People to People Student Ambassador program

» blondeandbluei - Re: Re: Re: People to People Student Ambassadors

In response to Re: Re: People to People Student Ambassadors posted by c3kb:

I highly encourage those of you that have received the letters to attend the presentation. I also received a letter "out of the blue" and nearly threw it away. I attended the presentation meeting and was blown away. They brought up last year's delegation for our area and asked them to speak (very briefly) about their experience. I watched kids of all ages talk about what they had learned and all the wonderful things they were able to experience. Then I listened to their parents...not one of them had anything negative to say and ALL of them were amazed at the positive changes in their child(ren).

I am a single Mom footing the nearly $5000 bill for the Australia trip. I have asked for donations from family and friends, asked for donations from the company I currently work for and those I have worked for in the past. My daughter and I are encouraging friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to donate their recyclables for her "spending money" while she is there.

Let me tell you that I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of sending my small child off to a foreign country...without me AND with a bunch of strangers. They help alleviate this concern by requiring attendance (by parent and child) to a monthly meeting upon the child's acceptance into the program (they have to interview and get accepted...there IS a possibility they might NOT get accepted). You discuss EVERYTHING at these meetings, you get to know the other parents and you can ask questions.

Although "certified teacher" may not hold water for most of us, I can tell you that most of the delegate leaders have been doing this for years. They are thoroughly screened and checked out (above and beyond what they do for teachers) and you can tell they love what they do and they love working with the kids.

The money is huge! But it covers everything...transportation (plane, bus, taxi, train), lodging and meals and all the programs they get to participate in while at their destination. The only extras I have been told I will incur are: Passport (if your child isn't going out of the country or if your child already has one...not an issue); spending money (for special treats, souveniers, anything extra they want while there); phone card (although their itinerary is so full, there is limited time to call home).

We have been assured each and every time we're all together, that our children will never, EVER be without adult supervision and they make it a point to find out EVERYTHING about your child (special needs, allergies, medications, etc.) and to take care of it.

Ultimately, it is up to you, as the parent, to decide if your child is mature (emotionally & mentally) enough to handle this sort of trip. After meeting my delegate leaders and reading about the program and learning more...I have NO hesitation to send her and can't wait for her to go, experience this and come home to tell me all about it. It's something I wouldn't be able to provide on my own...that's for sure.

-- posted by blondeandbluei

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» ptpmom - Re: Re: Re: Re: People to People Student Ambassadors

In response to Re: Re: Re: People to People Student Ambassadors posted by blondeandbluei:

I was also reluctant about PTP when we got the notice but we also went to a presentation that blondeandbluei spoke of and decided if my daughter helped raise the money, continued to do well in school and showed she could be an ambassador we would send her.

I too was nervous about sending her overseas by herself but thanks to the mandatory meetings she's made friends, learned what she needs to know when she goes over and has gotten to know the team leaders. I'm much more secure with her going over there now then when I first heard the 'sales pitch'.

Am I still somewhat nervous about her upcoming trip? Sure, I'm her mom [g]. But she'll be 13 and I realize she's not a baby anymore. And although some people complain about the cost it really is affordable when you consider everything they cover (which blondeandbluei pointed out). Airfare alone to Australia is anywhere from $1100-1900 last time I checked. A hotel for 20 days would run you just as much if not more. Daily meals they cover is easily another $1000 not to mention all the activities they do in the tour and transportation to get there. In other words, PTP isn't making money hand over fist from students and their families. In fact, if we tried to take this very same vacation as a family of three it would cost us a minimum of $20,000!

When my daughter was very young, she had a documentary video about the Great Barrier Reef that she loved. We watched it over and over and over again.[g] She talked about how she wanted to go there someday. Although I knew as a family we could never afford to go I never discouraged her. Instead, I always said maybe someday she would.

Well..this summer she will.[g]

Already an avid swimmer, she'll swim in those beautiful waters, up close and personal.[g] Yes, I know there are sharks there. But I also know there are snakes in our lake waters that could hurt or kill her too. Point is, there is danger anywhere you go in this crazy world.

My husband and I view this as our chance to let our daughter see a part of the world that she might otherwise miss. It will give her the chance to be on her own and be dependant on herself. Most important, I think it will show her that we trust her to make the right judgments and as a result she'll continue that trend as she gets older, even when peer pressure rears its ugly head. At least I hope so [g].

With all the dangers that face her here at home we know anything can happen in the US the same as in Australia. With that said, we decided we shouldn't let distance be a factor when considering whether to send her or not. Yes, it’s halfway around the world but, if need be, planes fly there everyday so I could get there. But in all honesty I foresee her having a wonderful experience that she'll keep with her for the rest of her life. She's already a wonderful person in my biased opinion [g] but this experience will make her richer spiritually and emotionally and for that…it's worth the $5000.

Once my daughter goes (and I chew my nails for 20 days waiting for her to come home[g]) I'll be sure to make a post here about her experience for everyone to see. If anyone has questions I'll be happy to answer based on my experience so far at mailto:moo71@hotmail.com

-- posted by ptpmom

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» ImaGuide - People2People Australia

Hi All
I'm currently working as a guide for People to People in Australia. I think it's an excellent opportunity for the children!
They get to do some amazing things - the great barrier reef, the rainforest, they even get to feed wild dolphins!
We undergo a lot of training, and are really really careful about medical conditions and allergies.
If anyone does have any questions feel free to ask - i am just a delegation manager though, not an official avenue!

-- posted by ImaGuide

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» yahtzee90210 - Re: People2People Australia

In response to People2People Australia posted by ImaGuide:

How much does the 2006 Student Ambassador Program to Australia cost?

-- posted by yahtzee90210

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» Sissygirl - People to People

We received a letter yesterday in regards to our child receiving an invitation to attend. They are so vague in the letter, I didn't know if it were legitimate or not. They don't tell you where the first meeting will take place, they do not give you someone in your local area that you can speak too, and they do not tell you how your child became eligible. I called the school and asked if they knew anything about this. The Principal said she hadn't ever heard of this program and they did not recommend my child for this. She said to throw the letter away. So if this is such a big deal, why wouldn't the schools know anything about this? How can I find out who gave them my child's name?

-- posted by Sissygirl

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» ptpmom - PTP Part II

In response to Sissygirl not everyone knows about PTP because usually only children are recommended by someone or they are good students who get invited. You can learn more about them at http://www.studentambassadors.org/

Now as promised here's the report on my daughters trip:

Personally, my daughter loved the trip to Australia but it is pricy - $5000. But in that 5K it covered three meals a day, hotel stays, activities and airfare. If we tried to take this vacation as a family the plane fare alone would be around 6K.

Her only real complaint was the trip there and the lack of American food.

We're in Michigan so she had 5 hours to L.A., a three hour layover and then 15 hours to Australia. So she spent nearly a day of the trip just getting there. Other than that she enjoyed the time she spent and I think she has a greater appreciation for being here in the U.S.

As for the food she's not much into eggs for breakfast, which is what they served. Dinner was mostly hamburger like patties. She liked them the first week but after that she said it got old.

Her favorite part was the home stay where she and another deligate stayed for two days. All the kids stay with one or two members and the host family so they are never alone and the advisors check on them with a secret word in case they feel uneasy about being there for any reason.

So if we had it all to do over again I would definately send her. She's making plans for another trip somewhere (but closer she says) and like last time she'll do some fundraising to off-set the costs.

If anyone has any questions they can e-mail me again at moo71@hotmail.com for more information.

-- posted by ptpmom

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» dadofthree - Cost of program

Be careful with these folks. My brother made his initial payment on a trip for his daughter. He couldn't get cooperation from his ex-wife for the logistics of the trip and he could not follow through with the trip. The Ambassador Program kept his $ 1,000. They wouldn't even permit him to roll it into a trip in the following season. That just didn't seem fair to me.

-- posted by dadofthree

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» cmacphail - Re: People to People

In response to People to People posted by Sissygirl:

My 13 year old daughter just got back from a 20 day European trip with with People to People.

They take a HUGE number of students abroad every year and somehow bring the same number back. Their organization is highly professional. We will probably send her or her sister on another P2P trip in a couple of years.

My only negative is, they lay it on very thick about how you've been selected, and you should be honored. What has actually happened is, someone you know became a part of their viral marketing machine. Their marketing was so polished at the initial info meeting that I almost needed a barf bag. We almost bailed.

The truth is, if your son or daughter has a pulse and is not a felon, they are happy to have your $5600. We were "invited" after we called the office and said we were interested.

They continue with this stuff, much of which involves incredibly clever marketing. After returning, it is suggested that you write a press release to your local paper about your daughter's travels with P2P!

Anyway, this is all just a flaw.

Bottom line: It's very well organized student travel with lots of repeat customers.

-- posted by cmacphail

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» suzannekimberly - Re: Re: People to People

In response to Re: People to People posted by cmacphail:

I too got a letter today actually. And we too were very excited and skeptical. I work in a Marketing and sales department so of course my first concern is that its a scam. Secondly, I a part of me wants my daughter to be able to go because of the educational aspect, however she is only 10 years old. And the idea of her traveling by herself to Europe after the bombs they have had recently over there with their public transportation is frightening. And then third there is the cost. I guess what I want to know is would sending our children at this day and time be really safe? And how to raise that much money to those who have sent their kids. I am a single mom of 3 so this would be difficult. Also how much is the down payment and when do you have to have it? Thanks to all who reply in advance.

-- posted by suzannekimberly

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» beanzel67 - People to People

My 11 year old daughter just received a letter with an invitation to travel to the UK and Ireland. I wonder how many of these letters are mass generated? What raised a red flag to me is the broad statement that she had been recommended by a teacher, a former student ambassador, or national academic listing. If it is such an honor, why all the vagueness? Pessimism can be a down fall for me, but in this instance, I am thankful for the extra bit of skepticism. We will attend the information meeting and see just how up and up this is. I am an information guru and I just find it hard to believe that I have never heard of this program.

-- posted by beanzel67

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