Skiing in the Alps

ViolaLass

My word, why would you even THINK of not letting her go?!

Yes, she might have an accident. She might also get hit by a bus tomorrow - accidents can happen anywhere. Health services are just as good in France as here.

It's a bargain.

She'll probably love it, it will develop her independence, show her a bit of the world etc

And if she doesn't go, please can I?

pipkin71

olias wrote: »

OP, time to let go of the apron strings - she will have a ball, have trained instructors, teachers acting in loco parentis, ski patrol, medical centres on site, etc etc etc. Cliche I know, but she's more likely to get hurt crossing the road!

Olias

There hasn't been much of any apron strings for a long time as my daughter is very independent - for the last few years she has been travelling to another town an hour away by train, for Japanese lessons, other towns to meet with friends, going to concerts, etc. She is contemplating going to Southampton soon and off to Cornwall to go surfing in July - I think it has a lot to do with distance why I feel worried about France, however, I have taken everyone's comments on board and she is paying the deposit today.

It is going to be a very nerve-wracking week for me, when she goes but I do want her to experience as much as she can, while she can.

pipkin71

gingin wrote: »

Pipkin, it's not skiing but my son has gone on his first overseas school trip on his own this weekend, he's doing things that he's not used to and I imagined that he could potentially get into difficulties. I was sick with worry on Thursday, I imagined all sorts of ridiculous moments in my head.

As I type he is currently in the place that I was most worried about but I have this super calm about me and am enjoying my lovely, quiet weekend. No news is good news and I know I got myself into a right tizz that somehow seemed to disappear once he had gone. It makes no logical sense but somehow I think it's the build up that is the worst.

I hope your son has had a fantastic weekend.

Agree with you that it makes no logical sense.

I will be back here the day she goes, looking for hand-holding whilst she is away

pipkin71

Spendless wrote: »

Awww it's a great experience for her. I can understand your worry that's only natural especially if it's the first experience you have of your child doing something like this.
As long as it's not cheap cos they are cutting costs by compromising on safety (which it doesn't sound like anyway). It's a fantastic price, The ski trip offered by my son's school is nearly £900. :eek:
She should have a fab time. :beer:

For the 10 chldren, it's costing over £9,500, which sounds similar to the trip offered by your son's school. It's just the contribution by the parents - £250 per child, which is fantastically cheap

This is the first time one of my girls will have gone abroad without me, although they have gone away without me in this country, before now.

pipkin71

bestpud wrote: »

Who is taking them? Do you know/trust them?

I fully understand why you are worried but it will be fabulous for her.

She is excited already

It is with her young carer's group. They have done the trip before but she was too young then. I do trust them - they take them on lots of outings and trips.

It would be easier if I wasn't so nervous about it, though

Peanut2013 wrote: »

Pipkin, it's such an amazing deal you have to!

I'm biased as I'm a dry slope ski instructor and would love more chances to get out on snow. However I started going on school trips at about 12/13 and it was great fun!

Every day you go to breakfast all together, then off to the lifts to meet your instructor. Stay with the instructor all day (take a packed lunch up the mountain and have a snow picnic) and then get dropped back at the bottom of the lifts at about 4ish. Teachers take us back to the chalet / hotel where we have time to shower and get changed and dinner about 7ish. All eat together and then normally allowed to hang around in the bar area (play board games / card games). Some nights the teachers would take us bumboarding or something similar then back to bed!

I LOVED IT! Wish I still had the chance now to go away so cheaply (we used to pay around £500, I'd never get a holiday at this price now!). Hmmm maybe I need to get more friendly with some of the schools I teach and get them to take me Lol

Pipkin if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. As I said I teach dry slopes, but know lots of snow instructors / chalet hosts who run these kind of trips every year for the entire season

Thank you for this.

Bumboarding was mentioned in the information sheet - and a disco.

Do you think my daughter should get some snow skiing experience before she goes? She is very competent on the dry slopes as she has been having lessons for a few years.

ViolaLass

pipkin71 wrote: »

Do you think my daughter should get some snow skiing experience before she goes? She is very competent on the dry slopes as she has been having lessons for a few years.

I'd say it was nice but not vital. When I went on my school trip, I'd never even put a pair of skis on before but I still had a whale of a time.

By the way, if she's having Japanese lessons, are you mentally prepared for when she wants to visit Japan?

pipkin71

ViolaLass wrote: »

I'd say it was nice but not vital. When I went on my school trip, I'd never even put a pair of skis on before but I still had a whale of a time.

By the way, if she's having Japanese lessons, are you mentally prepared for when she wants to visit Japan?

She wants to live there, along with her sister, when they are older.

I will probably cry for a couple of days, then pick myself up and carry on

As parents, our job is to raise them as independent adults, going off to live a life of their choosing and that's what I want for both girls.

She doesn't want to stay in this country so I know she will spread her wings. I will still worry though

olias

Skiing is good in Japan too! :D

- as far as lessons go, it depends on the ability of the others going. No point your daughter being way ahead of them if they are complete novices, as she is not going to want to leave them and go off up the mountain on her own. If however, they are all very experienced, then she may want to try and get up to speed with a few trips to a snowdome as she will be frustrated if she is left behind.

Olias

ViolaLass

pipkin71 wrote: »

As parents, our job is to raise them as independent adults, going off to live a life of their choosing and that's what I want for both girls.

That doesn't quite match your first post but I'll let you off since it seems you're letting her go after all.

MrsE_2

I've been skiing in France, I'm NOT a huge fan, but hey I like hot sunny beaches with warm calm seas :-)

For £250.00 its a great experience.

Don't worry about her 99% chance nothing at all will happen & she could quite as easily get run over tomorrow here in the UK. If anything did happen she will have better medical treatment as a tourist using private medical treatment than in the UK under the NHS......