So, your teen can’t stop talking about Greenheart Travel’s Teen Summer Language Campin Japan (and high school abroad). They can’t wait to dive into an arcade to play Taiko no Tatsujin or find their perfect bubble tea spot.
And your biggest question?
Is Japan safe?
We understand why you’re asking. Whether it’s through the narrow streets of Florence, Italy or the coast of Chile, safety is an important topic to consider before going on a program. Especially when sending your teenager across the globe, alone!
But before we gush about what a great program our Teen Summer Language Camp in Japan is, we have to be honest: we would never send our participants somewhere we would not go ourselves. We will continue to travel personally and professionally and many of us visit Japan frequently.
Of course, no matter where you are – even in your suburban neighborhood in Ohio – there is always a certain amount of risk in traveling.
Greenheart Travel’s Associate Director of Marketing, Sara, in Japan
Here are a few things to consider when wondering if Japan is safe:
By international standards, everyone is jealous.
Remember your question “Is Japan safe?”
Yes.
Japan overall is an extremely safe country, in many respects actually far safer than the United States. So safe, that in fact it was ranked the “safest country in the world.” Why? One writer has some reasons.
Greenheart Travel’s Program Manager, Kara, in Japan
There is no Department of State Warning against Japan.
The U.S. Department of State does not have any warnings or advisories for Japan. Even so, Greenheart Travel recommends our students enroll in the STEP program through the US embassy to receive alerts in case of emergency.
Just to give some perspective, the United Kingdom has a travel alert about the United States right now. They warn UK citizens traveling to the US that gun violence is common, hurricanes are a problem, and there is a general threat of terrorism. The moral of the story is that from a distance, looking only at news reports and reading your own country’s travel advisories, foreign countries look much scarier than they actually are.
Greenheart Travel’s High School & Short-Term Abroad Programs Coordinator, Allison, in Japan
In case of emergency – we’ve got you covered.
Greenheart Travel programs include 24/7 local and long-distance emergency support.
Plus, our local staff have evacuation plans in place for all major threats – not only potential military escalations with North Korea but all manner of disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, etc – so you can rest assured that in the unlikely safety event, we will take the necessary steps to ensure student safety.
Greenheart Travel’s Teach & Work Programs Director, Lauren, in Japan
Remember, you should treat Japan like anywhere else. You should expect the best, but always be aware and trust your gut. It is ultimately your decision to travel, and with the trust and support of an organization like Greenheart Travel, we hope you will feel comfortable doing so.
We firmly believe that travel and cultural exchange bring the world closer together, person by person. Now is exactly the time we need the type of cross-cultural communication our programs provide.
This holiday season, instead of giving material items to the people we love most, give the chance to make memories that will shape the rest of their lives.
Traveling has a profound impact on individuals. They will have their perspectives challenged, learn to live alongside different cultures, and grow as an independent human. Language camps are the perfect travel gifts to give teens because of the flexible start dates, individual support, and overall structure of the programs.
So what are the next steps in order for this idea to become a reality? Take a look below at our no-frills guide to gifting a Greenheart experience.
Choose a Destination
You can check out this list of our destinations and their details. Choosing a country based on the language your child is learning in school is a good place to start. Don’t stress too much; if this doesn’t work for your child later, we will adjust the destination.
Start the Application Process
Filling out the initial application will only take you 2-3 minutes. If this is a surprise, DO NOT put your kid’s email. Please also include the word “Gift” somewhere in their name so we’re in on the secret.
Read and Sign the Terms and Conditions
This is your opportunity to read through details thoroughly. The adult gift-giver must sign the terms and conditions (your child will sign later, but for now this just needs to be you).
Secure Your Spot
Reserve your spot via an initial deposit. This is not an extra fee, it is part of the total program fee and can be applied to a different program if you decide the one you’re gifting isn’t really the right destination after all. You must submit your deposit a minimum of 10 business days prior to when your child will open their surprise to receive your package on time!
Receive Your Gift Package
We’ll put a special package in the mail that your child can open on your chosen day of gifting. They’ll receive a Greenheart Travel T-Shirt, Canvas Bag, and a special announcement that lets them know they’re about to embark on a trip of a lifetime! Note, this is only available for US residents.
Celebrate
Give your gift! Discuss the details and talk about what’s to come.
Finish the Application
Once your child has opened their surprise, we’ll send you the last steps of the application to be completed. This will include things like medical history, host family preferences, and other details your child will get to provide.
Final Details
Go through the Pre-Departure process with your Greenheart Travel program manager!We understand that gifting something like this is a big deal, so we are here for you! Please reach out to the program manager at any time to clarify questions/doubts/concerns you might have.
When you’re a parent sending your child abroad, you know there’s a lot they must prepare for: culture shock, homesickness, and language barriers. But your children aren’t the only ones experiencing a life change.
“This was definitely a learning experience for the parents as well!” says Lisa Hall, mother of high school in Sweden alum Matilda. “It was very hard to not be there to help when things were tough.”
So what can you do? Miles away from your children, how can you still support them? We asked parents of Greenheart Travel alumni share their insight on how you can best support your child while they’re abroad. Here are their tips.
Before they go abroad, talk about life when they return
“Prior to him leaving for the 6 months, we did discuss what he wanted to do at his school in the US during his junior year. He decided he would try to run for student council office while he was overseas. And unbeknownst to his dad and I – he did run, campaigned via Instagram and won the vice president spot for the upcoming junior class here in the US. The lesson to learn…. make goals with your child and then let your child be the captain of that ship while he is away.” -Bonnie Green, mother of high school in New Zealand alum Graham.
Agree on a weekly time to talk – and stick with it
Schedule a time and way to communicate in advance, that way you are both on the same page. For example, decide that they need to check-in on Sundays around 7:00 pm their time via WhatsApp. This way, you don’t need to send them texts throughout the day because you’ll already have a set time to catch up.
Mary Scott, mother of language camp in Spain alum Emmy, explains why it’s so important to give space. “While she was abroad, we made sure we weren’t constantly bombarding her with texts and skype calls which at first was difficult. However, we knew she would have a more enriching experience if she wasn’t having to think about us back in Michigan the whole time. We wanted her to be able to completely devote herself to speaking Spanish and learning about her new environment.”
For Hall, being far from her daughter was “hard in a different way when she was having so much fun, there was hardly any contact! But that was the best kind of growth for us all.”
Olivia McCollum at her high school while studying abroad in Japan
Recognize that YOUR life is going to change
Your life at home is undoubtedly going to change. For Bonnie Green, she and her husband experienced being empty nesters for the first time.
Her advice? Take this opportunity and focus on you.
“Make a list of things YOU want to do while your child is away. My husband and I took dance lessons, had adult only (no children) dinner parties, accomplished house updates, traveled to visit our children who were away at college, visited aging parents, put in extra time at work and started hiking more.”
And that leads us to our next point…
Don’t say how much you miss them or how much you want them home
Your child will most likely be homesick at some point, and it can be really hard to go through that while hearing pleads to come home. Being asked to come back and hearing about what they are missing at home can make a hard day so much worse.
Instead, tell them that you are so excited to hear about their adventures when they are back.
Jacob Dane Chilton with host family in Spain
Encourage them to reach out to local staff and take initiative
Part of why going abroad builds confidence and leadership skills is because travelers are expected to speak up and handle themselves. Instead of telling your teen what to do, or doing things on their behalf, allow them the opportunity to be independent. This is especially important when handling the pre-departure logistics so that they don’t feel totally lost when stepping foot in the airport. “When a problem comes up, discuss the different ways it can be solved instead of jumping in and telling them what to do.” says Scott.
The best thing you can do for your teen is to let them practice communicating with adults and learning how to manage themselves. It can be hard to trust your child to do everything right but giving them that space to grow will make them better prepared for their program (and life).
“I think it is vital that while your child is aboard that he/she become a part of their new community,” says Green. “While he did stay in touch with friends in the states, he made friends in NZ. The small town even had a send-off for him and took him to the airport.”
Read about their country and take interest when they share new knowledge
A great way to get involved intheir experience is by learning more about the culture in the country in which they’re going.As you learn about your child’s new home, take note of what your child is excited about. “I was sure to listen to all the positive details, no matter how small!” says Hall.
You could practice making a tortilla españolaor start listening to the music of traditional Austrian brass band and surprise them with your newfound knowledge.
Greenheart staff member Allison Yates’s mom started learning Spanish when she studied abroad in Argentina. “She knew that Spanish was a huge part of my life, so it meant so much that she wanted to learn it too! It helped her feel like she understood my experience more,” says Yates.
Students attending high school abroad in the Netherlands
Educate yourself on what they might be feeling – and how you can help from afar
A great way to get a sense of the mental and emotional experience of studying abroad is by completing the Greenheart Travel Atlas along with your child. This is tool for before, during, and after the cultural exchange experience that includes personal and professional development, cultural understanding and environmental awareness.
For example, if your normally independent child calls you multiple times a day when they first arrive in the country, you’ll remember it’s likely initial culture shock. You can remind them to follow the Greenheart Travel Atlas tools to overcome this stage and focus on meeting new people and spending time with their host family.
Halls says she supported Matilda by “making sure she knew I was there to talk about things, whether they were positive or negative. I tried to give her as much time as I could, but not to have it be open-ended or all the time.”
While your first instinct might be to check in more frequently, increased contact with friends and family back home only exacerbates culture shock.
Rest easy – they’re in good hands
“We had to give up our control and trust in the goodness and professionalism of others. We did our research, chose a great partner in Greenheart, and raised a strong daughter,” says Laura Foster, mother of high school abroad Costa Rica alum, Eleanor.
As parents and former exchange students, Greenheart and our in-country partners know what it’s like to be far from your family, and we work to equip students with the tools they need to succeed.
Maybe it surprised you when your teen brought up the notion of traveling on their own, or perhaps they have talked about it for years. While they are thrilled by the idea of exploring a new country, you might not share the same excitement. We get it, you want to protect your child and make the best decisions for them. However, if it is hard to imagine your child traveling without you, then that’s all the more reason they should go.
This post will address the top concerns from parents who are hesitant to say “yes” to their child’s pleads to study or volunteer abroad.
“I don’t understand why my teen wants to travel.”
Like any of your child’s interests, it’s important to listen to why it’s something they enjoy. Are they passionate about reforestation in Puerto Rico? Do they love Spanish art? Fascinated by the history of pop culture influence in Japan? You do not need to share the same feelings, but taking the time to learn about why your child is interested in other cultures shows that you care about being a part of their life.
“Traveling is expensive.”
You’re right. And so are piano lessons, theatre camp, football equipment, and really any activity that your child gets involved in. It’s just a matter of choosing what takes a priority.
A lot of teens who travel pay for their program themselves by getting a job or fundraising. It builds work ethic, budgeting skills, and doesn’t cost you a thing.
Graham Green sky diving while studying abroad in New Zealand
“But we travel as a family.”
A family vacation can be educational, but it is not the same thing as a cultural immersion experience. Studying or volunteering abroad is not a long-term vacation. Teens learn what normal life is like in another country. A lot of things will feel a lot harder, like communicating with peers or learning cultural practices. These are the parts that feel so rewarding.
Traveling without family allows for that room to grow. Teens are expected to adapt and figure things out for themselves, within a safe and structured environment. Traveling without people they already know is the reason why teens call their time abroad the most influential experience in their life. It’s the first time they really feel independent and capable on their own.
“It’s not safe.”
This is probably the number one concern for parents, and rightly so. You don’t have first-hand experience of the country, and trusting other people with the most important thing in your life, your family, seems insane.
The truth is that even the safest places in the world seem daunting if you are unfamiliar with the area. Traveling through a program provider is so important because the locations have been specifically selected, host families have been vetted, and thousands of other people have done it before you.
“They just saw someone else do it on social media.”
We urge everyone to reflect on the true reasons they want to travel. If you wouldn’t travel without a camera, then maybe you should reevaluate what it is you’re trying to accomplish.
Ask your teen what it is they are looking to get out of the experience. You may be surprised by their thoughtful response. We have found that most travelers are interested in world issues, developing communication skills, or being pushed out of their comfort zones. Our programs are designed with that in mind.
Surf lessons at Teen Summer Language Camp in Costa Rica
“Whatever they want to do abroad they can do here.”
We can only speak for ourselves, but our programs offer excursions and activities that are authentic and specific to the country, like learning how to make stroopwafels in the Netherlands, anime courses in Japan, or elephant conservation research in Sri Lanka.
Even doing the same mundane activities abroad will be a different experience because travelers are interacting locals. This is when people truly grasp the similarities and differences between cultures.
“Going to high school abroad is too much of a time commitment. They will miss out on a lot.”
High schools outside of the US have the same clubs and sports that exchange students are welcome to join. For example, our First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient, Fiona MacDonald joined a local hockey team in Sweden so she could continue her sport while abroad.
Friends will still be here when they return. The time apart will allow your child to develop a sense of who they are as a person independently from their friends by developing leadership skills and core values.
There is so much more to gain from traveling than there is to lose. If your child wants to be an exchange student abroad, then they have most likely already weighed the pros and cons and have decided that missing a trimester, semester, or year is worth it for them.
Tess Wallace Tess with her host mom at the Albacete Half Marathon while studying abroad in Spain
“It will hurt them getting into college.”
This is another very common fear parents have about their child studying abroad. The college application process is more competitive than ever, so doing anything out of the ordinary might seem like it would hurt your child’s chances of getting into their dream school.
Studying abroad makes a college application stand out; it serves as an example of how your teen is not only ready for college but that they will thrive in it. Showcasing the ability to grow in a totally new environment, being self-motivated, and passionate about learning are all things that colleges look for in their students.
“But I will miss them.”
They will miss you too. But they will return feeling accomplished with a newfound appreciation for the world around them. What more can you ask for as a parent?
So, your teen has asked to go abroad, huh? It can be hard to grapple with the common fears: “What if they get lost? Is it safe? What if they want to come home? What if I want them to come home?”
And what makes everything a bit harder is not having another parent who you can talk things through, who can specifically relate to the process. The logistics and paperwork are complicated enough without having another person who knows what it’s like to have their child on the other side of the world.
We think one of the best ways to help prepare you for your child to study abroad is to read about another parent’s perspective. In order to gather and present the first-hand experience, we asked Mary Scott some questions about how she felt before, during, and after sending her daughter, Emmy, abroad.
What were some of your biggest worries about sending Emmy abroad? How did you overcome them?
One of the issues I was worried about was that Emmy would have airline problems, such as a flight being delayed or canceled. This actually happened and when she called us from the airport, we just talked through it, and she figured out what to do. Greenheart’s team kept her calm and helped her schedule a new flight. My husband and I knew then that we had put her in the right hands.
Another worry that I had was that she would miss home too much, or rather that I would miss her not being at home too much. But I knew this was something she had been interested in for two years leading up to her applying. She wanted to have this experience for more than just being able to post pictures of it on Instagram; she wanted to improve her Spanish fluency and learn about another culture, and being immersed is the best way to do that.
What did you feel as a parent during each step of the process (before, during, after the program)? How did you see Emmy grow?
As Emmy is a very motivated person and traveling abroad is something she really wanted to do, I feel like my husband Wes and I just sat back and let her do her thing. She researched Greenheart, read a lot of blogs about other students’ experiences and found out everything that she needed to do (paperwork, etc.) She basically let us know what she needed to do and when and earned money for the trip by selling our maple syrup at farm markets, redeeming cans and bottles, and her part-time job. I know this was a great experience for her as far as making sure she had all her ducks in a row.
While she was abroad, we made sure we weren’t constantly bombarding her with texts and skype calls which at first was difficult. However, we knew she would have a more enriching experience if she wasn’t having to think about us back in Michigan the whole time. We wanted her to be able to completely devote herself to speaking Spanish and learning about her new environment.
Emmy grew in more ways than we couldn’ve imagined. While she was very motivated and independent before, she grew almost tangible confidence from her program. After that summer in Salamanca, she went into her senior year of high school and signed herself up for Spanish classes at a community college nearby and received credit that she could later use for her degree when she went to university. She found a Spanish tutor as well. She did all of this not because she hadn’t learned enough in Spain, but because she found her passion there and wanted to continue her growth.
What was it like traveling with Emmy two years after her program in Spain? How did you see her program affect her life in a positive way?
Oh my gosh! It was so awesome! I’d only been to England, Scotland, and Wales on a tour thirty years earlier and my husband, Wes, has never been overseas, although we’ve traveled many times throughout the U.S as a family. Spain was such a great country. With Emmy being so fluent in Spanish and knowing how to travel from one part of Spain to another, it was a great experience. I was so proud of her conversing with the locals and even being able to help other tourists when we were hiking part of El Camino de Santiago in Galicia. At one point she was able to help a sick woman on the trail find somewhere to stay for the day when she couldn’t speak to any of the hostel owners and they couldn’t speak to her. Emmy handled the situation perfectly!
What advice would you give to other parents who haven’t traveled abroad before?
I don’t know what advice I can give to other parents except to let your child do as much as possible in the planning of his/her cultural exchange program and when a problem comes up, discuss the different ways it can be solved instead of jumping in and telling them what to do. Make sure they have a realistic expectation of how much the trip will cost and how they can contribute to the expense.
What were some ways you supported Emmy while abroad?
We kept in contact with her on Whatsapp. That worked out pretty well. She would send us pictures and small videos, also. She knew she could contact us if she had any concerns so we tried not to bother her too much! When she got homesick (which wasn’t very often) we reminded her that her feelings were valid and suggested that she take a walk or talk with her host family to see if there was anything they could do to make her more comfortable. We also sent her pictures of the dogs to cheer her up!
After years of wanting to spend a semester abroad, on Feb. 4, 2019, our youngest daughter Eleanor, age almost 17, walked onto a jetway, heading to five months in a small town on a Costa Rican volcano.
She’s a young woman who deeply loves her home, Oregon. Its forests, lakes, beaches and mountains are her playground and temple. We treasure her connection to the natural world, and her taking on challenges that move her further and further into it.
And now, at the airport, she’s completing another move, one that has seen us migrate from the center of her world to its periphery, as her friendships and experiences expand.
We are happy for her.
But I must say, watching the back of our girl disappear into a crowd shuffling down a jetway was a hard moment. We turned away from the gate and walked out of the airport with the odd feeling that we’d left something behind. And we did. After 30 years of parenting, we had no child to watch over, plan for, or schedule our days around.
Emotions crashed into each other: fear, excitement, worry, relief, wonder, anticipation, hope.
We had both recently retired. With Eleanor’s sojourn in Costa Rica, it seemed for me a good time to unhitch from ordinary life and think about what I’d do with my next chapter. My husband could live out his days gardening and crabbing, but I was more restless.
After taking care of other family commitments, by late March, he and I were ready to turn back toward each other, and a vacation. We had been hewing to Greenheart’s rules and kept our communications with Eleanor infrequent, although at first there were many logistics to deal with. (She needed a transcript; she needed health insurance info . . . all of which had been provided, but were requested again by the Costa Rican school and in-country partner.) But after a bit, things settled out and she was in her groove.
We’d learned enough to envision what her life was like: her host family, bedroom, school, bus ride, small town. And that was enough. We did not go see her. We wanted to, sort of, but also wanted to stay out of her experience. It was her time.
And it was our time. So on a cold day we packed up the Subaru and drove over snowy Mt. Hood, into our vacation. Our goal: stay off interstates, and explore every town, park, river and canyon that called to us from the maps and Wikipedia. We took a meandering route on blue highways to Big Bend National Park, the only planned destination on a seven-week trip.
Sleeping in the back of the Subaru, biking in a Nevada park under sunset-stained bentonite cliffs, kayaking with sea lions and pelicans off California’s Channel Islands, canoeing through Boquillas Canyon on the Rio Grande, recovering from bad food in an El Paso AirBnB, howling at a full moon with new old friends in Terlingua, Texas . . . for the first time since we began working as pre-teens, we had no one to please but ourselves.
And, after seven weeks on the road, without anyone else to shape and fill up our days, we rediscovered that we really liked being together. Time away from commitments is an amazing elixir for a relationship!
We often thought, “The kids would love this!” We wished, sometimes, that they were young again and we could see their five-year-old selves pop out of a kiva, hike barefoot down a canyon, or snorkel in clear water. But we are old! And getting tired! And the next best thing to seeing your child’s joy in discovery is knowing they’ve gotten it. That love for the world’s wonders is now part of them, and they seek it out, becoming lifelong learners and active participators. On their own, without your showing it to them, they find the joy in the small moments, and respect for the differences of country and culture. They find a passion and purpose.
We knew Eleanor was having an experience in Costa Rica that would inform her choices for the rest of her life.
And we didn’t, we came to realize, need to know all the details. We trusted her. We trusted Greenheart, its in-country partner, and her host family. Throughout the process, not everything proceeded at the pace we would assume it would. But that was our lesson to learn. We had to give up our control and trust in the goodness and professionalism of others. We did our research, chose a great partner in Greenheart, and raised a strong daughter.
Now, in late May, with our trip over, and just a few weeks left before Eleanor returns, we are thankful to Greenheart in helping us write this fulfilling chapter in all our lives.
You can read more work by Laura O. Foster on her blog.
