LOL, some of you guys are on the ball, you know that? International politics in unstable regions. She wanted to specialize in someplace that allies with US interests, and then she decided out of nowhere to specialize in non-allied/dangerous/warzone regions. She can do it, no doubt. (Even though women are far more likely to be hurt/victimized in such places.) She can do anything, I swear she gets everything down. That’s not the question. Are we terrified she gave up a so-called normal life? Absolutely. Could she at least have let us know beforehand, giving us a bit of time to adjust to it? YES. Will we support her no matter what? OF COURSE. But are we devastated? Isn’t it ok if we are? Not many parents would send their kids off happily to that line of work. That’s not a job, that’s a lifetime career that encompasses your entire existence. You don’t just change your mind and work somewhere else if you don’t like it. I know that that line of work demands the best, and she is…but this is still our little girl. I’m not asking for any sympathy, but maybe some understanding. I don’t think she understood that we would be so upset. It isn’t a control issue. It’s more like, no one would willingly choose for their kid to live such a hard life. We’re getting over it, but man, it hurt.