Safety vs. Comfort

We often receive questions about safety abroad. How safe is it for American’s to travel to …? How safe is it for women?

These are very important questions and most answers can be found through sites like http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Usgresponse/Travel_Safely.shtml#vgn-international-travel-vgn

The point of this blog though is to discuss the difference between safety and comfort. It's frustrating to someone who has traveled a lot to hear someone refer to a location as unsafe simply because it made them feel uncomfortable or they are unfamiliar with the details of the culture. You can feel uncomfortable in a situation without feeling unsafe. Being unsafe however, inherently causes discomfort.

I’ve been in some very uncomfortable situations while traveling abroad – new language, new faces, new food, gun wielding men. Some would call these situations unsafe. However, because I had researched the area and knew what not to do, I felt safer there than in many parts of the United States.

The point is that you can feel uncomfortable without feeling unsafe. I was in a group discussion about China and the facilitator shared her experiences as a woman and said that she felt uncomfortable when she was stared at by men or when people spoke Mandarin to her. But she had studied the culture and knew the harsh penalties for crime, so she felt very safe.

It's ok to feel uncomfortable at times. It shows an opportunity for growth. Avoiding unsafe situations comes with research. Learn the safe and unsafe aspects of your journey and you'll be a global citizen in no time.

Posted by Marc

Have Fun and Be Safe

Of course experiencing a new culture is very exciting and you will have many memories to bring home. We encourage all of our participants to take advantage of their new homes: go to museums, meet the locals, try the food and beverages. It is important, however, to keep in mind that you are in a foreign country, different than what you are used to and you therefore want to be safe. Here are some tips on safety while abroad. You can also visit the US Department of State’s travel website (http://travel.state.gov/) for up-to-date information.

Personal Safety Tips
· Always travel with someone.
· When traveling at night, stay on well-lit, main city streets.
· Be aware of your surroundings.
· Do not leave any personal items, bags, purses, etc. unattended or out in the open. When at a café or restaurant do not leave bags on the floor or hanging on the back of chairs.
· Carry shoulder bags to the inside of the sidewalk.
· When on a crowded bus or in a crowded public area, do not leave wallets in back pockets and hold backpacks and purses at the front of your body.
· Carry a newspaper or book written in the local language with you so that you blend in with your surroundings.
· Always look as though you know where you’re going, even if you do not. Try to walk briskly and confidently, with your head up and your shoulders back.

Posted by Sarah