Kenny Deland: Is travelling abroad safe?

On Nov. 29, 2022, St. John Fisher University student Kenny Deland went missing while studying abroad in France. After missing for almost three weeks and not having called his family or host family, Deland was found alive in Spain on Dec. 16. His reasons for silence still remain unknown.

One day, while studying at University of Grenoble Alpes in Eastern France, Deland disappeared. After a call on Nov. 27, his family stopped hearing from him. It was reported that Deland struggled making friends and he seemed unprepared to live in this foreign land. Expected to return home on Dec. 16, the lack of evidence pointing towards foul play led authorities to believe that Deland left voluntarily.

U.S. authorities worked alongside local authorities in France to help with the disappearance. His disappearance caught the attention of the media, having his picture even broadcasted internationally.

Finally, after having his picture plastered on every television, newspaper and cell phone across the world, Deland called his father on Dec 16. informing him that he was indeed safe and left because he was told to go to Spain by some acquaintances. He was then reunited with his family the next day. Other than that information, this period of silence is still a mystery.

Deland’s disappearance brings up many questions about the safety of traveling to a different country, and the concerns about studying abroad.

In the 2020-2021 school year, around 14,600 U.S. students studied abroad, a number that has presumably increased substantially since the prime of COVID.

Currently Pleasant Valley is host to their own foreign exchange students. Senior Maria Sosa is studying here from Spain. “Being far away from home for 10 months is really a mix of feelings,” Sosa explained. “I get to meet new people that are my second family now, but at the same time it is also very hard sometimes because you are leaving your country behind with your friends and family.”

With the Deland disappearance, the lack of communication is concerning, but Sosa says for her this isn’t an issue. “ We [Sosa’s family] FaceTime every week and we chat everyday. It definitely isn’t the same as having them right here with me and I need a hug from them all the time,” said Sosa.

Overall, Sosa has nothing but positive things to say about her decision to study across seas. “My experience has been amazing, I can’t be more grateful for this opportunity,” Sosa continued. “You have to learn a whole new culture and you also do things that you never thought you would do, and that’s the point of this exchange year, opening to new experiences and learning from them.”

Senior Emily Goodpaster enjoys traveling. Having been to Europe numerous times, Goodpaster experienced what it is like to live in a foreign land, and the safety that comes with that. “When traveling to other countries, I have never felt unsafe,” Goodpaster noted. “I feel safe because tourists don’t pay much attention to other people because they are interested in seeing all the attractions just like you.”

Even with stories like the disappearance of Kenny Deland, the dangers of traveling solo and studying in a different country have not deterred many students, Goodpaster being one of them. “I definitely want to study abroad, absolutely,” Goodpaster continued. “ If you were to travel to lesser known areas and smaller parts of Europe, then I would say there would be more risks because there are more local people rather than tourists who are only there for fun.”

Studying abroad can open the doors for a plethora of opportunities, but it doesn’t come without its setbacks. While the strange circumstances of the Deland disappearance remain odd, it reminds of the safety one should take while traveling alone for an extended period of time.

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