<p>hi chocchip…my son is also scheduled to go on BR in January (11/7-11/17). I am very worried as well, especially since I am the one who pushed him to apply now (he is 21, graduating a semester early in December and starting his job on January 21st, so this is the perfect time to go). I think that I am going to handle this with some healthy denial. I am not going to think about it until January 1, at which time we will have to make a decision. I have also been told that they will not run the trip if they think it is not safe, but I don’t know who decides that. I do know that they adjust the itinerary based on what is going on at the moment, but I don’t know if that makes me feel any better. So, for now, join me in my state of denial…it’s lovely here!</p>
<p>correction: 1/7-1/17</p>
<p>choc: Thanks for thinking of us. Yes we are anxiously waiting for the Miami decision. We just learned of another award at school for DS; you can be sure I will be sharing the official letter with several admissions folks when we get it! Miami will be first!</p>
<p>I’m spending the weekend in Charleston with DH, just a weekend away, sightseeing (he is working on his laptop now so I am free to be on CC!). I hope to be able to check out the C of C campus since I’ve heard so much about it. DH is fine with that, as long as no info session or tour is involved! LOL! I learned today about the history of religious tolerance here. Hope to be able to visit one of the oldest Reform synagogues in the country here tomorrow or Sunday.</p>
<p>Joining all of you in the concern for Israel. I hope the situation gets resolved quickly for the sake of the Israelis and the world. Also thinking of all of you and your D/S who have a BR trip coming up.</p>
<p>My D is scheduled for December BR. I’m worried but hoping (for every reason) for the best. We haven’t heard anything from her trip advisor.</p>
<p>I had to stop watching the news coverage of the current situation. There is so much revisionist history being flaunted as fact. These aren’t kids throwing stones. They are terrorists lobbing missiles at population centers. Israel is supposed to just stand down?</p>
<p>Also, great news about Tulane. Fingers crossed for Miami.</p>
<p>Hello lurker here. My DD (nice Jewish girl) is a first-year who has many dear friends at school who are heavily activist with SJP or pro-Israel groups, and some whose families are living in at-risk areas on both sides of the current conflict. She is trying to be supportive on all sides from the common point of view that nothing will ultimately get solved with bombs, but struggling with her own view on the politics in the situation. Wondering if anyone else’s kids have both Palestinian and Israeli friends and are also struggling.</p>
<p>1012Mom. Some people assume that we would be insensitive to the suffering on the Palestinian side. This is not true, but a heavily biased media creates this impression. There is no way to simply describe the many cultural issues involved in the current conflict. It is much more complicated than a college student is aware of, and I am also aware of the biased information they encounter at school.We also have to consider that the college student’s ability to grasp a whole world picture is limited by their age. They are young, intelligent, and idealistic, and have a lot to learn (don’t we all). Your D may feel very conflicted by the views she encounters at school.
People are people, we are all one human race, and we hurt in the same way. Your daughter does not have to feel conflicted if she feels genuine sympathy for any one in pain. She can care deeply about both her Israeli and Palestinian friends. Perhaps they can be emotionally supportive of each other at this level, keep their personal views, and not participate in conflicted political debates with each other at the moment. These won’t be solved, but compassion does not need a solution.</p>
<p>Pennylane - well said and agreed.</p>
<p>Linymom - please report back about CofC.</p>
<p>“If Palestine were to lay down their guns, there would be no war. If Israel were to lay down their guns, there would be no Israel.” B. Netanyahu</p>
<p>My S2 posted this simple phrase on his FB yesterday after he picked it up from social media. What resulted was to me and to him amazing. A discussion where kids from his HS, from Israel and other parts of the world and his campus are participating and all of it, so far, very respectful. (The international flavor thanks to years of URJ camping). Some commentary is in support, some against and some pursuading others with negative opinions. I also saw some real appreciation from Israeli kids. I am mentioning this because I thought that it might be a message some of your kids might want to include in their media. These are really difficult times. </p>
<p>BTW my S also heard from American friends over there from here, so far so good for them.</p>
<p>Great quote. And unfortunately very true.</p>
<p>That quote is so true. I also think of that statement, I think by Golda Meir, about how things won’t change until the Palestinians love their children more than they hate the Jews.</p>
<p>My boys have a lot of friends over there. I worry for all of them.</p>
<p>LuvMomN8er: I am back from Charleston but, unfortunately, cannot report on C of C. I saw a lot of college students and we walked by the arena where they play basketball (several times) but we did not walk by the campus. Was not on DH’s “to do” list (and he could not understand why I wanted to walk by it!). We probably walked all around it (as I would estimate we walked about 20 miles this weekend… in the cold and rain), but I did not see the campus. I can tell you it’s a great college town… very walkable… but that’s it. </p>
<p>If your kids are going to C of C and looking for a Jewish home beyond the campus, we did tour Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the Reform congregation of Charleston, which is the oldest continuous Reform congregation in the country, with roots back to the 1700s. They were very welcoming and I’m sure they have open arms for college students. Worth a visit if you are down checking out the college. [Home</a> Page - Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim](<a href=“http://www.kkbe.org/]Home”>http://www.kkbe.org/)</p>
<p>My next trip is with DS and without DH… to New Orleans to visit Tulane at the end of next week. Purely a college trip, for sure.</p>
<p>Just an early happy Thanksgiving note to all. I am thankful for all of you and the help and support that you gave me last year. I am also thankful that my dd loves her school and that she is having a great time making dinner for her classmates that did not go home and that she will be home on December 7th for her semester break for a month! Lots of other things to be thankful for, but won’t set them out here!</p>
<p>Stopping by to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. It is been a pleasure sharing our thoughts, fears, and suggestions throughout this college process, so at the risk of sounding “cheesy”, let me say that I am thankful for you, my CC-friends, supporting me throughout this time. Believe it or not, my S actually mentioned to me yesterday how grateful he is for the help I have given him these past 6 months, (I did not realize that he understood my effort, and I appreciated his “thanks”). </p>
<p>My thoughts are with friends in Israel. We have a lot of friends and family over there, and as I watch the reports, it is amazing to think of what they consider a normal part of their lives. Prayers for them.</p>
<p>Hi, Happy Thanksgiving to all! I just wanted to share some good news on D2. She has recently been accepted to Penn State and U Georgia. She has visited Penn State and loved it. We will probably visit UGA in the next few months. I am wondering if anyone has firsthand knowledge of UGA. It looks like a great school with everything she wants including nice weather. I am just wondering if a Jewish girl from New England will fit in well here. Your thoughts? Thanks!</p>
<p>Mumof2- I have not been to UGA personally, but it is a popular choice among my kids’ Jewish friends in the southeast. I’m pretty sure it has an active Hillel and Jewish fraternity/sorority. Most of the students are from GA, and Atlanta has a large Jewish population. I am not sure the exact details of the Hope scholarship for GA residents, but for many of my kids’ friends who live in GA, UGA is a very affordable and good choice, and it is often their first choice.
It’s worth a visit to check it out. She will probably fit in fine, and it will be a lot warmer than what she is used to.</p>
<p>UGA is beautiful. Michigan/Ann Arber of the south. A very good jewish population. We know a sophomore jewish boy from texas who goes there. In jewish frat. Loves it. I think it is well worth a look…</p>
<p>Mumof2: I don’t know any Jewish students who attend UGA. A non-Jewish girl from our area attends and loves it. Greek life is very poplular. Freshmen girls go early in August and rush before school starts (which is typical at big Southern schools). I agree that it’s worth a look.</p>
<p>Happy Thanksgiving! Time to start cooking.</p>
<p>I’ve spoken to many UGA students, and by and large they love the school. The entire state of Georgia supports UGA and their Hillel’s facebook lists an enormous number of events <a href=“https://www.facebook.com/hillelatuga[/url]”>https://www.facebook.com/hillelatuga</a> It’ll be more conservative than she’s used to, but that merely reflects the state’s conservative bent. One girl I spoke to hailed from Maryland and she raved about the campus spirit, academic offerings (according to her not too challenging but still pretty tough), and downtown Athens.</p>
<p>Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Yesterday, DS got a letter offering a free app to Brandeis. He is applying to small, supportive schools (like Muhlenberg) and I was wondering if Brandeis fit the bill. DS did attend an information session at his HS from a Brandeis rep but didn’t come away with any feeling one way or the other (which is generally how he has felt about every other school too, btw.) Also, Brandeis doesn’t offer any merit aid which makes it an unlikely pick for DS since we wouldn’t qualify for FA. Any feedback on Brandeis is welcome!! Thanks in advance.</p>