thanks for having this message board I've never used one before
My daughter is in beautiful Madrid with her spanish class and I am a bit worried due to the war and what we are hearing are anti american feelings what is your sense of the mood and safety. thanks for any help/advice I can pass along to her.

Hi bluemoonfarm. I totally understand your worries. I was on my semester abroad in Madrid during Sept. 11th. To be honest, looking back, I felt and WAS much safer in Spain than in the US at that time, seeing as I went to school in DC. No matter where we travelled that semester, people were nice to us, understanding that people and their government are not the same thing. I know that this is a different time and we are the aggressor in this situation, but I wanted to tell you what my experience had been. The people in Spain are in the same boat as us here in the US, they don't want to be involved, but their leader has involved them, so they completely understand the difference between people themselves, and the government that represents them.

If your daughter is there for a while, it is a good idea for her to go register with the American Embassy, so that if you need her, they can contact her, or if there is a reason for Americans to not be in Spain, they will help her. You can also look there for information.

Embassy of the United States of America
Serrano 75
28006 Madrid, Spain
telephone: 91587- 2200
fax: 91587- 2303
(countries outside of Spain add country code 34)
http://www.embusa.es

I hope that despite all of this, your daughter is having a wonderful time in our favorite city! Let us know how things are going! Besos, Joy

Dear Nervous Parent,
There are many anti-war demostrations as well as anti-american and anti-british protests but these are leveled more at the governments than the individual. There is an estimated 200 american students participating in the protests as well. I believe your child will be fine as long as she respects the views and beliefs of others and is careful of her surroundings. Madrid is a big city and many times reminds me of Washington DC. She is more likely to have her wallet stolen than be attacked by an anti-american demostrator. Most people just want peace.

I think my parents are a lot worse than all of you are. Every time I talk to my dad he asks me when I am coming home. Yesterday he sent me an IM saying I NEED to come home NOW. He had no other reason except the war. I told him I feel safer here and do not want to fly on a plane that says American Airlines. Frankly, I just don't want to leave. I'm sure I would be fine, I just want to stay in Madrid So I am being as stubborn as them. But honestly, I feel safer here than in the US.

bluemoonfarm, I agree with the above sentiments, I feel very safe here as an American here in Madrid and always have

I understand your concerns but please realize that your duaghter will be safer here than back in the U.S.A.

Europeans are intelligent enough to realize that it is not the American people who are war mongers but rather our "fearless" leader

Depending on how long she will be here, you may want to have her get a cell phone so you can contact here immediately when and if you need to.

Saludos,
jer...

Jer,
I love how you talk about how serious you are about the safety here, then you go and pimp your cell phone services! haha. just made me laugh!

Hey sedusa, jejejeje, not really plugging my own services but guess it could look that way. I know that as a mom, there is nothing we can say or do to make bluemoonfarm stop worrying about her little girl so I was just recommending that her daughter get a cell as it is the best way to keep tabs on her cheaply.

But now that you mention it...

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Aaaaahhhhhh, ti's good to be the board admin

Saludos,
jer...

Hey Bluemoonfarm;
Im sure your daughter is having a wonderful time!! Good for here...THis is definatly a trip that will expand her mind and views on the world. I currently work for one of the leading student educational travel companies here in the US. We send literally thousands of students on tour each week throughout the spring and summer, and this year has been no different. While it would be a lie to say that we have not had some cancellations, and some VERY concerned parents and teachers, we have also had many groups go and have absolutely wonderful trips. I recieved an email today, in fact, from a group leader who just got back form a trip with her students to Greece and Turkey( a far seemingly far scarier place than Spain right now)...She said that they were doted on left and right as the local people were so concerned as to mainting their livelyhood in the tourism sector that they wanted to make sure they had their every need met. She said they did not feel the least bit unsafe at any point in their trip. I am not sure which company your daughter is traveling with, but odds are she has a full time professional tour director with her group 24 hours a day. This should also put you at ease as the tour director is undoubtable connected via cell phone to every authority necesary bother there and here, and his/her experience will benefit your duaghter as well. Finally, most travel companies use the US dept. of state as the authority on whether or not it is safe for americans to be in any country. As of right now the us state dpet has NOT issued any such warning for spain. You can check their website out, as knowledge is power and all: www.state.gov. Finally, just to put htings in prospective, the govt of the UK issued a travel warning today that cited the US as area to take caution in. So, really, although im sure it is easier said than done, do trust that your daughter will be ok, and of course, enjoying the trip of her life!

quote:

originally posted by Queensita:
[qb]

If your daughter is there for a while, it is a good idea for her to go register with the American Embassy, so that if you need her, they can contact her, or if there is a reason for Americans to not be in Spain, they will help her. You can also look there for information.
[/qb]

What do you need to register at the embassy? just go there?

Yup just go there with your passport!

Someone started a war? The only war here is against dog-poop and taxi-drivers (both live in the same bucket). :cheers:

The way things are going these days, I'd be more inclined NOT to register. The "Official Warnings" they send out to registered USA citzens lately are a hoot! You'd think Madrid had turned to Baghdad sometimes!