Students may think spring break is all fun and games, but going to another country is a whole different story. Without making some basic safety preparations and learning a little bit about the destination country are visiting, the fun may be lost.
In fact, different laws and different customs can make or break a trip.
Journalism Associate Professor Catherine Cassara is taking students on an biannual trip to France for an international media seminar at The American University of Paris. In preparation for the trip, Cassara had Nicole Anderson, interim director of study abroad, speak with applicable students about preparations for going abroad.
Spanish professor Valeria Grinberg Pla also had Anderson speak to her class, which is going to Xalapa, Mexico, for a community service trip.
In Paris, the main problems have been a purse left behind on the metro, a dropped passport and someone being separated from the group, said Cassara who has led students on this particular trip three times.
All of these situations worked out fine, she said.
When she went to the police about the purse, she said they told her, ‘Of course you’ll get it back. This isn’t New York.’
Health issues
Travelers are instructed to stay together in groups and to be smart such as not drinking excessive amounts while on the trip, Cassara said. Even though the drinking age is lower in France, that does not give underage Americans the right to drink. Students must still follow the University Code of Student Conduct.
Safety is one of the main points Anderson stresses when she makes presentations about traveling abroad. She said travelers need to be aware of local rules and regulations because laws change as borders change. There is also the possibility of sexual abuse and being robbed or mugged, Anderson said.
Anderson also wants students to travel in groups.
‘Two people are always safer than one,’ she said.
Students should also follow their natural instincts. If an area is causing feelings of fear to form, go somewhere else, Anderson said.
When students are in Xalapa, Mexico, Grinberg Pla said there are also health issues students need to know about. For example, tap water in Mexico is not safe for Americans to drink because of bacteria in the water they are not accustomed to.
When eating in a restaurant, students also need to make sure any food they eat has been cooked or if it is something uncooked, that it was not washed with tap water. This bacteria can cause travelers diarrhea, which should last only for a day or so, Grinberg Pla said.
She added that Dr. Glenn Egelman, director and physician in chief at the Student Health Center, spoke to her class and suggested students take a prescription on the trip for travelers diarrhea as a precaution.
Students also need to take protection from the sun and mosquitoes, Grinberg Pla said.
Grinberg Pla said Egelman told her students to also have a Hepatitis B vaccine before going to Xalapa.
Purchasing the International Student Identity Card, which comes with additional insurance for traveling abroad, is also a good item to have on trips out of the country, Anderson said. The ISIC also secures discounts at many international museums and tourist spots.
Money
Splitting money up and storing it in different locations is very important, Anderson said.
By keeping money in different places and by having an emergency stash, not all the money can be stolen at once. Having credit cards or travelers checks means someone could still have a means to live, Anderson said. She also suggests arriving at the destination with currency to use immediately.
Money could be bought at a bank, but it is usually not in stock and may require an extra fee, Anderson said. There are also booths in airports that change money, but sometimes for a high fee.
If a student would run out of money or if everything is stolen, money can be wired to the student’s location, Anderson said.Culture
‘Don’t try too hard to not be an American. You still will be,’ Anderson said.
But by researching the country students are traveling to, offending the locals would be less likely to happen. There are many travel guide books that have information about countries all around the world.
‘Doing research, not only on hot spots but also on cultural norms, appropriate behavior [provides] more insight into the culture where you will be,’ Anderson said.
Learning basics of the language, such as hello, good-bye, please and thank you, will also help make the transition easier. Both Cassara and Grinberg Pla have worked on these with their classes.
‘You make people happy [when you can speak with them],’ Grinberg Pla said.
Another suggestion from Grinberg Pla, if students are staying with families such as on the Xalapa trip, bringing a gift is a good idea.
In Mexico, Grinberg also warned her students to not be surprised if many people talk at once during a conversation in Mexico.
‘The rhythm of the conversation is a little bit different,’ she said.
But even with all the differences between American and other cultures, a trip abroad can still be successful.
‘We want people to have fun, but to take precautions,’ said Steve Royster, spokesperson for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
He suggests if students have any questions about the country he or she is visiting that they should reference the Consular Information Sheets about each country which include a description of the country, entry and exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical information, criminal penalties and the embassy location, among other topics.
Check http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html for more information.
