Safety and Security while Abroad
Any time you travel abroad you need to take extra precautions to be safe. International travel safety and security is difficult to predict, but a little extra thought can make all the difference.
When students are abraod they tend to participate in risky behavior smore frequently than while at home. For example, when we were abroad we went to bars and clubs and drank more than we did while on our US campuses. This is common for students and we aren’t discouraging it. (In fact, it is often in these places where you talk to more local residents and practice the language.) However, it’s very important to be aware of the situation you are in.
Make good, common sense choices, especially if you are a woman.
Make sure you are with someone you know and that someone knows where you are.
Watch your drink at all times.
Be aware of the countries laws—and don’t break them. If you get caught with drugs in a country where it’s illegal the State Department won’t help you.
If you are required to carry your passport at all times, then do it. (If you’re not required to have your physical passport, carry a copy and keep your real one in a safe at your residence or with your study abroad resident director.) While in Russia, we always wore money belts. It’s just not worth it to risk getting your passport/credit cards/cash stolen. It may feel dorky at first, but quickly it becomes part of your daily routine.
Remember that many countries have lower crime rates than the US does. So, your chances of being a victim of crime may actually be lower outside the US. However, even if you are in a “safe” country, you may still stand out as a tourist and thus be a target for petty theft.
Two good websites are: State Department
