Surviving Study Abroad
An tips for moms and kids?
Posted by Lisa Hendey
in Just me
on Tuesday, June 07, 2011 2:01 PM
You’d think that my son attending college across the country would have better prepared me for his decision to spend the better part of his summer in Russia, but you’d be wrong.
We enjoyed a few week’s of Eric’s company at the close of the Spring semester. It was such a joy to welcome him home! We had to navigate a few new aspects in our relationship - my desire for things to go back to the way they used to be in the “good old days” and his desire to function with the same total autonomy he’d had at school. We were able to meet in the middle very quickly and ended up having a fantastic, but all too quick, visit.
On Friday morning, we waved goodbye as our 19 year old once again went through airport security, this time destined for St. Petersburg, Russia. No cell phone this time around to tether mom to son - he left that at home and set out “old school” (with only a laptop!) for the daylong journey.
Greg used his iPhone to track the various flights and we held our breath hoping for some sign that Eric had eventually arrived. That came 24 hours later in the form of a quick “I’m here” message on Facebook. We’ve since had one more note from him, telling us about the family he’s living with and the start of school yesterday. But I’m getting the sense that our communication will be very limited, and that’s probably for the best.
Eric’s trip to Russia brings back so many great memories of my own study abroad experiences. I lived and studied in France for a year, and later attended a summer semester in what was then the Soviet Union, studying in Leningrad just down the street from where Eric is this summer. Great times of amazing personal growth and very limited contact with my parents, who must have been much more relaxed about things than I feel this week!
In many ways, today’s technology binds us together and makes communication easier. If we can figure out a mutually convenient time, we’ll be able to Skype and chat on Facebook. But in some ways, I want to leave Eric a bit to himself this summer, to explore, to learn, and to have adventures that would likely freak his mom out (I had a few of those myself!).
I’m wondering for those of you who have kids who studied abroad what helped you to enjoy their time away. And for those who are young enough to remember your own overseas adventures, please share them with us. What did you learn, how did you cope, and what were some of the memories you treasure?
Please say a prayer for Eric and all of the students who are off on exciting and life changing adventures, and for the moms and dads who are missing them!
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