Expert: Melissa Burton (a.k.a Bee) - 12/24/2004

Question
He is a 21 from Netherlands and I・m 20 from Taiwan. We met online almost a year ago, right after New Year. We have chatted online almost everyday, saw each other on cam, talked to each other online through messenger and sending pictures to each other.  I would have to wait up for him every night because of the time difference but then the next day he would call me up to make sure I・m awake in time. Talking to each other really means everyday, only when I was away for like a week on a trip and didn・t use the computer or we each other had something to do and couldn・t be online (would send emails instead of chatting then.) About 4 months ago he asked me to go on a trip with him next summer to Spain and he is willing to pay for the ticket and hotel, because I am still a student and he is working already. I trust him totally that he isn・t some guy who would hurt me or anything and I really want to meet him for real, but I don・t know how to tell my parents. There is too much scary news about girls being hurt because meeting someone online, and this is flying over sea to meet someone online, how would they take it? He said if my parents don・t trust him, I can let him see him on cam, I even thought of a suggestion that is to scan his passport and car license so maybe if something happens they would as least know where to find him (of course I know he wouldn・t do any harm to me) I know its still a couple months away but I should start thinking of how I should tell my parents. Any advises? Thank you

Answer
Hey Sandy
They probaly would not take it well at all. I mean they might take it ok if was like you visiting him where he lived or him coming over there but you guys are going to meet in a totally different country and you both will be visiting there. So they probaly wont like it. Good idea, let them talk to him and see him and the passport and license thing might be good too. Also, do you think there is any way you guys could meet at all just for like a couple of days before the trip? Or maybe you could ask him instead of you buying me a ticket to go to Spain with you maybe it would be better if you just came out here first. That might help and it's a whole lot safer. But just tell them and see how they take it. Also, tell them now or really soon. the sooner you tell them the better. They'll have more time to think about it and everything. If you tell them later they most likely wont let you go. Ok well I hope everything will work out with this. I wish there was a way you guys could meet before going on a trip together because it's not safe no matter how much you trust the guy. But I do hope you meet him someday. Good luck telling your parents! And remember the sooner the better.... I wish you the best of luck!
Melissa