Daughter on Student Exchange

[helenduyvestyn]

My daughter is going on a student exchange to Tunisia next year for a whole year. I'm a little nervous about her going, and have lots of questions regarding what things will make her life easier once she is there. We do not know what area she is going to yet. She has blonde hair - and it has been suggested that she is likely to be 'hassled' because of that. We would also like to know what phone company to go with (do we use a 'sim' card phone?), what other things does she need to learn about the culture (do's & don'ts), and is it worth her bringing a laptop? What will be the best way for us to communicate to each other? Any advice would be really really appreciated!!!

[candikisses]

that'll be a great experiance wish i could do that!
tunisians are v friendly she b fine nwell looked after nhave a great time.
on the phone thing i think it would be best for her 2 buy a tunisian sim card when she get there as shes spendin such a long time there, as if ur from uk and called her from uk to her uk sim they would charge u both for call which gets expencive!
if she gets a tunisian sim card u can call her usin one of the numbers on the previous topic of calls 2 tunisia i think the cheapest now weve found between us is 9p per min

hope this is some use and she that she has a great time
x

[Kris]

I am sure she will be fine however Tunisian boys do like blond girls so if she intends to go out she will get chatted up (as would a Tunisan girl) so best to stick with friends if she feels unconfident.

Tunisia is very very safe however she needs to be as she would in any other new place. If she takes her laptop she can get a 5 dinar internet card from the "taxiphone" shops and this will allow her to webcam you via msn if you like.

[helenduyvestyn]

Thank you both for your info. Did I mention she will be only 16?! And we are from NZ - so a long way from home. I have heard that at times MSN/Hotmail and other popular chat sites are often blocked - so was wondering about the best way to ensure that we can have regular e-mail. The web cam is great and I'll persue that also. Someone has suggested to me that she dye her hair a bit darker -I'm not sure if that is going a bit over the top - or if that will save her the extra attention at least until she gets used to living there and how to fend off the boys! I also would like to know the dress code - I understand that 3/4 pants is recommended, rather than shorts, and short sleeved tops rather than singlet type. She will of course be living with a Tunisian family, so we would like to fit in as much as possible. Thanks in advance! Helen

[Kris]

I use msn and skype all the time to chat with my wife when she is over there so no problems there.

As for making her hair darker that is wayy over the top if she feels she is looked at maybe she might want to wair a headscarf (pirate style) but to be fair even this is worrying over the top.

I agree with the dressing up modestly below elbow and below knees but rest assured her Tunisian host family will look after her in all respects.

[Mak]

Hi Everybody,

I've been studying in Tunisia for more than 18 years ... i got my master in tunisia .. i know the tunisian schools and universities ... i know how people think etcc ...

Let me tell you that you daughter is going to have the attention and the admiration of everybody in the school where she'll be studying ... and don't worry about anything because you don't have too for a simple reason the country is too save overthere ... and Tunisian people are familiar with "strangers" ... just in a strange country behave and show respect to its culture etcc and you will be more than welcome and very well treated ...

But never worry ... she gonna have a nice time and a good experience in her life ... Lucky girl !!!

Rgds
Makrem

[helenduyvestyn]

Thank you all so much for your replies. It really helps us to relax and feel OK about her going over there! Very pleased I found this website. Thank you!!!

[Nawel]

Hi there

I am a english born tunisian woman and i can understand that you are worried about your daughter, any mother would be. Your daughter is going to be nervous but the best way forward is to encourage her and she will be fine. Tunisian people are very kind and will go out of their way to help her. She just has to be sensible. Tunisian men can be very charming so she just needs to have a mature head on her shoulders. She will get lots of attention but so does every girl or woman, tunisian or not.

Do get her to have a tunisian SIM card, very easy to purchase and that way you can ring her even if she runs out of credit. Internet access is very good too.

I hope she enjoys herself she is going to love it!

Nawel

[helenduyvestyn]

Thank you, it is very nice to have a perpective from a woman! I will make sure that she gets a Tunisian SIM card when she arrives there. She is a very mature young lady, but may not be used to such attention from the boys!

[sinda]

Where is your daughter going? In coastal areas they are used to foreigners but if she is in a more rural area she should be aware that what to her is normal friendly behaviour towards the opposite *** could be misinterpreted by others as something more like flirting. In these areas it is very rare that men and woman are friends and unfortunatley foreign women have a reputation of being 'easy' in comparison with Tunisian woman. As a single woman it is better to avoid physical contact with males and stay polite but slightly reserved and she will never have any problems. On the contrary the people are fabulously welcoming. Again, this is not less the case in Tunis, Hammamet or Sousse as the people are less traditional and more modern in their thinking. I live here and have never in 12 years have a single unpleasant encounter with men - taxi drivers, colleagues whatever. But I am much less forthcoming with men here than I would be in the UK. Tunisia is wonderful and the people are extremely kind but you have to respect the way other culture's see the world.

Originally Posted by helenduyvestyn

My daughter is going on a student exchange to Tunisia next year for a whole year. I'm a little nervous about her going, and have lots of questions regarding what things will make her life easier once she is there. We do not know what area she is going to yet. She has blonde hair - and it has been suggested that she is likely to be 'hassled' because of that. We would also like to know what phone company to go with (do we use a 'sim' card phone?), what other things does she need to learn about the culture (do's & don'ts), and is it worth her bringing a laptop? What will be the best way for us to communicate to each other? Any advice would be really really appreciated!!!