[msyorktown]

I can totally relate....I so understand your fear. Against mommys' wishes, my then 17year old decided he was going to school in Iowa....from Whitby, Ontario, that is 17hrs, by car away! I had all kinds of images running through my head....not meaning to offend anyone, but the biggest was, 'do they even have black folks in Iowa'....I'm telling you the fear of that was eating me alive. He lasted a year...never got to do what he set out to do....he went down bc it was his dream to play basketball in the U.S. Well the coach had an issue with him for whatever reason (sorry but I smelled some serious racism)....he was benched the entire season..he and the only other black Canadian student that went down....being 17hrs away didn't really help, there was nothing I could do. Both students came home, he wound up at the University of Windsor actually playing basketball, for the Lancers, no less! He is now 21 and home in Whitby attending his last two years at the college level. Yup mom can rest easy now. Those three years he spent away from home, allowed him to take responsibility for himself, as mom was too far away to help...my baby boy is all growed up now at 21 years old.

I had to learn to let him go and be his own man and follow his dreams (even though his dream never came true).
What a wonderful opportunity for your daughter....I'm a grown woman, how I wish I could go on a trip like that! She will have a great time, and will be back before you know it!
Godspeed to your daughter and a glass of wine and ((HUGGZZ)) and some Kleenex for you.