I must be nuts....

[gradywhite273]

A while ago, Last year my daughter came home and stated that a girlfriend of hers wants her to come to Korea next year, Of course she would be going Alone.

Wasn't quite sure what to think, after talking to the girlfriends parents , I finally said OK, got the tickets, got the passport, packed her up and at oh so early this morning she boarded a flight from philly to Chicago, then Korean Air to Seoul.

Just talked to her a couple of minutes ago, she was boarding the flight to Seoul, Im glad that the transfer in Ohare is done.

I don't know if Im proud of her for having the gumption to go Or If im nuts for letting her go.

either way its going to be a LOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG 8 days till she returns.

[SeaBiscuit]

She will be fine Tim. Just another step in the growing up process. She is very fortunate to have the opportunity to experience another culture and way of life.
I hope you can somehow relax and not worry, but I can imagine that it's not easy.
Biscuit

[gottaflylee]

Tim, kinda hard to cut the strings that bind you 2 together. Is this the first time she has left the nest on her one? The big thing is you trust her and you know and trust that she will do the right thing. Always hard to let go...
Oh ya, your not nuts...just scared...

[Anthony of the ARK]

haha tim, you’re not nuts. be proud that shes going she will probably come back with a new outlook on life. Not many people get to take a trip like that, at a young age or at all. I was lucky enough to live in South America for a semester and i had a whole new view on life when i got back. They put me on a plane in DC and i had connections in Miami and Sao Pualo before i arrived in Paraguay. I was sixteen it was the best experience of my life. My parents gave me and my younger brother a chance to experience cultures from eroupe to south america by our selves and we both a thankful we have had the chance to live in another culture if only for a few day or months. It gives a young person a chance to truely understand how good we have it in the good ole U.S.A

You’re not nuts, you’re a good father for being worried and letting her go. She will thank you for giving her the chance to experience a totally different culture

[fishskipper]

My daughter just got back the first of Dec. after teaching one semester at the University in Seoul. She was very hesitant about going at first but decided to go and experience another culture. I don't think she is going back because of an existing business she has in Virginia has really taken off, but I know she really treasured the experience, as I'm sure your daughter will too..... I was more scared for her with the flights than being in Korea........ Your definitely not nuts for letting her go and it would really be tough if she wanted to go and you wouldn't let her!!!

[Deep C]

Tim that first go is a little rough. Then you get used to it. Then you wait anxiously for the next. Then you finally get to "don't you have some 3rd world place to go... heres a blank ticket..."

[Nimrod]

....for doing a lot of the things you do but not for letting her go to Korea. You Mr. Turner, as I have witnessed personally, are a good father and Alexa a good daughter and outstanding young person. I am pretty sure she appreciates this and everything you do for her and I am certain she will appreciate this trip even more as time goes by.

This will be a great experience for her and although quite taxing on you (in a lot of ways) a good experience for you as well. Better rest up while she is away though because you know she will have you running around again upon her return. And you love (almost) every minute of it.

So when is that softball camp trip again??

[gradywhite273]

900 pm , the internet sometimes does amaze me, sitting on my couch, tracking her flight , she is over russia right now. she should be landing about 3am east coast time, where is the coffee

[gottaflylee]

Hey Tim, whats the latest, now we all are wondering and...maybe just a little, ah...
concerned...

[Gringo]

Nothing is a substitute for travel to understand the world and other cultures. There are good people everywhere, and they are not hard to find.

FWIW, my first ex-brother in law and his family lived in Seoul for five years, as he was tech rep for Boeing. He was there with two small kids, and they basically were out and about every day with their mother while he was at work.

They loved Seoul and the S.Korean people, and found a lot of Americans around as well. Both kids were in school there, and they did well. Actually, having known his kids before they went, I would say the experience of living and hanging out with the Korean kids made them better, more thoughtful, and certainly more polite and respectful.

They did develop a taste for dog that caused some issues...

(JUST KIDDING! It was this horrible stuff called kimchee I had to sample every time they brought some home. )