[nabs-l] studying abroad advise

Sat Apr 25 01:31:04 UTC 2009

Question: how do international peopl have different values than the
average sighted American?  This is weird.  I know international
students who are very nice and help me whenever I ask for it, but the
general sighted public is so self-centered these days.
Beth

On 4/24/09, Serena <serenacucco at verizon.net> wrote:
> 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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>>
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