Please help me to feel better...

[Sneezie]

My daughter went with People to People to Europe. The plane landed at 1:35(CST) this morning and she called me at 12:30pm (CST) to tell me she's ready to come home.

I was so surprised because she never has a problem spending time away from home. I really think its because she hasn't had any sleep. She hardly slept on the plane and when they arrived, they went straight to sight seeing, so she's been up for almost 36 hours straight.

She sounded so sad and I feel so helpless! I haven't stopped crying since we got off the phone!

She's going to be alright, isn't she?

 

[Planogirl]

She will be fine but it sounds like she's scared or homesick. Did she tell you why she wanted to come home?

 

[DSNY4ever]

She is probably just exhausted and overwhelmed from traveling with new people/places/new things etc.

I don't know what people to people is- is this a charity program or a school thing? Does she know other people? I am sure once she gets sleep and gets to know the routine and people she will have a great time.

Best of luck! As long as she is not in danger, I wouldn't worry too much (hard to tell a mom, I know). This could be a growth opportunity for her or a learning experience none the less.

 

[simba928]

Give her some time. I'm sure she will soon be calling you telling you how much fun she is having.

I was in marching band in high school and my first year at away band camp I called my mom in tears on the second day wanting to come home. I was over it and just wanted to be done. She wanted to come get me, my dad said no. The next day, everything turned around and I felt so much better. I'm so glad she didn't come pick me up looking back but at the time all I wanted to do was go home.

 

[dakcp2001]

CAn you talk to her groupleader? She will be fine, and it will be one of the best experiences of her life. SHe just needs to meet some of the others, she prob feels lonely. The groupleader can prob help/.

 

[Sneezie]

She will be fine but it sounds like she's scared or homesick. Did she tell you why she wanted to come home?

When I asked her why she said that she was just ready to come home. Then she said she didn't like the food. So far, they've been to a place that serves fish and chips (she doesn't eat fish) and mushed peas, not very appealing to a Southern Louisiana girl.

I told her that she could call home anytime she wants to, but I don't know if that will make things better or worse.

 

[npmommie]

My daughter went with People to People to Europe. The plane landed at 1:35(CST) this morning and she called me at 12:30pm (CST) to tell me she's ready to come home.

I was so surprised because she never has a problem spending time away from home. I really think its because she hasn't had any sleep. She hardly slept on the plane and when they arrived, they went straight to sight seeing, so she's been up for almost 36 hours straight.

She sounded so sad and I feel so helpless! I haven't stopped crying since we got off the phone!

She's going to be alright, isn't she?

I bet she will be just fine! How old is she? She is probably just exhausted.
What is people to people?

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS15 isn't quite as far away as your DD, but he and my DS11 went to NH with my dad on Monday (about 9 hours away from home by car) and on Tuesday, he texted me that he wanted to come home. He's been going on this trip every year since he was 4 years old, and he's gone away from home on mission trips and overnight camp, so it's not like he's not used to being away.

Honestly, I think it's the age, combined with being tired, missing out on what friends at home are doing, etc.

I felt awful that he is homesick, but I told him he had to suck it up and make the best of it.

Does your DD have texting? This is the one thing that I think is saving my DS right now. He's texting everyone here at home and feeling more "connected".

I hope she can settle in and enjoy her experience!!

 

[KinziePooh]

I'm sure she'll be fine. I've been to Europe many times and the flight over is never fun. It's long and hard to sleep on a plane. Then once you land, you're told to stay awake to get acclimated with the time change. I bet after a day or two she'll start to feel better and enjoy herself more.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Aww, I feel so bad for you. If I were in your position I'd be a mess too, but that's what it is to be a parent isn't it? I've never taken the trip across the pond but every time my DH does for work he is absolutely miserable when he lands. Like other people said your DD is probably just miserable from exhaustion and so are her companions so the whole group is probably a cranky mess. I'm sure things will cheer up for her after a few days of full meals & rest when the jet lag ends. Until then you just won't be able to get a good indication about her true state so I wouldn't dwell on what she says right now too much. Give it time and try to remember that a majority of kids who go to Europe come back saying it was the time of their lives.

 

[Robinrs]

http://www.peopletopeople.com/ourprograms/sap/pages/default.aspx

Sounds like a once in a lifetime experience! I'm sure she's too excited to sleep!!

How old is she? How did you get involved? Sounds awesome!

 

[RadioFanatic]

When I was in college, I had to spend a semester in France for my major. When I first arrived, all I wanted to do was go home because I was sick - I even missed the first day of school I was so sick! Looking back, I now think it was nerves from the whole thing. Other than marrying my dh and the birth of my son, I can honestly say that four months was the best time of my life and I cried when I had to go home! She will be fine and will have a blast, don't worry!

 

[ksjayhawks]

Give her time to adjust. The trip overseas can be very exhausting with having to change planes, the time change, little or no sleep. Once they get into their routine, she will be very busy. Most of their meals are so "Americanized" much to the disappointment of my son when he traveled with them as he was looking forward to trying local foods and specialties.

I am not sure calling home all the time is the best as it can make some kids more homesick. Did she take a cell phone or a phone card? If it is a phone card, she may not be able to call as much. Just be cheerful when she calls and ask her about her activities, etc, to get the focus off the homesickness.

 

[Sneezie]

Thanks for all of the quick responses. You are making me feel better already.

I really hope she gets some sleep tonight. I think its about 7:30pm there now so hopefully it won't be long before she's sleeping and feeling better.

Now that I think about it, I do remember my first time away at camp, I was ready to come home the first day, but I was only six hours away fromo and was only there for 5 days. She'll be gone for almost two weeks.

**OMG, here come the tears again**

For those who asked, People to People is an ambassador program that takes students from the United States on tours of different parts of the world.

 

[AshleyW]

She'll be fine. I had the same thing happen to me basically, when I went to Germany. The flight was timed in a really weird way, where we left here in the morning, and by the time we got to Germany, it felt like bedtime to us but it was really like 6am in Germany, or something like that. So we went straight into sightseeing, and by the end of the day, I was a MESS. I was tired and hungry and really moody and crying. I made the same sobbing phone call to my mom. Once I got some sleep and wasn't so shell-shocked, I was fine.

It just takes some time to get over that "oh gosh what if I've made a mistake" feeling once you get over there, I think. Don't worry too much, I bet she'll have the time of her life.

 

[golfgal]

People to People is a TRAVEL AGENCY that fronts itself as an ambassador program. The kids do have the opportunity to do some nice traveling for a hefty bill but still, they travel.


OP, your DD will probably be fine once she gets some sleep. That is a LONG time for anyone to be up and you just don't see things straight when you are that tired. It probably hit her just how far away she really is but once she gets busy with her tours and gets to know some of the other kids better she will settle in.

 

[laurie31]

Jet lag is SO horrible! In a few days when she gets adjusted, she will have a ball! It's an amazing experience she will have, but it is a big shock to go to a totally different culture. She will be okay.

 

[Sneezie]

For all who asked, my DD is 17, not so young, I know and like I said she's been going away to cheerleading camps, 4-H camps, etc every summer since forever, which is why I was so surprised that she called to tell me she was ready to come back.

I did get her a cell phone that works internationally to call us if she needed to. And I did tell her to call home when/if she needed to no matter the time. I really don't want her to call because I know it won't help her homesickness, but I just wanted to make sure she knew that I was always available to talk. I really hope that once she gets some sleep she'll begin to enjoy herself.

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

I did study abroad three times in college, so I saw a lot of homesick young adults! They all got over it in a few days and then became very excited about the trip. I do agree that post-air travel fatigue is probably involved here.

I hope your daughter will stick it out, because this will be a fantastic experience for her!