Trip to London, should I?- Page 2

[starletta8]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:13am

GO!!!

The months I spent studying in London were by far the best of my life. I'd be there now if I could.

Notting Hill is a great area of town, too.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:18am

It's such a hard fight. That sounds exactly like my mom but...I'd feel so bad I'd end up not going.

I'll be 22 this year and for all my life, I've never really done anything 'big' to dissapoint them. I've wanted to do things, even small things, but if they (my parents) said no or even intimated it, I wouldn't do it. Of course it would probably eventually blow over but the guilt I would have wouldn't allow me to enjoy the experience.

I know I won't have them forever so, for the time I do have- I want to listen to them and make them happy. I know it's my life and I shouldn't always go with what they want- but, in the end, I (personally) wouldn't enjoy it without their permission and I'd feel bad for not listening to them.

I know I rely on my parents too much and perhaps listening to them in what I should or shouldn't do inhibits me from having fun.

Sorry- I just realized I brought a whole other story in. Anyway- it seems to me that money may be part of the issue. If that is the case, I'd rethink it. If it's not part of the issue and you really are hot to trot to go, talk to you parents- ask them what their worries and fears are and try to rationally discuss it. Make sure you tell them that you appreciate them caring for you but you feel that now that you're almost 21, you need to let go and, you feel that they need to let go. Kinda like- "I'll always be you're little girl but, I'm grown up now- I need to start making my own choices."

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:26am

SweetQ-- that's exactly how I feel. I go to school near DC and even last night I went to the city and back before it even got dark and my dad flipped. I'm going Saturday to see RENT at 1 pm and he's horrified. I'm their little girl and when my older sister messed up they turned to me to fix their imperfect world and placed high standards for my life. I was the first in my family to go to college, I'm the first to really accomplish anything. But at the same time I feel like this is unfair to me. Here I am in what should be the best time of my life and I have to ask permission to go to DC alone or to NYC for the day when I live three hours from home now.
It's not a question of money. Like my mom says, it's my money, i earned it, i can do whatever I choose. I think it's more of saftey and maybe a tang of jealousy that I can do trips like these (going to dc every weekend for plays and art shows) and she is stuck in a small town with virtually no money because she puts be through college. I just don't want to regret doing this, but at the same time I want to make them happy and not disappoint them

[Millie42]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:06am

To me, in kind of seems like you *think* you have to ask permission to go to DC, etc. If you are 3 hours away from home, there is no way they can stop you. I'm not saying you should defiantly go against your parents...you just need to slowly exert some independence. I've seen similar problems with my friends in the past. Don't flaunt going against their wishes, just naturally make your own decisions.

I think your deciding factor for London is money. I certainly don't regret the money I spent when I lived there. It will be a worthwhile trip, you just need to make sure that it is not going to create problems in the future.

Also, don't believe that you won't be able to travel after graduation. Paying off loans are not fun, but manageable. It's all an issue of management. If you are invested in traveling, then you will sort your priorities and find a way.

[pemberlee]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:26am

Go to London! (If you can afford it). I'm studying there next semester and cannot wait!!!! My school's flats (ha, flats!( are in Kensington.

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 11:06am

Going to London was one of the greatest experiences of my life. GO!!!

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 11:14am

london is one of the great places on earth but it is ridiculously expensive. do some research for student rates and stuff on the cheap.
take it from sondheim --MAMMA'S GOTTA LET GO!

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:15pm

WP - take it from someone who for the longest time tried 'not to disappoint' his parents: when you get older, you are going to wish you had disappointed your parents a little. I was always the good boy that did what he was told. And honestly, I regret it a little bit. My friends who challenged their parents had a lot more fun than I did.

They'll survive. And you'll live your life.

There will be other opportunities for you to go to Europe. But only once are you 21, carefree, with few responsibilities other than college. Soon enough your vacation time will be limited by a work schedule, a family, a mortgage. You'll want to travel less frugally.

When I was 20 I went to Europe by myself, paid for it myself, and it was the most excellent experience in my life.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 2:24pm

I could just imagine her (orginal poster) showing her parents this thread.

"You're listening to these d*mb stupid people who you don't know!?! They could be killers for all you know!!!"

Well, that would be my mom's reaction at least.

[BrianWilsonFan]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 3:09pm

Well, i enjoyed the argument and the counter argument but you seem to know the answer for yourself: - )

In my opinion the timeline is a tad on the fine side. If you are here for three full days and one of those days is a day trip to Bath (gorgeous city) that's only giving you two full days in London, is that going to be enough, realistically? I'm a fan of the big adventure but why don't you wait a while longer and travel for a week at least when the funds permit and the weather is a tad more clement.

I can't let this one slip by, you know what you heard in your Mothers voice? Where are my coloured lights!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 3:57pm

"I'm their little girl and when my older sister messed up they turned to me to fix their imperfect world and placed high standards for my life."


and THAT'S the real issue! So you have choice, find some cajones and GO.......or remain the dutiful daughter.......which you'll tire of about 25 and then wonder WHY you wasted the years, and that trip.

[MistressoftheHouse]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:06pm

Ok, I very quickly skimmed this thread because I got really excited. GO TO LONDON! You'll love it. I also believe it's better to do these things while you're younger. Sure, it sounds good to wait until you have money, but then you have a full time job, possibly husband and/or kids, things to tie you down. Many times, if people don't travel in their youth, they don't get to later in life.

As for your parents, believe me, I've been fighting the same thing. Although if this is disappointing them, at least it's improving yourself culturally. You could be disappointing them by doing much, much worse of things. Traveling, seeing shows and learning about other cultures is not that bad.

Also, a friend said this to me once, and unfortunately it's true: "You're going to disappoint your parents sooner or later, so you might as well do it now." They're not going to agree with everything you do and it's really better to get that first time of going against them out of the way early so you can continue on to make your own decisions. Do it responsibly and if all goes well, they'll respect you for it when they see what a great, independent adult they have raised.

And finally, enjoy London!!! It's fantastic, I'm jealous of you already, lol.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:28pm

The first time I was in London, I was there for a weekend. It was a spur of the moment weekend trip (I worked for a travel agency, back when travel agents got free tickets) and I had a blast!

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:38pm

GO!!!!!!! The week I spent in London was the best week of my life. My brother was studying there for a semester and he's only 19 and my parents let him do it. My parents let me go visit him BY MYSELF and I'm only 17 (I was 16 at the time) It is an amazing experience that you do NOT want to pass up. You're 21 you should be able to decide what you want to do. You're not going to be calling your parents when your 40 saying "I want to go on a trip is that ok?" You're an adult. Just go!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:43pm

I say go for it because I think that everyone should be able to experience going to Europe. On the other hand, maybe you could look at options that would appease your parents and/or allow you a longer stay. Are you in college? Is it possible to look at study abroad programs or foreign exchanges? I spent five weeks in Europe last summer on a study abroad trip, and the total cost with course credit and all expenses was about $6000, part of which was covered by financial aid.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:45pm

I have been to London many times. My advice is: Go early, go often. Go, Go, Go!!!

So many wonderful things to see and do. Don't put the experience off until later. Go now!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:50pm

Preview
Covent Garden

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 10:44pm

Not to be a wet blanket, but I've only skimmed this thread and I'm wondering - I know you live with your parents still. Do they pay your tuition or other expenses as well? As much as I love Europe (and everyone who knows me knows I enjoy blowing my money on food and travel at every opportunity - and I've also had conflicts with "disappointing my parents" over this), you also have to consider that if this $1700 is going to your trip instead of your tuition, and your parents will have to fork over whatever you can't pay so you can go to school, it's not fair to them. If it's your money and you're financially independent, absolutely get on the next plane and have a BALL in Notting Hill (I highly recommend the Portobello Market in that neighbourhood!). If it's your money but you're relying on them to cover expenses you "can't afford", you might want to reconsider the additional burden you're putting on them.

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 12:03am

After spending more time rationally thinking about I decided not to go. I'm going to take it in baby steps. I'm going to go on a trip to NYC on my own for a weekend in September and gradually work up from there. I would be horribly lonely going alone.
I'm also a Tourism and Events Management major so traveling should be a daily job for me anyways. Thank you to everyone who helped me by giving advice. All that you guys said was taken to heart.

[Millie42]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 12:35am

That sounds good... you know what is best for you.
NYC will be fun! (I didn't realize you would have been going on your own to London.)

You will have plenty of opportunities to travel abroad if you make it a priority!

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 12:38am

It should be fun. I'm going to travel by train for the first time, stay in a nice and affordable hotel (Chelsea Star Hotel). I'm also trying to get wicked tickets and I'm going to the flea market that sunday. It's only for 3 days and two nights. I have to be back by Monday evening for Tuesday classes in the morning

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 10:56am

chickened out, huh? Mom and Dad won? Sorry, I have to make these comments..... but you just started living someone elses life...theirs.

I hope you find yours one day and never look back and say "I wish I had....."

and as to the traveling alone comment.........I've meet some fascinating people when I travel alone, especially in Europe.....

but anyway have fun in nyc