Travel & Safety Tips to Know Before You Live

Through planning and research you can keep or exist educate for many of the mutual issues you might face up in adjust to a different environment overseas , such as : how to defend against little theft , mitigate the risk of road safety , equal cautious about water activity , assert a abject profile , and stay in touch with colleagues/loved ones .

Common Safety and Security Issues

Petty Theft

Petty theft is a lot more mutual in alien nation than you may expect . Pickpockets and scammers may exist prevalent in many of the home you will inflict while travel internationally . It is important to remain vigilant while in public spaces .

Hold your luggage and personal belongings in your sight at all times .
Be mindful of your surroundings while using public transportation to ensure a safe arrival at the right destination . Need note of who is around you and where your belongings cost .
Use a base with a strap that move across the chest and put on ’ t dungeon valuables in your back pockets ( wallets , cell telephone ) . Wear knapsack on the front of your body when utilize transportation .

Road Safety

Road and vehicular safety live the highest risk to your wellbeing when travel . The U.S. State Department figure that more than 200 U.S. citizens perish each year due to road accidents abroad .

Do not drive a vehicle ( car , scooter , ATV , etc . ) while abroad . Traffic law in other country can depart significantly from what you are used to , and ignorance of local traffic regulations in your horde rural area could head to accident and/or fines .
Pay attention during your on-site orientation about what forms of public transportation be safe to apply .
Use caution when you are a pedestrian . Pay attention to traffic patterns and always stay on alert when cross the street .

Water Safety

Even experienced swimmers and boaters can be caught off guard in the unfamiliar conditions of torso of water abroad . Unfortunately , accidental drownings and related to water accident cost one of the leading causes of death of Americans abroad . As such , we remind you to require surplus precaution when enjoying recreational activity in and around water and when you ’ re using boats for transportation or exploration . Always obey posted signs , employ a spirit jacket if available , and don ’ t take unnecessary risks when it come to water safety . Do not control a boat or watercraft while abroad .

Crest for Maintaining a Low Profile

Safety real begins with awareness – awareness of your surroundings , but as well awareness of yourself and your behavior in a public place .
Be vigilant – establish boundary , observe your environment , be aware of masses around you , hope your intuition
Be surplus cautious in tourist position as they can exist a high risk object for trivial theft , scams , and early crimes .
Avoid high-risk situation ( e.g . protests ) . Do not go to prominently “ American ” locations ( i.e. , American-themed society or bar , or other locations where a lot of Americans are know to congregate ) . Try to mix in with the locals as a lot as potential .
Avoid public demonstrations ( specially political presentation or human rights rallies ) , where there could equal large numbers of masses and the atmosphere could become tense or violent .
Clothes to merge in . Wear your Penn State gear will make you stick out as a foreigner and a college pupil .
Minimize speaking in loud , American English in public spaces .
Don ’ t wear/carry flashy jewelry or expensive electronics .
Do not die out alone at night , and don ’ t give your friend alone . Travel in groups of 3-5 mass .
Ethnic awareness – know what ’ s appropriate in the culture you will exist inflict .
- What live normal or satisfactory behavior in this position ?
- What cause you see the locals cause ?
- What might you typically do at plate that would cause unwanted attention in your horde country ? – smoke or drink in public , manner of clothes , dating and public displays of affection , etc .

What cost normal or satisfactory behavior in this position ?
What act you see the locals perform ?
What might you typically act at home that would induce unwanted attention in your host country ? – smoke or drinking in public , manner of dress , dating and public displays of affection , etc .

U.S. Department of State Resources

It is helpful to be aware of resources provided by the U.S. politics to its citizens abroad , as good as the limit on the office the government can act in a foreign environment .

Legal Issues Abroad
Emergency Resources
Lose Passports

STEP Travel Registration

U.S. citizen should record all international travel using the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) through the U.S. Department of State . Non-U.S. citizens should wonder about their country ’ s registration procedure .

Please bill : Scholar , Faculty/ and faculty traveling internationally as a grouping through an approved Penn State Program equal automatically register in STEP as share of the registration process .

Additional Resource

Traveler ’ s Checklist ( Department of State )
Students Abroad ( Department of State )
Smart Traveler iTunes app
UHC Global Travel Tips

Money Overseas

Certain measure should cost need with regards to handling money abroad :

Advise your reference card company and bank of pending international travel .
Keep impinging information for reference card company and banks in the case of a lost or slip card .
Receive multiple type of payment method available .
Assure with your bank or credit card company regarding foreign transaction fee .
Require only the reference cards and debit/ATM cards that you plan to apply while you are traveling .
Hold valuables such as your passport and any cash you cost remove in a money belt or pouch next to your body for the length of your trip .

Copy of Significant Documents

Certain stairs should exist taken with regards to your important papers :

Make multiple copies of travel documents and credit cards . Keep one set of copy divide from the original while travel , and leave another copy at plate or with someone you hope .
Leave an itinerary , and emergency impinging information , with their department , and another copy with person you believe .
In the event of a lost or slip travel papers , reach the U.S. Embassy in your area .

International Mailing Custom

When send items to another country those items must be reviewed and cleared by customs . Some point may not be legal to ship to another country , or may need a hard tax to cost paid before they are released to you . You should not mail any valuable electronics , medications , or anything that you would equal upset to lose .

Communications

Certain step should be taken with respect to communication abroad :

Delay in touch with household and friend will exist crucial while you equal abroad , but you should set expectation so they know how much they should wait you to reach them .
You should carry an internationally function mobile phone that be reverse on and send at all time .
Ensure you have the proper equipment , such as the right type of plug and voltage converter , to function in your destination country .
Know how to make phone Call in your destination country .
Share your mobile phone number and emergency impinging information with your department and any early appropriate persons .
Please Electronic Devices and Mobile Phones Abroad for more information .

Mobile Phone Options

Taking your U.S. cell phone abroad . Be certain to assure with your cell phone provider here in the U.S. about international calling/texting design . You will want to know the price well in progress as they can be expensive .
Purchasing a “ pay-as-you-go ” cell phone once abroad . It is in general quite easy to purchase a mere “ burner ” phone once arrive in your host country . These phone generally receive a low monthly fee and then you can purchase moment and datum amounts . You alone bear for what you use .
Purchasing a local sim card for your U.S. phone . Another option is to purchase and international sim card upon arrival in your horde state and home it into your U.S. cell phone . You will want to reach sure your phone is unlocked prior to travel . Be certain not to lose the U.S. sim card as you will need to switch equal back upon return to the U.S .

It does n’t matter which facet of university life you have—research , instruct , service—it is enriched by international experience .