<p>This is really good news, thanks for the update. I hope things just continue on a positive trajectory from her, and she has a wonderful experience. (And I’ll bet she’s glad she didn’t just throw in the towel and come home, yes?)</p>
<p>I’m absolutely sure that’s the case - while she’s probably not strong enough to really enjoy much yet, I’m sure she’ll be forever grateful that she just didn’t bag the whole experience. Right now, she’s just a rather lonely - Everyone but her seems to be happily sticking together with the school group they traveled with (she went independently). Since she didn’t participate in the bonding orientation activities, she feels very much alone. Her roommate’s parents are in Paris for a while, so I’m hoping that once they leave, she’ll been more available. That’s a very small concern, compared to what she’s had to overcome, though. All is well, as far as I’m concerned!</p>
<p>people, I’m glad to hear that things are looking up. Hopefully, she’ll feel even better with each passing day and start enjoying her time there!</p>
<p>As someone else has mentioned here, I’d like to reiterate the recommendation that all parents have a valid passport. This is important if you have kids who are doing study abroad programs, whether during the school year or in the summer, or if your kid is going to a college close enough to the Canadian border where a road trip is a possibility, and who might be travelling across (a very common occurrence!). It is also important if you have a spouse who travels internationally on business, even if you don’t. As I’ve said here before, last year a good friend went through a very bad experience of H being in a terrible car accident while in the U.K. on business, and her passport had expired. Although, yes, there are ways to obtain a passport in the case of an emergency, trust me that you don’t want that added stress of trying to arrange it when you have someone badly injured, or ill, in another country and you need to get there fast!</p>
<p>Nothing like a little sleep and recovering from jet lag to make a kid feel better! I’m so glad she’s adjusting and am sure things will continue on the upward trajectory. I can definitely relate to people’s concern – I have a son who’s going to study in – yikes! – Jordan next semester and am fully expecting him to have a rough adjustment that will be very hard for me to deal with. Actually, I’m pretty much counting on the fact that I won’t be able to relax at all when he’s over there.</p>
<p>If nothing else, I hope everyone will take my experience as a case study (as Alwaysmom emphasized) to GET A CURRENT PASSPORT IF YOUR KIDS ARE STUDYING ABROAD! Yes, I’m yelling (mostly at myself, for not thinking of this) - Incredibly important. A large part of my anxiety was knowing I couldn’t just pick up and GO, if she really needed me.</p>