spending money he made earlier in the summer.
How common is this?

The 11pm- 4am "disco life" only means, hard party drugs!

Hostels is not a very typical thing to do for most "American" kids either...

Anonymous wrote:There’s no question the massive influx of young refugee men has exponentially increased the danger and especially the risk of rape, in Europe.

How street-wise is your DD? Does she have a solid itinerary? Does she drink?

Even if true, it’s still safer than anywhere in the US. Are your kids street smart? Do they have a solid daily itinerary as they go about their day-to-day lives in the US?

There’s no question the massive influx of young refugee men has exponentially increased the danger and especially the risk of rape, in Europe.

How street-wise is your DD? Does she have a solid itinerary? Does she drink?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC's have doing study abroad since 6th grade. What OP is bragging about would be boring to my DC's.

Is that because your DCs are losers?

You do know that most of these European hot spots are populated by other…Europeans who still get a ton of enjoyment training from say France to Barcelona or Germany to Italy for a couple of weeks over the Summer.

I gather you live in the US and also travel to other parts of the US, no?

Not because they're "losers."
But because being in kitchy European spots with kitchy Europeans or Americans is boring, unless you're a loser.

So….they are losers. Thanks for confirming that it’s because they don’t have any friends that would want to spend two weeks with them.

They don't have friends who want to spend their summer collecting cheap Eiffle Tower keychains made in China. But if that makes your DC's feel cultured and "sophisticateé," have at it (as I LMAO).

Your idea of what these teens might be doing with their time and what their motivations might be by travelling through Europe is telling. . . . It really makes me wonder about you & why you are so triggered by this in general.

Eighteen year olds going to Europe during the summer involves collecting cheap Chinese made magnets at the Eiffle Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, etc. But if you think that's taking in "culture," I wont try to disabuse you. (It also involves drunken debauchery and getting laid, but that's an entirely different conversation.) BTW, I'm not triggered at all, I'm sitting next to a private pool abroad, as you're stuck in your cute, little cubicle. Cheers.

Wow, my kid also went to Europe and swam in a private pool…I guess my kid is as sophisticated as you after all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC's have doing study abroad since 6th grade. What OP is bragging about would be boring to my DC's.

Is that because your DCs are losers?

You do know that most of these European hot spots are populated by other…Europeans who still get a ton of enjoyment training from say France to Barcelona or Germany to Italy for a couple of weeks over the Summer.

I gather you live in the US and also travel to other parts of the US, no?

Not because they're "losers."
But because being in kitchy European spots with kitchy Europeans or Americans is boring, unless you're a loser.

So….they are losers. Thanks for confirming that it’s because they don’t have any friends that would want to spend two weeks with them.

They don't have friends who want to spend their summer collecting cheap Eiffle Tower keychains made in China. But if that makes your DC's feel cultured and "sophisticateé," have at it (as I LMAO).

Well…they don’t seem to have any friends, so once more it’s not particularly relevant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC's have doing study abroad since 6th grade. What OP is bragging about would be boring to my DC's.

Is that because your DCs are losers?

You do know that most of these European hot spots are populated by other…Europeans who still get a ton of enjoyment training from say France to Barcelona or Germany to Italy for a couple of weeks over the Summer.

I gather you live in the US and also travel to other parts of the US, no?

Not because they're "losers."
But because being in kitchy European spots with kitchy Europeans or Americans is boring, unless you're a loser.

So….they are losers. Thanks for confirming that it’s because they don’t have any friends that would want to spend two weeks with them.

They don't have friends who want to spend their summer collecting cheap Eiffle Tower keychains made in China. But if that makes your DC's feel cultured and "sophisticateé," have at it (as I LMAO).

Your idea of what these teens might be doing with their time and what their motivations might be by travelling through Europe is telling. . . . It really makes me wonder about you & why you are so triggered by this in general.

Eighteen year olds going to Europe during the summer involves collecting cheap Chinese made magnets at the Eiffle Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, etc. But if you think that's taking in "culture," I wont try to disabuse you. (It also involves drunken debauchery and getting laid, but that's an entirely different conversation.) BTW, I'm not triggered at all, I'm sitting next to a private pool abroad, as you're stuck in your cute, little cubicle. Cheers.