semtatty- i’m sorry if i hurt you, i did’t mean it! I am glad to hear that your daughter is not like the girl I described. I don’t know about all sems but mine and those of my high school friends offered three meals a day and did not take us to poland. I don’t know which sem your daghter is planning on going to. But maybe that sem does need to realize that the parent’s pockets are not bottomless. When we had to dish out money certain times during the year wheather it be chanukah or something else, many girls did not pay and were understood. I guess it depends on which sem. I’m sorry if I jumped on you. I don’t want you to get the wrong picture that my parents are drowning in money either. My father is in chinuch supporting four married kollel children. I also agree that sending girls to sem used to be cheaper and the tuition goes up extreeeeeeeeeeeeeemly fast without rachmanus. However,sem is an experience which I think should not be missed. Forget about shidduchim for a second, sem in Eretz Yisroel is like no other experience in a girl’s life. I don’t think that can be explained.
Tzippi- I mean specifically in Eretz Yisroel because every girl needs a sem year to learn more and also certain things that you can only gain in sem. Also the structure and age like you said. It’s amazing how we were so open to hear things that we were not open to hear in high school. Girls really change including myself. There are certain girls that if you give them the free rein of being by themselves in Eretz Yisroel it can be very very very dangerous for them ruchniusly. The hanging out there is horrible. Therefore, every parent needs to know his or her own child. Sem in Eretz Yisroel is definitly not for everyone. I am not one of those girls who came back in the clouds saying that EVERYONE MUST GO TO SEM IN ERETZ YISROEL. Now out of town can be very difficult. I’m not just saying it stam because if my name wouldn’t be postsemgirl it would be proud out of towner!!!!!! I don’t really have an eitza for you maybe go to NY or Cleveland. This is not the only problem. Believe me I know about it. Jus hold your head high because out of towners are the best! (not to insult the in towners)