Monday, July 7, 2008
emily called
Emily called from Jessica's phone, apparently she snuck into Jessicas room. She said the university she is staying in is creepy and they are all by themselves in their rooms. She said to tell you guys that alot of the kids are homesick so the leaders won't let them call because they're afraid it will make it worse. She said quite a few kids aren't feeling well and that Tess is still throwing up alot but Elizabeth thinks it's homesickness. I don't know what's going on but This is Emily's 3rd trip and she is not happy. She said noone wants to go to the sailing academy and that she's tired of the college and the fact that they aren't really staying in hotels. I told her to hang in there it'll be ok. She actually wants to come home. For Emily to say that is unheard of. She had to hang up the phone quick because it's like midnight there and they're all sneaking around to be with each other. The girls are all scared she said. I told her to stay out of trouble. She did mention that the girl who forgot her lanyard did have to eat alone but didn't specify what that meant. I hope Emily doesn't get in too much trouble. I can't afford to fly her home.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
I am glad that you reached her on Jessica's cell. Jessica is the girl that ate alone, also another girl Katie was made eat alone also. Nice to know someone else heard dissapointment besides me. Jessica said tonight they are all crying want to come home. Jessica never wants to come home, enjoys adventures. Is totally freaked out and freezing and feels sick to her stomach. I thank Emily for being there with her. I can't imagine anyone punishing kids for being there for another one that would be a bit much. When Emily was on the phone with Jess and me she said all her other trips were much better than this one.. and it is so cold there no one wants to sleep outside tommorrow ;) Glad you reached her... I felt bad she was upset and could not call you.
On a separate note, i thought at all the meetings they stated they were always with someone else rooming together I was suprised when Jessica said she was alone.
Emily tries to be like everyone's mom on the trips but they keep yelling at her for trying to be there for the other girls. She sounded so worried that she was gonna get caught in Jessica's room. She hung up so quick I don't know if she did. I really would like to talk to her again but I don't want to call there. Maybe next time you talk to Jessica you can ask if Emily got in trouble. Emily will stick by those who are sad or sick no matter what the leaders tell her to do. I taught her better!
WOW! I am kind of thrown here. We did try several times to call Sammie but initially it bounced to her voice mail then it started to ring but then an automated voice came on and said that the line was unavailable.
I can understand to a point about not allowing the phone call home if homesick, but if one of our kids needs to hear our voice for reassurance, it it RIDICULOUS not to let them call home. I think that Elizabeth is afraid that we as parents might make it worse like that story she told us about during one of the mtgs.
It makes me more nervous to hear that their NOT BEING ALLOWED TO CALL HOME. I do trust P2P, but what's up here?
Cindy, have you gotten a call about Tess from Elizabeth? I hope she isn't still getting sick.
Does anyone have Elizabeth's # to check on this. We shouldn't all call or bombard P2P. NO NEED TO START A PANIC. But is someone can get to the bottom of this from a Leader's perspective, then we will all be a ease here.
Hang in there everyone. Tomorrow will hopefully be a better day for all of them. Kathy B. #5
I still trust the leaders. Elizabeth did a great job with Emily being sick. I think it is policy not to let the kids call home if they're crying alot. If emily called crying and begging to go home, I'd fly her home in a minute and she'd miss out on so much.
No they were going to bed, Jessica said Emily started to get upset talking to you and that is y she hung up but they are together and were going to sleep I just text Jess about 5 minutes ago, I talked to her for 30 minutes before that but it gets expensive, she wanted me to stay on the phone all nite she was so freaked out and scared to be alone. Thanks again to Emily I think it is nice and I raised mine to be there for people also, it is great she has someone when I am so far away.. It seemed more like she was upset, sick to her stomach and very very hungry cause the food is just horrible. She said no one ate dinner and she had no money pounds to buy food and emily bought her something so she could eat something.
I speak to Tyler every night and has not mentioned any of this. Actually the only problem he had was doing his laundry because he did not have any small change. I usually speak to him on a daily basis so I will certaintly ask him if he knows anything that is going on. Lisa Diamond
I tried to reassure Jessica that it would get better, to hang in there and make the best of it , lean on others and try to calm down. They are still together Sandy in Jessica's room. Would you like me to tell Jessica to send Emily back to her room, I don't want you to feel that she can get into trouble for being ther for Jess.
This whole scenario is very nerve wracking! I missed a call from Julianna this afternoon and am now wondering what is up. I do agree that P2P would not appreciate us all calling, but getting the perspective from a leader might be a simple step to ease all of our minds. The leaders are responsible for the well-being of our kids in our absence. They should be willing to address this problem since more than one Ambassador has expressed a concern. My older daughter is leaving next week for this same trip but with the High School group and I am beginning to wonder about that! I'd be willing to call P2P if it could ease our minds. I am sure they could easily reach Elizabeth - regardless of time- and get an answer back to us so that we are not up all night worrying! Any thoughts?
Leanne
In my earlier post I meant to say, "Annie" have you spoken to Tess. My bad. I am horrible with names. Sorry Annie, and sorry Cindy for mixing up your names. HUGS TO BOTH OF YOU! Kathy B.
I think that everyone needs to step back a bit and think about all of this! For some delegates, it is their first trip, for others it is not.
It seems to me, that the kids are feeding off of one another. Part of this experience is letting them be together, and to have their leaders, not their parents handle their homesickness, food dislikes, sadness etc.
We, as adults, haven't liked everywhere we have ever stayed, and have not enjoyed every meal we have ever eaten, and our children will not either.
Our other daughter Lauren went on 2 trips with people to people and we heard from her just once on each trip. We never worried, for we knew that she was in good hands. We knew that no news was good news, and we left it to the leaders to decide that. We never tried to contact her, and understood that part of this incredible experience was learning how to handle many different situations,and to not depend on their parents. Lauren had a wonderful time on both occassions. That is why we wanted Ally to embark on a P2P trip as well.
I don't mean to sound as though I don't understand your concerns, but I think that by by relating every bit of info is tending to make everyone a bit more anxious than they should feel just several days into his trip. I have found these leaders to be even more involved and pro-active than any other leaders we have had in the past. Let's leave handling these probelms now to them.
Just think how wonderful it will be to share absolutely everything with your child upon their return. By that time, all of these seemingly BIG issues won't matter as much in the grand scheme of things. I am almost certain that some of these issues, have become somewhat inflated through translation etc.
I do have a contact, who knows Elizabeth, as well as her husband very well.I will contact her, and request that she speak to him,to let her be made aware of some of the concerns that you have as parents, and that your children have expressed. Then the leaders can handle this, as they have handle many other situations in the past. I truly do understand why the leaders have said to curtail the phone calls.I hope you understand too.
Good point Cindy and Mike. Emily has traveled before and we never heard from her. Maybe they're just having a bad night. But I do believe Em when she says this is different from the other trips. The fact that she actually called raises a red flag. I don't, however, readily believe everything that comes from a teenage girls mouth when she's overly emotional. I hope this all blows over and I do trust the leaders, especially Elizabeth. Thanks for your different perspective.
Thank you Cindy and Mike. I wanted to say the same but did not know how. I agree that less contact is usually better for the kids in the end and us grown ups will just have to be patient.
Our daughter called tonight and we heard nothing about crying and wanting to leave from her or other delegates. She said even though the accomodations in Wales is not a four star hotel, she appreciates having her own bathroom!
Thank you Cindy and Mike. Kathy B.
Post a Comment