Worrying about Cheng

Although, I only got to meet with my conversation partner twice I did have the chance to learn a lot from him.  However, I was thinking about this today because he was done with classes on Friday.  He told me that he is going to Costa Rica and New York for the holidays.  My first reaction to this was that I was sad that he didn't get to go home and see his family for the holidays.  Then my second reaction was "wait...where in Costa Rica?" 

Over the summer, my family and I went on vacation to Costa Rica.  The area where we stayed was nice and for the most part pretty safe.  However, in the main city where the airport is there is a lot of crime.  People go around slashing the wheels of cars and making the drivers pool over and then robbing them.  Scary stuff to say the least! 

So when I asked him where he was going he told me that he was going to San Jose....and this is why I'm worried about him.  San Jose is the city I was talking about above.  I didn't know what to say to him because I knew that it wasn't a safe place to go but I knew he was going to go anyways.  

I'm extremely worried about his safety simply because he does speak Spanish and he is going alone.  Like I've said before I truly admire his courage to come travel the world and experience new things, but I'm not sure that this adventure was worth the risk.  

He is going to New York city afterwards and he said he had some friends to stay with there so at least they will know the city.  I know that most  of the international students travel just like Cheng over the winter break but I wonder if anyone is keeping an eye out for them?  Do they have to check in regularly with the program or are they just on their own? I would honestly love to know the answer so I know that he is going to be safe in his travels.  

Cheng is a brave soul, much braver than I will ever be.  I wish him the best in his endeavors to open his eyes to more cultures and I hope that he has safe travels. 

I think when he gets back we might go to the Modern Art museum because I found out that one of his hobbies is to paint.  He has a love for art so I think it would be a cool to show him all there is to do in "da fort" that has to do with art and our American culture.