usvi-on-line
Help on ideas for son and friends
Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
Ok, ok, I get it. Not sure what I was thinking when he suggested it - probably had one too many pain killers!! I do appreciate your input as always but I guess I did not think this all the way through. And yes we were planning way ahead as this was my sons idea and he wanted to start saving and tell his friends to do the same. It did not mean that he was going to book anything as we know things and friends can change he was just looking. I think maybe we will do a different approach of course including STJ in some way with maybe bringing one friend. We have plenty of time to think about it. Usually, I am pretty level headed but obviously I went overboard on this one.
It seems that I have all your attention on this post so may as well ask another question. Don't worry this one I think is fine. Our son got stung by what we thought was a jelly fish on our trip with Captain John this past August. We were in the caves or coming out when he slapped his arm. He got to the boat and his arm was stinging. After some time his back and legs ached and then he got the shakes. It lasted for about 2 hours total and then he was fine. John took us to an early lunch and while there he was really shaking - said he was not cold just had the shakes. Does anyone know what this could have been or has anyone had a reaction like this? John had vinegar which he used on our son. It was fine the rest of the trip.
It seems that I have all your attention on this post so may as well ask another question. Don't worry this one I think is fine. Our son got stung by what we thought was a jelly fish on our trip with Captain John this past August. We were in the caves or coming out when he slapped his arm. He got to the boat and his arm was stinging. After some time his back and legs ached and then he got the shakes. It lasted for about 2 hours total and then he was fine. John took us to an early lunch and while there he was really shaking - said he was not cold just had the shakes. Does anyone know what this could have been or has anyone had a reaction like this? John had vinegar which he used on our son. It was fine the rest of the trip.
r
Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
Hi, Hawaii:
I have every intention of telling my kid to go spend some time out in the world after high school - I have no problem with letting an 18 year old go to an island all by him or herself but it would depend on the kid. I spent several months on an archaelogical dig when I was that age (and we drank at night but we remembered our responsibilities).
One thing you might point your son to is Concordia Eco-Resort's work exchange program. He can get a month of free lodging in exchange for working for them for that month and they do accept applications from 18 year olds.
-Sandy
I have every intention of telling my kid to go spend some time out in the world after high school - I have no problem with letting an 18 year old go to an island all by him or herself but it would depend on the kid. I spent several months on an archaelogical dig when I was that age (and we drank at night but we remembered our responsibilities).
One thing you might point your son to is Concordia Eco-Resort's work exchange program. He can get a month of free lodging in exchange for working for them for that month and they do accept applications from 18 year olds.
-Sandy
Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
Marcia - Senior Week is a huge deal on the east coast.
My parents basically let me do whatever I wanted as a teen. I was bartending shortly after my 18th birthday. My father thought giving me a $1,000 and a ticket for a freighter to Europe so I could work myself around the world was a better idea than college. (I picked college instead) They thought nothing of leaving me alone for weeks at a time while they traveled BUT when it came to Senior Week, they would not let me go, a very wise move on their part.
Things get wildly out of control - massive binge drinking, assaults, arrests, injuries, etc. A classmate of mine died during her Senior Week trip. Several others were arrested for disorderly conduct, underage drinking, drunk driving, etc. The group I would have been with (at one girl's parent's condo no less, not a party central hotel) brought strange guys home and things got out of hand and there was an attempted rape. Luckily, the farm girls knew how to beat the crap out of the guy AND call the police but still...
So I can see how a fellow PA mom would see STJ, away from all the NJ (or DE or MD) shore craziness, would be a good substitute.
The Concordia work program sounds like it would be a great idea. Maybe he could go down alone or with a friend.
My parents basically let me do whatever I wanted as a teen. I was bartending shortly after my 18th birthday. My father thought giving me a $1,000 and a ticket for a freighter to Europe so I could work myself around the world was a better idea than college. (I picked college instead) They thought nothing of leaving me alone for weeks at a time while they traveled BUT when it came to Senior Week, they would not let me go, a very wise move on their part.
Things get wildly out of control - massive binge drinking, assaults, arrests, injuries, etc. A classmate of mine died during her Senior Week trip. Several others were arrested for disorderly conduct, underage drinking, drunk driving, etc. The group I would have been with (at one girl's parent's condo no less, not a party central hotel) brought strange guys home and things got out of hand and there was an attempted rape. Luckily, the farm girls knew how to beat the crap out of the guy AND call the police but still...
So I can see how a fellow PA mom would see STJ, away from all the NJ (or DE or MD) shore craziness, would be a good substitute.
The Concordia work program sounds like it would be a great idea. Maybe he could go down alone or with a friend.
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Xislandgirl
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Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
Marcia - Senior Week is a huge deal on the east coast.
Not that big of a deal, I have never heard of it and to be honest, it does not sound like a very smart move to me for most 18 year olds.
I had a job from the time I was 15. I worked after school and every weekend. I was president of the drama club, a student/teacher aide, volunteered at a nursing home, and graduated in the top 10% of my class.
Pretty Impressive, huh?
My parents let us go to our beach house after graduation and I would be embarassed to tell you the things that happened when a dozen 18 year old kids were left to their own devices. Thankfully my mother was an hour away when we needed help. And we needed serious help.
I don't think you are silly at all for asking, but I think that 18 year old kids alone on an island where alcohol is practically given away and were you can find drugs and trouble just by asking, is not a good combination.
Again, just my opinion.
Not that big of a deal, I have never heard of it and to be honest, it does not sound like a very smart move to me for most 18 year olds.
I had a job from the time I was 15. I worked after school and every weekend. I was president of the drama club, a student/teacher aide, volunteered at a nursing home, and graduated in the top 10% of my class.
Pretty Impressive, huh?
My parents let us go to our beach house after graduation and I would be embarassed to tell you the things that happened when a dozen 18 year old kids were left to their own devices. Thankfully my mother was an hour away when we needed help. And we needed serious help.
I don't think you are silly at all for asking, but I think that 18 year old kids alone on an island where alcohol is practically given away and were you can find drugs and trouble just by asking, is not a good combination.
Again, just my opinion.
Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
Guess I live in a different area. Around here we never had such a thing. My boy's went from High school to working full time to help pay for college. They both had part time job's from the tme they were 15. It's just high school I don't care if he is paying for it his self that money should be used for his future if that is college or moving out on his own. I guess I'm old school.
Tom
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toes in the sand
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Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
Hawaii, you know your son better than anyone on this forum. You did not go overboard, you asked a legitimate question and you received some good advice. The work program at Concordia is a great suggestion.
I can't help but think about the young man who was murdered on StJ some 8 years ago (I do not remember the year) but he was hanging out at the wrong bar at the wrong time, got into a dispute and was followed out of the bar was assaulted and died. I know his family had to fight tirelessly to see the persons responsible put in jail. Or the young woman who fell off of a taxi and died on the trip from Maho to town. She was traveling with a young friend.
That you have considered something of the sort is a testament to the trust you have in your son. He may not realize it yet but he will someday. I would have trusted my daughter at 18 to travel with friends but the unknown is the friends reaction to freedom and those they would meet on their travels. As it turned out, she was able to manage a trip through Europe at age 21 with friends that were more responsible than they all were at 18 and she enjoyed it so much more than she would have as an 18 year old. The trip was an education that she could not have gained in any classroom.
I can't help but think about the young man who was murdered on StJ some 8 years ago (I do not remember the year) but he was hanging out at the wrong bar at the wrong time, got into a dispute and was followed out of the bar was assaulted and died. I know his family had to fight tirelessly to see the persons responsible put in jail. Or the young woman who fell off of a taxi and died on the trip from Maho to town. She was traveling with a young friend.
That you have considered something of the sort is a testament to the trust you have in your son. He may not realize it yet but he will someday. I would have trusted my daughter at 18 to travel with friends but the unknown is the friends reaction to freedom and those they would meet on their travels. As it turned out, she was able to manage a trip through Europe at age 21 with friends that were more responsible than they all were at 18 and she enjoyed it so much more than she would have as an 18 year old. The trip was an education that she could not have gained in any classroom.
"got a drink in my hand and my toes in the sand"
Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
What if you go down with them? You get to relax (maybe), leave them alone for the most part, but you're there just in case. And 18 year olds would appreciate coming home from the beach and finding a meal!
Which reminds me of a story a friend told me. He was at a beach and there was a middle-aged man walking behind 2 bikini-clad young (around 13) girls. He was following them back and forth, all over the beach. My friend though the man was stalking the girls, until one of the girls turned around and said "Dad, you're too close!"
Which reminds me of a story a friend told me. He was at a beach and there was a middle-aged man walking behind 2 bikini-clad young (around 13) girls. He was following them back and forth, all over the beach. My friend though the man was stalking the girls, until one of the girls turned around and said "Dad, you're too close!"
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
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- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
That is too funny.inuny wrote: Which reminds me of a story a friend told me. He was at a beach and there was a middle-aged man walking behind 2 bikini-clad young (around 13) girls. He was following them back and forth, all over the beach. My friend though the man was stalking the girls, until one of the girls turned around and said "Dad, you're too close!"
Here is another idea: http://www.lifeworks-international.com/bvi/overview.php
Since you and your son are having conversations about his love of the islands...this opportunity is amazing. It would happen sooner than his graduation from high school, in fact, it could happen as soon as next summer. Another advantage is that if he is interested in boosting the old resume for college applications, this sure would look good. It's a bit pricy though. Just throwing out another idea for you to mull over...
Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
Missing St. John. As always.
Missing St. John. As always.
Re: Help on ideas for son and friends
I think a great option is to find a villa that has a separate "apartment" that you and your husband can stay at which will give the kids some independence without worry. Last May I brought my daughter and 5 of her fellow college graduates to St. John for a week and they all loved it, but even they couldn't rent a car so had to rely on the others in the group to drive.
Crazy thing - about a millions years ago, I MOVED to St. Thomas when I was 18! And there were NO cell phones, no internet, and the only access I had to a landline was at work. I used to write letters to my parents once a month. My, how times have changed! I think I would have had a heart attack if my daughter tried to move to some remote island when she was 18.
Crazy thing - about a millions years ago, I MOVED to St. Thomas when I was 18! And there were NO cell phones, no internet, and the only access I had to a landline was at work. I used to write letters to my parents once a month. My, how times have changed! I think I would have had a heart attack if my daughter tried to move to some remote island when she was 18.
Paula
