Exchange Student Starved in Egypt

Rissask · 02-29-2008

Check this out...

Exchange Student Starved While in Egypt - AOL News

He was horribly skinny.

I am not sure what to think. Who is to blame?

My first reaction would be first the host family is to blame, IF his version of events is true, of course.

But then it's his fault too. Isn't it? What 17 year old can't tell when they are dangerously underweight? He wanted to 'stick it out'?

**Heather** · 02-29-2008

Yeah, there was something really weird about that story.

Rissask · 02-29-2008

Do you think it's fake? My first reaction was it was, but I can't find anything that says it is.

I wonder if possibly he is anorexic. Boys do get anorexia too...and they lie about it.

makes you go hmmmm anyway.

Tommygurl · 02-29-2008

Me on day 2:

"Uhhh Mom...Hi its me...I am flippin starving. Send me money."

Weird Weird weird story.

Rissask · 02-29-2008

That is another weird thing...no contact was allowed between the parents and students in this exchange program.

So he couldn't call home to them....but they were going to move him and he refused, and he could have gone home at any time I think.

edit: sorry, they don't forbid contact with parents, just discourage it.

Tommygurl · 02-29-2008

Yeah I read that contact with parents was discouraged....but in this day & age of internet & cell phones the second I was hungry & had no food I would have snuck my arse to a phone booth & called home...collect.

Rissask · 02-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommygurl

Yeah I read that contact with parents was discouraged....but in this day & age of internet & cell phones the second I was hungry & had no food I would have snuck my arse to a phone booth & called home...collect.

Oh I agree. Me too!

Very weird.

**Mindbender** · 02-29-2008

He should have been suspicious when he met the father.

**Heather** · 02-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindbender

He should have been suspicious when he met the father.

See, that looks like the mummy, not the daddy.

*groan*

**Mindbender** · 02-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

See, that looks like the mummy, not the daddy.
*groan*

It's hard to tell with the weight loss.

**SunKneeMarie** · 02-29-2008

I personally believe the kid. Different culture, fasting for more than 200 days. He should have been aware, or been made aware, of what that might mean. And to have a teacher recognize that the weight loss was severe enough to recommend he get the heck out of there, well.... I doubt the anorexia, only in that he says he sees that he was losing weight and doesn't seem to be having any issues wanting to put it back on. I would think an anorexic would be in denial about being too thin and would fight to keep the weight off.

roni · 02-29-2008

Shouldn't this be in the Diet and Exercise Accountability thread?

**Susie Q Roo** · 02-29-2008

Do they take 50-yr-old exchange students?

(I know... I am SO bad!)

MaripositaII · 02-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunKneeMarie

I personally believe the kid. Different culture, fasting for more than 200 days. He should have been aware, or been made aware, of what that might mean. And to have a teacher recognize that the weight loss was severe enough to recommend he get the heck out of there, well.... I doubt the anorexia, only in that he says he sees that he was losing weight and doesn't seem to be having any issues wanting to put it back on. I would think an anorexic would be in denial about being too thin and would fight to keep the weight off.

I don't understand why he didn't leave then!

That's what is so weird about this story. Coming back and talking about the family now, and not trying to do something while he was there? Just doesn't make sense.

After I read this:

"He wants to visit Zimbabwe this summer as part of a volunteer program to build homes and trails."

I'm thinking no way in hell I would let him leave the country again

TAPPY · 02-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaripositaII

I don't understand why he didn't leave then!

That's what is so weird about this story. Coming back and talking about the family now, and not trying to do something while he was there? Just doesn't make sense.

After I read this:

"He wants to visit Zimbabwe this summer as part of a volunteer program to build homes and trails."

I'm thinking no way in hell I would let him leave the country again

I agree - something is not right with this story. I mean just go in the freaking kitchen and fix something to eat !!!

02-29-2008	#1 (permalink)
Rissask Brit basher Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 18,162	Exchange Student Starved in Egypt Check this out... Exchange Student Starved While in Egypt - AOL News He was horribly skinny. I am not sure what to think. Who is to blame? My first reaction would be first the host family is to blame, IF his version of events is true, of course. But then it's his fault too. Isn't it? What 17 year old can't tell when they are dangerously underweight? He wanted to 'stick it out'?

02-29-2008	#5 (permalink)
Rissask Brit basher Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 18,162	That is another weird thing...no contact was allowed between the parents and students in this exchange program. So he couldn't call home to them....but they were going to move him and he refused, and he could have gone home at any time I think. edit: sorry, they don't forbid contact with parents, just discourage it. Last edited by Rissask : 02-29-2008 at 03:01 PM.

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02-29-2008	#2 (permalink)
Heather Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 9,035	Yeah, there was something really weird about that story.

02-29-2008	#3 (permalink)
Rissask Brit basher Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 18,162	Do you think it's fake? My first reaction was it was, but I can't find anything that says it is. I wonder if possibly he is anorexic. Boys do get anorexia too...and they lie about it. makes you go hmmmm anyway.

02-29-2008	#4 (permalink)
Tommygurl crab killer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: I am Canadian!! Posts: 14,126	Me on day 2: "Uhhh Mom...Hi its me...I am flippin starving. Send me money." Weird Weird weird story.

02-29-2008	#6 (permalink)
Tommygurl crab killer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: I am Canadian!! Posts: 14,126	Yeah I read that contact with parents was discouraged....but in this day & age of internet & cell phones the second I was hungry & had no food I would have snuck my arse to a phone booth & called home...collect.

02-29-2008	#8 (permalink)
Mindbender Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 3,084	He should have been suspicious when he met the father.

02-29-2008	#11 (permalink)
SunKneeMarie character encapsulator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 26,153	I personally believe the kid. Different culture, fasting for more than 200 days. He should have been aware, or been made aware, of what that might mean. And to have a teacher recognize that the weight loss was severe enough to recommend he get the heck out of there, well.... I doubt the anorexia, only in that he says he sees that he was losing weight and doesn't seem to be having any issues wanting to put it back on. I would think an anorexic would be in denial about being too thin and would fight to keep the weight off.

02-29-2008	#12 (permalink)
roni Happy Curmudgeon Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 24,990	Shouldn't this be in the Diet and Exercise Accountability thread?

02-29-2008	#13 (permalink)
Susie Q Roo paradisiac Join Date: May 2003 Location: Q Roo Posts: 10,507	Do they take 50-yr-old exchange students? (I know... I am SO bad!)

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