<p>My 16 year old son will be traveling with a group of students and chaperones to Italy and Spain this summer. We received notice today that they have added a 3 day optional trip to Egypt. They would fly into Cairo, visit the Giza Pyramids & Sphinx, Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and Khan Al-Khalili bazaar. Of course the first thing I see when I look at the State Deparment’s website was a bombing at this bazaar in February 2009. Have any of you ever traveled to Egpyt or allowed your child to travel to Egypt? As my son so nicely pointed out, Spain had train bombings and I’m allowing him to go there. </p>
<p>No advice, but if you have raised your child to be a citizen of the world, then I would be resigned to his traveling to places where there has been violence. If there were a conflict going on, or repeated episodes of violence, then it would be a different story. But, he is probably safer in Egypt with the chaperones than driving with his buddies over the summer.</p>
<p>Thank you worknprogress. I know it is irrational to think something is more likely to happen there then any other civilized country in the world. I want my kids to experience things that I never had the opportunity to experience. Heck, maybe when we get them out of the house we will get to go visit some of the places we have sent them to.</p>
<p>He should be fine. The Egyptian state security is both brutal and inefficient but most of the security issues are and will continue to be in the south. They’ll be taken care of and won’t be left to wander. I have a friend who is often in Cairo. He’s tall and very white and has no problems.</p>
<p>My niece is doing a study abroad next school year in Egypt, in the northern part of the country. It makes me nervous, but I don’t think the group sponsoring her studies would be involved if it was a dangerous situation. I do know they have some involved sessions to prepare them for appropriate attire and behavior expectations, but that probably has a lot to do with her being female and being in the country for an extended duration. It is a great opportunity for your son. Can’t say I wouldn’t be nervous if I was you, though. I feel for you!</p>
<p>My 16-year-old d. traveled to Egypt on a State Department language scholarship. She lived with a family, road the buses, walked in the markets with friends, and trained with the Egyptian national gymnastics team (taking cabs to and from). Just wasn’t an issue.</p>
<p>(Of course, my 17-year-old d. went off to Cambodia, India, and Thailand by herself, in a self-designed program, and we didn’t have a second thought about it. We trained our kids to be world citizens, and are delighted when they act on it.)</p>
<p>I have taken groups of children to Cairo and we visit those exact places. It’s the routine. Egypt is a police state so you are more likely to be robbed in Madrid than Cairo or for that matter Alexandria. It is always a good experience, to travel outside your known world and to learn to wear the “robe of the country” that you are visiting. It also doesn’t hurt to read the country reports just to be aware of where you are going and what goes on there.</p>
<p>My daughter spent a week in Egypt last summer. She was just traveling with 2 friends for a vacation – they flew into Luxor, then traveled to Cairo and spent several days there before returning to Luxor. They had a wonderful time and no problems whatsoever.</p>
<p>My son went to Egypt at the same age with a high school group. I do have a couple of tips he passed on to me: they need to stay in a group. Be aware in the street bazaar. At the pyramids locals will try to take your camera and take a picture for you. They then want to charge you money. They can be a bit aggressive.
There were two issues on the trip my son took. The adults did not properly chaperone. One night he was at a club with some girls who were very drunk at 2am. He was not drinking but felt it was not okay to leave them.<br>
The other incident also occured with the girls. One of them had someone approach her in the street bazaar and offer to help her find some special items. He then took her way back into an area alone and made a move to remove her clothing.<br>
Again, young girls being unaware and naive.<br>
This is not just in Egypt obviously. When my son returned he was incredulous that the girls were that stupid. He kept saying “have they never heard of Natalee Holloway?”
I’m sure your son will be fine but I would make him aware that regardless of the level of adult chaperoning he needs to look out for himself and make smart decisions.</p>