Would you have replaced it?

**RainbowBrite** · March 31st, 2011, 11:32 AM

We had a Japanese exchange student come and stay with us on Sunday.
Only an hour of her being here miss 3 had got hold of her camera and when miss 16 tried to get it of her she threw it and broke it (lens would go in and out)
So I tried to take it some where to get it fixed but it was going to take them to long to even look at it and they couldn't guarantee being able to fix it.
So I felt very bad because it was my DD that broke it so I replaced it...I hunted around and found a camera almost exactly the same and bought it for her.
I had her Japanese tour coordinator on the phone thanking me for the generous gift and that I didn't need to do that.
So now I have the australian coordinator ringing telling me I didn't need to do that and he was sorry that I did and she should have put the camera somewhere safer.
But I felt like it was my responsibility that it was broken and I couldn't leave her without a camera.
I think I did the right thing...but it seems to have created a little of a kerfuffle.
Isn't it etiquette if you break something you fix it or replace it?
Would you have done the same?

**FabFiona** · March 31st, 2011, 11:34 AM

Yep. Regardless of the other issues around whether she should have taken more care around a small child, I would have replaced it. I would have felt extra bad because she is here on exchange so I'm assuming wants to take lots of pics of her experience. Being without a camera when you are away is not fun.

**Olive** · March 31st, 2011, 11:35 AM

i would have replaced it too

**Nai** · March 31st, 2011, 11:37 AM

I would have done exactly the same thing. A student isn't necessarily going to understand that you can't leave things within reach of small children either so even if she should have put it somewhere else I think you did the right thing by replacing it.

***LittleMissSummer*** · March 31st, 2011, 11:38 AM

Yup i would have replaced it too.

**misty** · March 31st, 2011, 11:39 AM

definitely would have replaced it. I think you done the right thing. Also the co-ordinaters weren't there, so they maybe don't understand that it was your DD's fault it got broken?? It could also be a cultural difference, but I'm not sure????

**krysalyss** · March 31st, 2011, 11:41 AM

Absolutely I would have. You did the right thing.

**grub17** · March 31st, 2011, 11:47 AM

yeah i would have done the same. maybe they don't like people to give expensive gifts to the kids but in this case it wasn't really a gift. I wouldn't worry about them making a fuss. If she'd dropped it in your toilet i wouldn't have replaced it but the fact that your child caused the damage, i think, holds you responsible iykwim.

i hope she had a good time with you all

**MrsBexie** · March 31st, 2011, 11:49 AM

I would have done the same!!
I reckon it's a cultural thing they said you didn't have to replace it!

**RainbowBrite** · March 31st, 2011, 11:49 AM

Thank you!
I am glad you all would have done the same thing.

To me the the fact I felt much better after replacing it told me I was doing the right thing.
The Australian coordinator is Australian and he was the one apologising for me having to replace it and telling me I shouldn't have....it was her responsibility.

**krystals** · March 31st, 2011, 11:56 AM

I definitely would have replaced it, and the others are right in saying it's cultural thing.

I did my student exchange in Japan. While on school camp there, I was writing in my diary and I got a little bit of pen ink on a pillowcase. My host sister showed our teacher and I thought I was going to get into a lot of trouble. It was my host sister who got into trouble, as she 'should've' made sure I had the proper writing surface, and the teacher said she had to apologise to me. I was gobsmacked, my host sister knew this was going to happen, and she dobbed herself in for something I'd done!?!?!?! Crazy stuff. But, that's the way it rolls

Our etiquette would say it's the right thing to replace it. Her school's etiquette would probably recognise that you've been financially inconvenienced and so see it as their fault

**StrawberryFields** · March 31st, 2011, 11:37 AM

Yeah I would've replaced it, don't worry hun you did the right thing!

**Gigi** · March 31st, 2011, 07:36 PM

Yeah I would've replaced it, don't worry hun you did the right thing!

i agree

i would just educate your exchange visitor about keeping valuables out of the reach of young kids, so it doesn't keep happening. but yeh, i would feel the same way as you.

**MummyNaomi** · March 31st, 2011, 09:15 PM

Yep, agree, its the right thing to do, until our little ones are old enough to take responsibility for their actions, we as parents need to

**helle** · March 31st, 2011, 11:51 AM

Yep I would have replaced it.
I know she should have put it somewhere safer but when you're not used to having small kids around it doesn't really occur to you til after the fact. I would probably say that to the coordinator!
I think you did the right thing

**Floweryfields** · March 31st, 2011, 12:38 PM

Yes, I think you've done the right thing. If I was the student and you hadn't replaced it, I would have been very upset - especially as it would mean that she wouldn't have been able to take any photos during her trip.