| ASSESSING
SAFETY BEFORE STUDYING ABROAD |
| Introduction • Basic
Safety Tips • Basic
Information Sources on Safety • Behavioral
Expectations • Travel
Insurance Protection • Safeguarding
Documents & Property • Communicating • Gender
Issues • Institutional
Policy |
| Introduction |
Most
students who travel abroad have a safe and
enjoyable experience. However, no matter
how careful one plans for studying and traveling
abroad, some students will report health
and safety incidents that they believe were
serious. For statistics on
incidents and a description of
these reported incidents, click HERE.
Students must consider seriously how to travel safely before leaving
the U.S. and to maintain vigilance during their travels. Below are key
items that students should review during planning for study abroad or
act upon after arriving in country. NMSU students with the nmsu.edu
email address have free access to the travel update service of AllSafe
Travel. This is a great way to keep up-to-date on what is happening
in the country in which you plan to study. For additional extensive
information about safe travel and emergency planning visit the USC Center
for Global Education’s Handbook
A Guide to Going Abroad
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| Basic
Safety Tips: (Also
read the Top
10 Travel Tips from the U.S. State Department) Back
to Top |
Practice
the same safety precautions you would use
at home.
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Foremost
is not placing oneself in dangerous situations.
Also important is using common sense, avoiding
demonstrations and confrontations, and understanding
the dangers in the area in which they live
and study. The following are common tips
that have been proven to keep students safer
while abroad.
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Take
Personal Responsibility
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Be
aware that you are responsible for (1) making
your own decisions and and carrying out your
own actions, (2) understanding and complying
with all terms and conditions of your program
and (3) keeping yourself healthy so you are
alert at all times. (Students acknowledge
that they will bear full responsibility for
all liabilities that may develop as a result
of their personal actions.)
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Assess
Your New Surroundings
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Learn
as much as possible about where you will
be living and studying, and once on site,
continue to increase your knowledge of the
local environment. Obey host country laws
and observe local customs. Learning some
words and phrases in the local language can
help when trying to seek assistance. Keep
up with local news and stay away from demonstrations
and protests. Report suspicious activities
of any kind to your program coordinator immediately.
Learn the location of and register at the
nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Learn
the procedures for obtaining emergency health
and police services in the host community.
Be aware of local health or safety risks
when making daily decisions and promptly
express any concerns to the program staff
or other appropriate individuals.
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Be
Observant and Respectful When Moving Around
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Try
to travel with other people. Avoid crowds
and places that attract large numbers of
Americans or other Westerners. Don’t
hitchhike.
Avoid late night arrivals in unfamiliar places and arrange accommodation
prior to arrival or have a reliable guidebook that lists traveler’s
aids and affordable hotels and hostels.
When walking around, try to stay on well-lit, heavily traveled streets,
avoid walking too close to streets or buildings, and walk against the
flow of traffic to be able to observe oncoming vehicles. Behave in a
manner that is respectful of others, and encourage others to behave in
a similar manner.
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Protect
Personal Belongings
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| Don’t
wear or carry any expensive items that you
could not bear to lose. Keep all valuables
on your person, preferably stowed away in a
money belt or pouch that hangs around your
neck and/or under clothing, and never leave
valuables unattended. Do not borrow suitcases,
and ensure that nothing is inserted into yours.
Remove your luggage tags after arrival. If
possible, always lock your handbags/baggage.
If the item has a shoulder strap, wear the
strap across your body. Do not put valuables
in the exterior pockets of backpacks or in
bags that are open at the top. Be aware of
pickpockets who tend to prey on people who
look lost or unfamiliar in their surroundings. |
Seek
Advice from Returned Students
|
Students
who have returned from study abroad fill
out a program evaluation form which provides
a wealth of first-hand information for students
on many topics, including how to safe and
healthy abroad. Click HERE for
access to their common advice and advice
specific to other various countries in which
they have studied. The
opinions expressed are those of the students
and not necessarily endorsed by NMSU.
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| Basic
Information Sources on Safety Back
to Top |
NMSU
students have access to many sources of information
for keeping abreast of potential threats
to personal security while traveling in other
countries.
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ALLSAFE
TRAVEL
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The
New Mexico State University Study abroad
program has established a relationship
with AllSafe
Travels to
provide Trip alerts for all NMSU students.
This service will keep you informed on
local changes that may affect your safety
and security.
This service can be viewed via:
1. A personal account on AllSafeTravels.com where you can create
and modify trips.
2. Email alerts as things change based on your destination
3. A personal RSS Trip Feed.
Please visit AllSafeTravels.com and create an account using your @nmsu.edu
account. Please see their no-SPAM
policy
Once
you have created an account, create a trip to your destination.
This service is a free to all NMSU students.
We recommend using this service for any future international trips.
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U.S.
STATE DEPARTMENT
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The
U.S. State Department provides:
• travel
warnings when the State Department decides that conditions in a country require
them to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country.
• Public Announcements to
provide information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or
special conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers.
• Consular
Information Sheets for every country of the world that include such information
as location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the subject country, unusual
immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual
currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties.
If you would like to sign up to get updated information sent to you by email
for any country, use the "Travel Info" link at
the top of this linked page.
The State Department also provides numerous travel
pamphlets that provide lots of sound travel advice.
Students may want to register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate when
they arrive on-site. You can also register
your travel on line. Registration allows you to record information
about your upcoming trip abroad that the Department of State can use
to assist you in case of an emergency. Americans residing abroad can
also get routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
This will help in the event of a family emergency in the U.S. to contact
the student, and in the event of an emergency abroad to contact the family
of the student involved.
To help protect U.S. citizens abroad, the Citizens Emergency Center of
the Bureau of Consular Affairs provides emergency services with regard
to arrests and detentions abroad. They also will help search for U.S.
citizens abroad and transmit emergency messages to those citizens or
their next of kin in the United States. The Center is available at 202-647-5226
Monday through Friday: 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST) and Saturdays: 9:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
A
duty officer from the U.S. State Department Operations Center
is available for emergencies by calling 202-647-5226 between
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the week and by calling 202-647-1512
from 10:00 p.m. to 8:15 a.m. during the week and at all times
during weekends and holidays.
|
THE
ASSOCIATION FOR SAFE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
|
Of
special concern to travelers is road
safety conditions. Accidents are
still the number one problem for
students (and for all persons) traveling
abroad. The State Department has a section
on road
safety. The
Association for Safe International Travel has
a dedicated web site that addresses road
safety in other countries.
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CENTER
FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) • WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
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Students
are responsible for staying informed about
health conditions in any country in which
they plan to spend time studying or traveling.
They should pay particular attention to the
prevalence of food, water, and insect borne
diseases, any communicable diseases that
are prevalent in the country of travel, and
road travel conditions. The Center
for Disease Control or
the World Health
Organization both provide excellent information
about health conditions around the world.
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INTERNATIONAL
SOCIETY OF TRAVEL MEDICINE • TRAVEL
MEDICINE, INC.
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|
ACCESS
ABROAD
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Students
should also check with their host program’s
administrators to determine what medical
services will be available (doctors who speak
English, clinics, hospitals, etc.). Students
with any special health conditions should
check that their condition can be accommodated
abroad. Access
Abroad provides advising guidelines,
forms, and resources to assist students with
disabilities who wish to study abroad.
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| BEHAVIORAL
EXPECTATIONS Back
to Top |
Students
are expected by the University to conduct
themselves legally, morally, and ethically
at all times while abroad. Studying
abroad does not give students license to
violate norms of behavior expected of them
at home. Nor does U.S. citizenship give them
immunity from prosecution by courts in other
countries. Remember that at all
times students are subject to the NMSU Student
Code of Conduct.
Behavioral norms differ around
the world and study abroad students
should pay close attention to the
following:
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Sexual
Practices
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Students
should understand that issues of dating and
sexuality can be complex and difficult in
cross-cultural settings. Appropriate dress,
body language, eye contact, and accepting
invitations to meet with members of the opposite
sex all have different implications around
the world. Before departing the U.S. read
about the norms in place in the country or
countries you will visit. A good start is
to read the Culture Grams™ provided
by the Office of Study Abroad. When in country
take time to observe how interpersonal interactions
take place in your host culture and talk
to local hosts about what is or isn’t
acceptable behavior.
Students who choose to be sexually active need to use safe sex practices
and protect their partners against unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted
diseases, AIDS, and misunderstandings about the meaning of the relationship.
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Sexual
Discrimination
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Students
should be aware that sexual discrimination
can occur anywhere in the world. If you are
having problems with unwanted sexual advances
from other students, staff, or local citizens,
report these incidents to your host coordinator
and to the Office of Study Abroad.
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Drug
and Alcohol Use
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Some
countries may be perceived as more lenient
than the U.S. But others are definitely more
strict, with regard to the use of drugs and
alcohol. Know the local laws about the drinking
age and the severe penalties
for drug use. Students found using drugs
may be suspended from NMSU sponsored programs
and are subject to disciplinary action at
home. Students who choose to drink without
violating local laws should do so responsibly.
Irresponsible drinking that is reported to
the University will be treated as a violation
of the Student Code of Conduct.
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Foreign
Legal Systems
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| Beware
of the hard facts of what happens when students
violate the laws of other countries, which
often assume you are guilty until you can prove
your innocence. Also understand the limitations
of the U.S. Government in its ability to help
you when you violated the laws of other countries. |
| TRAVEL
INSURANCE PROTECTION Back
to Top |
As
a condition of studying abroad, every NMSU
student must be covered with medical
and/or accident insurance that will pay
for medical care abroad. Insurance coverage
must be effective the day you arrive in your
country of destination outside the U.S. and
continue until you return to the U.S. Contact
the Office of Study Abroad for advice and
assistance on obtaining the appropriate mandatory
insurance.
Flight
accident insurance may
be purchased at most international
airports and covers you only when
you are on the airplane. Read all
insurance policies carefully to make
sure you know what is covered and
what is excluded. Property
insurance is also recommended
if students are taking computers
and other valuable items that are
at risk of being stolen.
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When
traveling abroad, take only what
you need (leave items such as extra
credit cards, other cards, and keys at home)
and only take valuable personal items (cameras,
jewelry, expensive watches) that you
have insured or are willing to do without
if lost or stolen.
Make
two copies of
all valuable documents such as
• airline ticket(s)
• passport and visa
• insurance policies
• driver's license
• travelers checks and credit cards taken (copy instructions on how to
report lost or stolen cards)
• power-of-attorney forms
Leave one
set of important documents “at home” with
somebody who knows where they are, and one set with you in a place separate
from the originals you are carrying. Keep your passport and important
documents on your person (a pouch or money belt may help) and never pack
your passport in checked-in or carry-on luggage. Also, don’t carry
your valuables in a backpack or handbag since these are easily pick pocketed.
Keep
a list of important information and addresses such
as:
• medical history: blood type and Rh factor,
• eyeglass prescription, medicines currently used
• names and addresses of important medical providers (your physician, dentist,
optometrist)
• serial numbers of expensive equipment such as laptop computers
• names and addresses of other persons (advisors, counselors) you may need
to contact while abroad
The
Office of Study Abroad recommends that students prepare
a general
power-of-attorney to entrust somebody in the U.S.
to handle personal legal and financial affairs on request,
and a durable
power-of-attorney for health care decisions to designate
a trusted person to make medical decisions in case the
student is ever incapacitated while abroad. The PDF versions
noted above are based on legal practices in the State
of New Mexico. Students with legal residence outside
New Mexico should check with their own legal counsel.
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| Communicating
While Abroad Back
to Top |
First,
make sure you involve all significant persons
in your life in the U.S. with your plans
for studying abroad. Develop a plan for regular
communication with parents, friends and other
important people at home. With a plan, you
will be able to communicate with them about
your safety and well-being in the event of
a crisis.
Second, while at your site of study, also make a plan to communicate
with those who should know where you are (host family, program coordinator).
Share class schedules and travel itineraries with only those with a need
to know.
Third, Report immediately any instances of crime, accident, or illness,
first to the local contact for your program, then with the Office of
Study Abroad. make sure the Office of Study Abroad has a reliable emergency
contact so the Office staff is sure who you want us to contact. Also
make sure you have our emergency telephone numbers.
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| Gender
Travel Issues Back
to Top |
Dealing
with Offensive Male Attitudes
|
In
some countries women may encounter offensive
behavior among males (whistling, rude comments,
etc.) aimed at them. This is true particularly
for American women. It can be hard to adjust
to men openly demonstrating their vocal appraisal
of women.
Because
eye contact with strangers or smiling
at passersby is common in the U.S., doing
this abroad may invite unexpected attention.
Some women handle this by avoiding any
eye contact when in public to avoid notice
from male strangers
Female students should contact other female students who have traveled
to their chosen country to learn about male offending behavior and how
they coped with it. When in country women should continue to observe what
works and doesn’t work to avoid unwanted attention.
U.S. American
women may be viewed abroad as liberal and liberated so that cultural
misunderstandings arise. When communicating with members of the opposite
sex, be aware of the implicit messages that may not be intended in
your own country. Try to gain a perspective that allows you to handle
these difficult experiences in a constructive way that helps you
grow culturally and personally. |
How
to Avoid Unwanted Attention
|
To
avoid unwanted sexual comments or gestures
or even physical contact, women should think
about:
• Dressing
conservatively: short skirts, tank
tops, and shorts may be comfortable
but in some settings may encourage
unwanted attention.
• Never walking alone at night or at any time in questionable neighborhoods.
• Never meeting an unknown person in a non-public place such as a hotel
room or an apartment.
• Recognizing that some men from some cultures mistake the friendliness
of American women as a show of romantic interest.
If you continually feel harassed or uncomfortable, talk to a host program
coordinator and others who can help you put the issue in perspective
and develop an action plan to deal with the problem.
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| Institutional
Policy on Safe Travel Back
to Top |
NMSU
continues to review institutional policies
and procedures in an effort to increase the
safety and quality of experience of all study
abroad participants, whether students or
faculty and staff.
First, NMSU offers study abroad programs by affiliating with various
study abroad consortia and other institutions that have a reputation
for providing quality academic programs and responsive student support
services. NMSU also organizes faculty led programs. Periodic site visits
are conducted to review these programs (when enrollments justify) and student
evaluations of all program sites are solicited. Based on visits or
student evaluative comments programs are modified, extended, or dropped.
Second, all students are advised that
none of the universities or institutes approved by NMSU for hosting
NMSU students are in any way divisions or subsidiaries of New
Mexico State University. They are also advised about the safety
and health risks inherent in studying and traveling abroad. They
sign an agreement that recognizes that NMSU is willing to facilitate
enrollment in these institutions' programs and
to accept transfer of credits from the institutions if all relevant
study criteria are met. However, NMSU
is not responsible for students' travel to the host site and
for the well-being of students in the foreign country. Students
are required to abide by all specific terms of the agreement
and any other contracts which they may sign.
Third, Employees who
lead study abroad travel programs organized by NMSU are
required to notify
the university of these activities, to prepare a
list of all participants, to check that all participants
have accident and health insurance. and that all participants
have been oriented to the risks of travel abroad.
Fourth, All
students traveling abroad officially through
NMSU are required to sign Study Abroad Agreements, to
meet health and safety orientation requirements, and
to obtain medical and/or accident insurance for travel
abroad.
Fifth, The Office
of Study Abroad keeps abreast of changing
conditions around the world and in specific countries
where students study. Students have free access to ALLSAFE Travels,
which provides updates on specific countries. Students and faculty may
subscribe to listserv service for updates on safety,
programs, and fellowship opportunities.
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