Y
ou expect your kid to come back from an exchange program more culturally enlightened, more proficient in a foreign language, perhaps more informed about the critical issues facing different countries around the world.
You don't expect him to come back an emaciated skeleton.
Jonathan McCullum, a 17-year-old from Maine, left for a year in Egypt weighing a healthy 155 lbs. In just four months, he dropped 60 lbs.
McCullum was hosted by a family of Coptic Christians, who fast more than 200 days a year - something (duh!) McCullum's parents should have been told before his placement. When the host family did provide food, it amounted to little more than a cucumber and cheese sandwich or a bowl of beans and vegetables.
McCullum wanted to stay the full year, but his parents were alerted to the problem by a teacher, who emailed that their son was "in bad shape" and "really, really NEEDS to go home." Which turned out to be something of an understatement. McCullum, at risk of a heart attack, had to be hospitalized for nearly two weeks. He is now recovering at home.
The father of the host family denied accusations he starved McCullum, claiming the boy made it up so his parents would be refunded the money they paid the organization American Field Service (AFS) to participate in the exchange program. He added that the boy was so active, "The amount of food he ate at each meal was equal to six people."
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I suspect this picture might be worth many thousands to the McCullum family, should they decide to sue the AFS. I mean, come on. Is there any doubt which side is telling the truth?
