Exchange Student Starved in Egypt?

I have never read that story buy It doesn't really surprise me because everyone just seems to be getting worse and worse now..to the point where you really can't trust anyone that you meet on the street..I don't know how anyone could ever starve anyone else..I just posted a story on some kids getting held hostage and i didn't understand how people did that either...

I saw it on the news this morning, and then read it in the daily newspaper. I was shocked at first. And disgusted with those who starved him. But after reading some more, I can't say that he was taken advantage of 100% by them. If you read the article in detail (it shows many photos of him posing to show off how skinny and skin-and-bones he has turned into). But it is a religion, the article notes, for the family to not eat for a day or several days. And so, he was expected to follow their custom if he stayed with them. It says also that he had the opportunity to switch and stay with a different hospitality, but wanted to tough it out. He also had the right to return back home, and declined on taking that. So, of course I feel bad for him, but it seems like he decided to live it up. Maybe he knew he'd get a lot of publicity here, or make him wanted by classmates and friends when he returned? We never know unless we hear the whole story from all different sides.

My gosh, is that family poor? Or was that a deliberate thing they were doing? Why on earth would this family volunteer to host this student if they couldn't afford to feed him? If this was deliberate, then they're probably sick and insane! I think the student should report this to the proper authorities. Maybe they can transter him to another family host... hopefully one that won't deny him the proper nourishment he needs to cope with his studies.

I cannot comment much on this issue because I do not have the complete details. Right now, by looking at this story, I can just make a generalization of condemning the Student Exchange program for not verifying if indeed the family can support an a additional mouth. At the same time, I do not know if the family was not poor and they had food to eat, but they were just doing that on purpose or they family were really poor with nothing to eat. A link to the story would be appreciated so that we may be able to get the details. -Feel free to disagree!