Tips for Students Traveling Abroad

One of the best ways to see the world when you are young is to travel with a school or church group, or even just to go with a group of friends. However, often we are concentrating so hard on studying the language or having fun that we forget to be mindful of certain cultural and safety issues that may arise when we are exploring a new city. I have traveled to several European countries as well as Mexico with other students and would like to share with you some of my tips to be safe and have a good time:

Know Cultural and Dress Rules for Girls and Guys

The first thing you want to remember is to blend in, both in dress and behavior. This will accomplish two things: first, it will serve to better integrate you into society, thus enabling you to have a more in-depth experience of the local culture; second, nothing red flags you as a tourist (perhaps with pockets full of cash to be stolen) than an obvious "tourist outfit". Of course you probably will have left your Hawaiian shirt and knee socks at home, but guys, be aware that even your coolest gear is going to look odd in some places. In Mexico, for example, most men do not wear shorts, even in the summer. In Italy, the style for young men is very clean and modern; wearing ripped and faded jeans will only make you look like you cannot afford new pants!

For girls, you need to pay even more attention to the clothes you pack. In many other cultures, whether it be Latin America, India, or the Middle East, the rules for what is appropriate are vastly different. Take India as an example: showing your stomach in a sari is fine (although a little risque here in the US), but showing your legs in shorts may be downright offensive, and make you stand out like a tourist who obviously has no regard for local customs. Be sure you know the rules about what to cover before you travel, and pack light or warm fabrics accordingly. As far as accessories, my advice is to leave ALL jewelry at home. Wherever you go you will be able to buy inexpensive local creations with cool stones or silver-work, whether from a street vendor in Paris or a little mercado in Mexico. We have all heard the stories about the women bringing gold and diamonds from home, only to have them snatched off their persons in the street or subway. When you buy local jewelry, you have great souvenirs that are replaceable if lost.

Bars and Alcohol

In comparison to the United States, many places that you travel have very different ideas about going out on the town. In Spain, for example, it is not uncommon for the streets to be packed until 2 or 3 in the morning, and most people do not reserve their going out for the weekend. When I traveled to Guanajuato, Mexico last summer, the local students went to the bars and clubs 5 days a week, or more! However, their drinking is not so excessive as it tends to be here. While in this country many people go to the bar to get drunk, in most other places the point is to relax and socialize, while only having a few drinks. If you get drunk, you will stand out, look foolish, and put yourself and your property at risk. I think it is really important to emphasize this point, because you are in foreign surroundings and need to be absolutely aware of the people and activities around you. The only person who can take care of you is YOU.

Know and follow general travelers guidelines

If you are traveling with a church or school group, your leader will probably instruct you on the best way to exchange money, where to carry money on your person, handle transportation, buy safe food and water, etc. If you are traveling without a leader, do plenty of research on general travel tips. Know if you plan to use cash, credit cards, or travelers checks, and where these will be accepted. One thing I will suggest is that if you are bringing your Visa card, you will need to call them to let them know the card will be used abroad, or it will be flagged as potentially stolen, and your funds could be frozen. As another general rule, don't eat the food from street vendors, unless your leader directs otherwise. It is also important to research matters related to health, such as travelers' health insurance (which is actually pretty cheap in most cases) and any diseases you might encounter.

If you take one thing away from this, I hope it will be that in all situations, be aware of what is going on around you. You will learn so much about a new culture and being a good global citizen, and also will protect yourself and have a good time.