School trip to NYC this Friday.......

[IGETITFROMMAMAMMA]

AIBU ti think School should be contacting parents to advise of the current situation....

Our 15 yo DD is due to travel to NYC this Friday with School for 5 days, given the current state and everything going on involving the US I imagine the threat to the US and certainly places such as NYC will be on extreme high alert.

As it stands I'm not 100% comfortable with her going now and I know I will be a nervous wreck the entire time she is there (if it goes ahead). this is the first trip of this sort I've any experience with, does anyone have any advice on what measures etc School will be putting in place or if this is a risk School will likely even take by allowing the trip to go ahead?

so far we have heard nothing at all from School not even an text or email to state they are looking into it etc.

The school will have no more insight into the progression of the war in the Middle East (note the Middle East, not the US which is in totally the other direction) and any possible increased global terrorist threat than Bob who runs the chip shop. There's is nothing that they can tell you that you couldn't find out by looking at the foreign office website, which is incidentally where they'll be going for guidance.

You must see that the "direction" the OP"s child is travelling is not the issue?

I was there last summer and let’s be real here, there are fentanyl addicts everywhere. I lost count of the number of addicts lying in the streets, on the subway stairs, propping up 7/11
doorways. Maybe in December they find somewhere warmer to go, who knows.

Anyway, I love New York and never at any point felt unsafe. There were police and security present everywhere, very different to here where you forget what they look like. And yes, it smells of weed, but then so do a lot of places where it isn’t even legal.

I love politics too, and was in Dubai 6 weeks ago without any issues whatsoever. Everything should be viewed in context.

Get a grip of yourself, for goodness sake.

She's going to New York, not Tehran.
YABU and hope you're not letting her see your anxiety.

This is over the top. Let her go, poor girl.

I am being real. I see the leaners and nodders in Baltimore and Philly and was surprised after a day in NY that we saw none. Maybe because we were in touristy and then fancier areas during the high tourist season they are squeezed out by cops.

What context are you viewing your choice in?

6 weeks ago British travellers were warned about a heightened risk of regional tension, and that overspill could cause travel disruption (aka closed air space).

You got lucky. I wouldn’t crow about not being stuck in a war zone by a few weeks.

Not really about loving politics (but it’s nice that you do), my job involves assessing international security and risk.

From everything I’m hearing I wouldn’t let my child travel internationally without out me at this moment in time. But that’s just my perspective.

It’s interesting how many parents say ‘don’t be silly, you’re over thinking it’. I think the OP is asking a really sensible question and is in a horrible position.

Also the previous person who said Putin is friends with Trump🤣 so don’t worry as you’re flying away from the Middle East. The better question is who are Iran’s strategic allies. Russia, China and Pakistan. How might they exploit this moment? So maybe start wondering where this could go. Iran wants to draw the entire region in and beyond.

There’s also a lot of planes in the ‘wrong’ place right now so expect air travel disruption more widely.

1 - I am not "crowing", merely responding to your comment. The exaggeration on here at the moment is next level.

2 - Luck has nothing to do with it. I too work with risk, albeit it in a different field, and very carefully research and weigh up decisions and their potential outcomes.

3 - The best thing to do, unless directly impacted by recent events, is carry on as normal. The FCDO haven't recommended against travel to the US.

Honestly, I hope you’re right and that I am wrong and being over cautious. 🤞

Who knows, at this early stage, how this will develop? The worst thing we could do is panic. Keep calm and carry on, cliched as it is, really does have a place here.

Thank you so much for your knowledgeable reply.
it's 100% not about me being hysterical and I am very much the opposite of that with my DC I always try to let them take risks etc but I don't wish to put any of them in any unnecessary risk/danger. I understand the chances of her being caught up in anything are slim but it's the thought of if she is and neither I nor her DF being there for her as we would be at home or other family members.

You cannot demand someone “gets a grip of themselves” for having a different impression of a place than you did….. Grow up!

Sorry, I didn't realise I had to check for your approval on a contribution to a chat forum.

Totally understand your concerns. The world feels a lot less safe than it did a month ago. But I don’t think your DD is any more at risk in NYC than say London (except the standard differential crime rates). The chances of anything happening in NYC at the time your DD is there are vanishingly small. . Even if something happened in NYC the chances of your DD being involved are tiny.

But I totally get your nervousness -please don’t let others undermine your understandable feelings. the school will be watching the situation closely.

I hope your DD gets to go and has a wonderful time

Go ahead and contact the school. I’m guessing you have the details of the trip lead, ask to speak to them and go through your concerns.
my daughter went to Florida last year and I felt the same, and that was before all this happened, I was worried about the situation with ICE and people being put into detention centres for what seemed like no reason. Also freak weather! Her school were very helpful, and I wasn’t the only concerned parent.
I did let her go and she was absolutely fine, but it was so hard to decide between her having what ended up bringing a great experience and stopping her from going because it felt unsafe.
Big hugs in this scary time!

Lol.

From someone who lives in NYC and has for the past 6 years, sure, it's pretty filthy in places, and it does stink of cannabis (though I prefer that to the cigarette smoke in British cities).

I've not seen one fentanyl addict in 6 years and while I would say it's a little more dangerous than London in that they don't put people with serious mental illness in facilities, and perhaps there are some areas you probably shouldn't go (bits of the bronx, Brownsville, East New York), I wouldn't describe it as dangerous exactly. It's hardly on a par with Baghdad or Caracas!

Hole? I mean sure, if you hate world-class museums, galleries, restaurants, bars, music, architecture, parks and pretty damn kind locals then I suggest you stay in Milton Keynes or Hull or wherever and stick to your center parcs holidays.

My son flew to India night over Saudi and the Gulf. That made me very nervy and I didn’t sleep well.
I wouldn’t however lose any sleep about a family member going to New York (although none of us would consider going to the US whilst the current incumbent is in office).

Your daughter will only be fretting about things if you communicate your over anxious thoughts to her.

Frankly, you need to get a grip.

I live in the US and while completely despairing about all the awful things the current administration are doing here and abroad, day-to-day life is unchanged for the majority of people.

I wouldn't be on high alert or anxious if my DD was going on a school trip to NYC - I mean no more than general worries whenever she goes on trips.

DH is off to Miami and NYC for work this week. Didn't cross my mind to worry.

I would feel totally the same OP, most likely all be fine but I totally get your worry here.

As my 14 yo DS said 'if you're going to the US, you might want to worry about someone in high office 'grabbing you by the pussy'......

Or possibly trying to recruit DD into an international sex ring, about which federal authorities completely blank any reports of wrongdoing against the moneyed male perpetrators 🤷🏼‍♀️

In terms of walking the streets - as with any big city, get her street smarts about her... don't waft a $1000 iPhone about aimlessly at arms length, and pay attention to unattended bags & suspicious activity!

Otherwise, have a great time, walking crazy amounts in one of the most bonkers cities on earth....then be grateful to come home safe & not need to damage your neck vertebrae to see some meaningful daylight!

But you can tell me what to do?! I don’t think so!