Shall DD do a summer internship in Lannion France from June till August?

Parents Forum
1

<p>DD has an offer to do summer internship in a telecom company in Lannion France. She doesn’t know French and so was not expecting this but she got it.
She has a long term desire to spend some time in Paris during the next decade. </p>

<p>DW is not very comfortable with the idea. Also DD has better or equivalent US companies offer for summer internship so it’s not that technically she’ll be at any loss.</p>

<p>Anyone have any idea about the place and any advantage in doing internship in France over that in USA.</p>

<p>Also is DD too young for spending 3 months in France?</p>

2

<p>You don’t mention her age. Or her previous travel experience. Or your DW’s concerns!</p>

<p>Personally, I can’t think of a reason to keep any kid say 16+ at home if the opportunity is what they want and all of the usual “safe and appropriate” parent tests check out. Living in another country is life-changing!</p>

3

<p>DD is 19+, a sophomore @ college. DD won’t be at home because the US summer internship will be on the east coast and we’re in CA.
DW concerns are as follows:

  1. DD doesn’t know French
  2. The place is more country than urban (like Paris)
  3. DD doesn’t have any other international travel alone experience and this will be a 3 month commitment.</p>
4

<p>It’s hard to say if someone else is " ready" for the experience, but part of what makes it so life changing is being challenged & rising to that.</p>

<p>She must have a strong interest or she wouldn’t have applied-, she has two years of ( I assume) living away at college under her belt, & she is undoubtably an intelligent girl who will benefit from the experience.</p>

<p>Sounds great!</p>

5

<p>My D participated in a research project in Italy this past summer. She knew absolutely no Italian when she headed over there. It was her first international travel alone experience also. She had an amazing summer, learned a lot, and it was definitely a plus on grad school aps. I can sympathize with your W being concerned, I’m a worry wart also, but sometimes you just have to cross your fingers and say a prayer. I think it sounds like a great opportunity and wish her well.</p>

6

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<p>DD is very close to me and on each of our birthdays we always talk about what we plan over the next decade. That means goals we want to accomplish, activities we want to participate, places we want to visit.</p>

<p>Over the last birthday she told me that she has a goal to stay in Paris for some amount of time in the next decade. </p>

<p>This is not Paris but might be her best chance to be as close to it as possible but DW is telling me to not encourage her on this.</p>

<p>DD’s other summer offers are technically superior to this and so she might be on her own choose those over this. But I was thinking from career perspective choosing an internship close to the final job is more important after junior year than after sophomore year. So going now to France might be better than going next year.</p>

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<p>I was not familiar with the city of Lannion, so I looked it up on Wikipedia. It looks like a charming area and the site mentions that it is a major telecommunications hub with several large companies located there. It’s only a little over 240 miles from Paris, with airfare as low as 53E. Your D would surely be able to travel to Paris a few times on a weekend here and there. It may not be a huge city like Paris, but with the quality of companies listed, I don’t think it would quite be a cowtown either. Any chance you and your wife could plan a trip to visit her while she was there?</p>

8

<p>My use of “home” was sloppy; I meant “home” in the domestic sense, i.e., stateside.</p>

<p>I’m hopeful you are right in thinking “maybe summer after soph is better for this than summer after junior.” Our kids aren’t there yet, so I don’t know, but gosh, I would hope kids could still use early college summers to explore themselves and life generally instead of making choices that “look good” or “make sense” in the long term! Even so, while this job may not be “technically” superior to the US opportunities, our children’s future is definitely premised on global commerce. I think a prospective employer would give brownie points to a kid who stretched themselves and rose to the many challenges this situation will present.</p>

<p>What does your daughter want to do? Is there any financial expectation from you? Because you are so close, will she accord heavy weight to your opinion? </p>

<p>You know your daughter best, but here are some thoughts that I had in considering your points 1-3. And just for context, both of our kids spent as much as a month abroad, alone, before they graduated from HS. So I understand the issues.</p>

<p>1-Unless she was the only applicant (unlikely), the telecom didn’t feel French was a requirement for her to perform the “job” of the internship. So the job part doesn’t seem too daunting. What are her “leisure hours” arrangements? Will there be other US or international young people, i.e., is there a built-in community related to the telecom or will she be totally on her own?</p>

<p>2-She will learn more French and culture from being in a small town. I note the urban area is 60,000. Think of a town that size you are familiar with–could she handle it, or does she need more from a town? I also see it’s on the Brittany coast–we haven’t been there, but we have been in Normandy, where the Allies fought decisive WWII battles on the beaches; their memories are long, they are very warm toward Americans–I suspect some of that sentiment trickles down to Brittany. Frankly, we have never had a problem with lack of French in any part of France. French school children have been learning English for years, so it is not a challenge to find English speakers when required. </p>

<p>3-I don’t think the lack of travel experience is a deal breaker for the average 19yo going to a French town with a job and presumably some semblence of a support system–there’s always a first time! Now, if your daughter has special needs or has personality traits that might make this an uncomfortable or even frightening experience for her, then you have reason for concern.</p>

<p>She will almost certainly fly in/out of Paris. Why don’t you plan a family trip and everyone see Paris together, preferably at the end of her stay when (a) she’ll have some working French under her belt, and (b) she’ll likely have made a weekend trip to Paris so can show you the ropes!</p>

9

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<p>All of us actually liked Paris on our last trip and most likely that’s what prompted DD to have such an intense liking for Paris.</p>

<p>I know given a chance I would have jumped on such an opportunity during my college. DW is a bit different and take a long and hard look prior to giving her consent.
We’ll certainly go with her to get her settle and then go again to bring her back. Worst come worst I was asking DW to go and stay with DD for 3 months. But she is somehow not conducive to the idea of staying in France without proper knowledge of French.</p>

10

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<p>I don’t know the full details of the financial aspect of it yet but before applying she told us that it will include at least to/from air fare and lodging/boarding.</p>

<p>If she won’t get any allowance on top of it then I think providing E100 a week should be sufficient to cover any other expenses.</p>

<p>Her best US offer provide $800/week for 3 months along with all the full time position benefit including 401K. Since that’s in Boston she can live at her Sorority house and I can pay for her expenditure while she contributes all her earnings to 401K.</p>

11

<p>It sounds like it would be an interesting experience. There are lots of touristy things to do within an easy radius of that location. I worry she might be a little lonely if she really doesn’t speak any French though. My husband went to work in Germany for a post-doctoral fellowship. He took one-semester of Germany before he got there. It was pretty stressful at first, because even though everyone in the lab spoke English, most casual conversation was in German. Luckily dh picks up languages quickly and while he understood nothing at first he was okay after a few months. </p>

<p>I don’t see any point in her having Mommy with her. If she can take even a semester of French before going I highly recommend it.</p>

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<p>POIH:</p>

<p>I would not worry about her not speaking French. If she works for a telecom company everybody will speak English. I assume this is some type of engineering internship. She could take also take a quick primer in French before leaving. The MIT language lab offers all types of audio/video based programs. I am also sure the company can enroll her in an intensive French learning course as well on arrival.</p>

<p>Brittany is a beautiful area with a distinctive Celtic heritage. Your D will be close to many historic sites. Lannion itself is over 1000 years old. Some of the prettiest beaches on the Brittany coast are only a few miles away. Within less than an hour she can get access to the Loire valley with all its castles. </p>

<p>Also, Lannion is only 90 minutes from the center of Paris by high speed rail (TGV) and they always offer student fares. So she could easily go to Paris every weekend if she wanted!</p>

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<p>*I don’t think the lack of travel experience is a deal breaker for the average 19yo going to a French town with a job and presumably some semblence of a support system–there’s always a first time! Now, if your daughter has special needs or has personality traits that might make this an uncomfortable or even frightening experience for her, then you have reason for concern.
*</p>

<p>I don’t either.
I have mentioned the interests of my daughter who likes to travel, despite having anxiety & executive function disorder syndrome.
She planned & paid for her own trip abroad after high school ( she worked two jobs for 4 months), despite my lack of cooperation- because I couldn’t envision her spending almost 5 months out of the country, most of it in India.</p>

<p>She also didn’t speak Tamil ( or I expect had even heard it)</p>

<p>I suggest a Kindle ( or the kindle app), so she can read some english books while she is there.
:)</p>

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<p>POIH, you’ve been on CC a long time and I almost feel that I’ve watched your D grow up. </p>

<p>Your daughter is now an adult. You’ve given her everything she needs to succeed in anything she wants. She goes to MIT. She’s smart. She has loving supportive parents. Be proud of her. Just let her go. It’s not even a decision that you should even get to make. Trust her judgment. She will exceed your expectations in her ability to take care of herself. Really, just let her go. If she wants you to go with her to get settled, that’s fine, but if she doesn’t, just let her go. </p>

<p>You need to watch the young woman you’ve nurtured since birth live her life. Be proud, but it’s her life. She needs to know that you trust her judgment. </p>

<p>My D1 is in college now too. I’ve worked very hard at following my own advice. Not easy, but mandatory.</p>

15

<p>Why do you feel you have a say in where your D works this summer? S1 hasn’t come home for the summers since he started college. If he is able to get a job that pays enough to cover his expenses and HE feels it’s a worthwhile opportunity, then bon voyage!</p>

<p>Let your D use those wings she’s been sprouting the past two years. She sounds more than capable of making her way and thriving there. Besides, it’s only three months.</p>

16

<p>I would let your DAUGHTER make this decision. This sounds like an exciting opportunity for her. If this is the one she would like to pursue, then so be it. She is old enough to be making this decision. It’s nice that she has discussed this with you and your wife. But at the end of the day, it’s your daughter who will be doing the internship.</p>

<p>I personally am a big fan of doing things abroad if they work out. If you’re asking for my vote, I vote for the internship in France. A wonderful opportunity.</p>

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<p>cellardweller :

The internship is to develop algorithm for a client/server application with client running on the Android based smart phones or tablets talking to server thru 3G network.
But the development is in Java and that’s what keeping her from jumping in. Her all past internship have been in Java and ruby on rails. Her US offer is development engineer in C++. Since the reason for her cut from FB/Google have been over her inexperience with C++ she has put lot’s of effort to get the desired internship.</p>

<p>Her previous plan was to actually take French I over IAP and then French II over the 4th semester to be eligible for this internship. She changed her priority after realizing her weakness in C++ wrt the others wooing for the top engineering research/development internships. She still got called back for this internship and subsequently have been cleared for the same. </p>

<p>ClassicRockerDad :

</p>

<p>CountingDown :

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<p>I think the matter here is different. I know based on my discussions with her that she might prefer C++ internship over this Java one because she wants to overcome her weakness. It became clear to me when she didn’t take French I over the IAP.</p>

<p>I know her wishes and think that she might enjoy her time in France even without French. DW feels that DD listen to what I say and so don’t want me to talk her into this. </p>

<p>I never ask DD to do anything but am always been supportive of her actions. DW is bit panic ridden so become nervous on the thought of DD living in Europe on her own. Even if it sounds great I’m a bit concerned just because she doesn’t know French. Her original plans were perfect but she changed because she wanted to have solid experience with C++ development.</p>

<p>I know she is capable of making good decisions but might be force to take the C++ internship because they want her to accept offer within a week. She still have some other final interviews including a power house that is flying her for final interview on a 3 days/2 night trip. Let’s see how she handles it. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice.</p>

18

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There are millions of people in France right now younger than your D who have spent their whole lives there and are doing fine.</p>

<p>If this is what your D wants to do and you have the the resources to make it happen then why not do it? Not everything in life needs to follow a carefully architected path. if this is what she wants to do, for whatever (reasonable) reasons she has, and if you can afford it or if the internship covers the costs, then she should do it. It’s as simple as that. </p>

<p>regarding the language - I doubt they would have made her the offer if speaking French was required but she can check with them on this point and it’d be a good idea to do that double-check unless she already knows the answer. In the meantime, maybe she can do some self-studying of French (or even take or audit a class) between now and then and while there she can try to learn French even more. I think it’s make the experience more fun for her.</p>

<p>I hope she has a fun time there.</p>

19

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It doesn’t really matter that much. The important point is that she has software development experience - regardless of the language. The last software developer I hired as a new grad had no experience in the particular language I knew I’d have him be working with but I didn’t care because I knew that with his background he’d be able to come up to speed on it quickly - and he did. </p>

<p>If you think about it, the difference is 3 extra months of C++ development (vs. 3 months of dev in another language) - not something I’d place a lot of importance on. Besides - you have no idea what language(s) she might be developing in once she gets a job (assuming she’ll be a SW developer). </p>

<p>I think her other interests and experience is more important right now. Who knows when she’d have another opportunity like this?</p>

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<p>POIH…I’m with your wife on this one. This is the time to say “you have some wonderful opportunities for the summer. We will be delighted to hear your final choice. Let us know so we can plan our summer vacation.” And that’s it. Let your DD make her own decision without any further input from either parent.</p>