[nabs-l] studying abroad advise

Sat Apr 25 01:09:50 UTC 2009

I agree that it should be a student , not a gardian.  I'm not sure that 
students going on the trip will necessarily want to help you, however, 
regardless of being paid, unless they're at least your acquaintances.  My 
senior year of college, there was a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure.  I 
asked several senior friends and acquaintances who were going, but nobody 
wanted to go with me, either cuz of the responsibility of my being blind or, 
simply, they didn't care about the situation!  I ended up asking a younger 
friend, who wasn't going originally, to do it and "paid" him, giving him a 
free ticket the Office of Student Activities gave me to "pay" him.  I know 
he would've gone with me, even if I didn't pay him, cuz he's international, 
so has different values than the average sighted American.

Serena

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Beth" <thebluesisloose at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 8:10 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] studying abroad advise

>I like the idea of someone hired as a guide, but it should be a
> student going on the trip, not a parent or guardian because it makes
> us, the blind, look like minors or something above children.  We're
> not that.
> Beth
>
> On 4/24/09, Jason Mandarino <blind.subscriber at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I am sure it varies from campus to campus, but I actually had the option
>> posed to me in regards to paying for a friend to come with me. My study
>> abroad program acted like I could be a potential liability to them, so to
>> make things as convenient as possible they covered the expense of a legal
>> adult to accompany me. This individual did not qualify for the education
>> credits, and I did not even spend all my time with them, but we had a 
>> blast.
>>
>> I would not recommend taking your mother on this trip, as this will be a
>> pioneer experience for you. You had approximately eighteen years under 
>> your
>> mother, and it is now time for you to make some mistakes and take
>> responsibility.
>>
>> Additionally, you may be able to pull some funding from disability 
>> services
>> in regards to the financing of your guide. Obviously your time is running
>> out, so options may be worth while. My disability services cover all my
>> additional expenses on campus, and randomly award me scholarships. They 
>> can
>> not use the money for other purposes, so we might as well.
>>
>> Just some ideas.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Mandarino
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of priscilla
>> Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 5:34 PM
>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nabs-l] studying abroad advise
>>
>> Dear all listers,
>> This is the second time I have this challenge when it cones to studying
>> abroad since the first time I planned it ahead did not work out because 
>> of
>> students backing out due to financial circumstances.
>> I already worked out with a friend who was really willing to go abroad 
>> with
>> me and she really liked the idea  of going to Israel.
>> This time, I am going to Europe and traveling to Netherlands, Belgium, 
>> and
>> Brussels.
>> the dean met with me and my parents because my parents had concerns for 
>> me
>> being on the trip since it is the first time I would actually travel with
>> the school not counting the last time I planned another trip because it
>> never happened.
>> my situation is finding a close friend who can go because like I 
>> mentioned
>> in previous post, there will be visual tours, lectures, and also I need 
>> to
>> Hearn how to deal with being in the hotel.
>> The dean suggested mom going as a result but as a last resort.
>> I don' really like the idea of mom being with me at all times because of 
>> the
>> fact that I feel more comfortable being with other friends in social
>> settings, but most of my close friends already graduated so it does not
>> count anymore since they are no longer at school
>> I had a close friend who is going on the trip and although I explained to
>> her my situation, she still wanted to go and was glad to help me, she
>> unfortunately can't go because of family and financial hardships which 
>> was
>> pretty sad.
>> I tried talking to other friends to come and did explain my situation and
>> they already know, but again, they couldn't afford to study abroad 
>> because
>> of personal issues and the expenses not because they were afraid to help 
>> me
>> but they had other more complicated issues and are worse off than I am.
>> I even called my friend Valerie, but unfortunately she couldn't go 
>> because
>> she graduated already and she is starting med school pretty soon.
>> I am so frustrated because most of my friends who are glad to help can't
>> unfortunately due to other issues of there own and I have to depend on 
>> mom
>> as a last resort.
>> but here is another problem, mom recently transferred to another school 
>> to
>> teach and her employer is strict when it comes to long absences from work
>> that are a week's worth or more.
>> She called me up and told me  "I am not sure I I will be able to go 
>> because
>> I have to talk to my employer and I don't really think they are willing 
>> to
>> give me the days I need to go on this trip with you, but I will get moor
>> information because I would like to go too."
>> I am glad that mom is supporting me on this trip and I thank god 1000 
>> times
>> for having grateful parents really and wholeheartedly.
>> but, I am afraid she might interfere with the fact that I have to get 
>> used
>> to being with my friends and do other stuff with them as opposed to her
>> being with me all the time.
>> I understand she has very deep concerns but, I just don't feel too
>> comfortable being with mom while all my other friends are on the trip, 
>> but
>> this is my last resort since I don't really have anybody else for 
>> support.
>> So what do you all listers suggest please because I need to deposit the
>> money as soon as possible and the latest is this coming Monday unless 
>> they
>> cancel the trip which I am afraid because not many students are signing 
>> up
>> due to a bad economy thanks to president bush's plan for giving other
>> countries millions of dollars to be used in wars.
>> So, please reply to this post with any advice, I really appreciate it.
>>
>> Thank you very much
>>
>> Good day,
>>
>> Priscilla
>> Ps. I am starting to plan some days with my of m instructor to learn how 
>> to
>> travel on train because we might use that in Europe, and I am excited to
>> learn but it is very difficult since my classes overlap and I get 
>> tutoring
>> for my statistic course 4 days a week and have to use Fridays for 
>> projects
>> which I need help in.
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