I'm a graduate student, and we're supposed to go on an international study trip to Madrid and London in May. Since the attack last week, the administration has given us the choice to take a class to make up for the trip or go ahead. I'm not sure what I am going to do. Would you go?
My naturally fearful behind would say stay at home. Americans are unfortunately targets now so anyplace you are readily identified as different from everyone else could be bad for you. However, I would hope that your university had some precautions in place for you before this happened and would tighten those now. I guess it would depend on HOW protected I thought I would be but I'm 99.9 percent sure I'd just be at home and mad that I didn't go but happy I wasn't wondering about my safety.
Anyone who knows me (and knows me well) knows that I would go in a heartbeat! I'd say my prayers and be on my way!
A trick that a friend taught me: get a pin of the Canadian flag and wear it while you are abroad. People will treat you different if you are from Canada than from the US. Not to mention, when I was in Spain, people always thought that I was African. I think that you should be fine.
Location: From Philly but now I reside in the Mighty Midwest right outside Chicago
Posts: 170
I understand your concerns, but we can't live our lives in fear and you only live once. I would go with the faith that everything is OK and I will be safe. I sent my children to New York shortly after 911 to visit their Uncle. I was afraid, but realized that if we didn't get back to normal then they succeeded.
GO! Bad things happen everywhere in the world (except Wisconsin, but that's a whole different story. ) Living in fear of terrorism only gives them what they want.
I have friends who went to study abroad shortly after September 11th and they didn't get any anti-American hostility - just don't be an ugly American and you'll be fine.
I say go, have a wonderful experience, and may God Bless you on your journey! If I had the chance to ever leave my office and school for a little while I sure would in a heartbeat!
Should I go?
) Living in fear of terrorism only gives them what they want.
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