Safety and Security
Safety and Security tips for Living Abroad |
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1. Safety and Security |
Rider University is concerned about your safety and security while you are studying abroad. The Study Abroad Office therefore is providing you with this list of precautionary behaviors distilled from information provided by the United States State Department, NAFSA International Educators Association and Rider University Safety and Security personnel. Whether the United States, the country in which you are studying and/or the countries to which you travel while abroad are at peace, or whether there is local, national, regional or global unrest or dangerous natural occurrence, it is important that you read and follow these recommendations.
The Study Abroad Office expects you to read this list, to share the information with your parents or guardians as appropriate, to take the list with you when you go abroad, and, most importantly, to follow the precautionary advice it contains. |
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2. What to do while you are abroad: |
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Register with the US Embassy Consular Section in the country in which you are studying. You should register your passport, address and telephone number there. Personnel at the host university will help you in this process, or may already have done this by the time you arrive.
The easiest way to do this is to register for the U. S. Department of State service for citizens traveling or staying abroad called "Travel Registration." Travel Registration is a free service provided by the U. S. Government to citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. 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. Upon arrival at your destination, create your account and register your address abroad upon arrival by going to https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/. Check first however with your study abroad provider, as they may have an alternative plan to register you with the U. S. embassy or consulate in your country of destination. 2. Before you leave to study abroad you should also make three copies of the information pages and visa page of the passport. Give one copy to the Study Abroad Director, another to your parents or guardian as appropriate and take another copy with you to keep in a separate place from the passport itself.
3. Register with the local police in the city or town in which you are studying. The Rider local advisor or personnel at the host university can help you in this process, or will do so on your behalf.
4. Stay current with developing news. Read daily the local papers, U.S. papers available abroad such as The International Herald Tribune and online services. In addition visit the U.S. State Department Website for both general public announcements and those particular to the country in which you are studying and any countries you are planning on visiting while abroad. The U.S. State Department Website address is: http://travel.state.gov>http://travel.state.gov
5. Be aware of local laws to which you are subject.
6. Keep a low profile by observing local people and learning appropriate dress and behavior.
7. Safeguard your passport, travel documents, credit cards and money. Make three copies of all documents. Leave one at home and carry two with you, one in your luggage and one in your carry-on or bag. It is a good idea to bring extra passport photos with you in case you lose your passport.
8. Pickpockets. Beware of pickpockets and con artists. They especially can be found on public transportation and crowded areas like bus and train stations, and department stores, and especially in areas where tourists are found. |
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3. Traveling on your own: |
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Read carefully the following recommendations:
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4. Circumstances of Heightened Security: |
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Under circumstances of heightened safety and security you should abide by the following three general rules:
KEEP A LOW PROFILE BE UNPREDICTABLE BE VERY ALERT
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5. Women Travelers: |
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Women traveling will probably encounter more difficulties than men. We recommend that you exert more caution about where you go,
what you do and with whom you go than here in the US. Be careful about misreading verbal cues from men and misunderstandings as to the meaning of your behavior and dress as an American woman. A common assumption is that American women are "easy." Television, movies and previous travelers have created this stereotype. In fact, because of our multi-cultural society, Americans do tend to be more open, less inhibited and less restrained to communicate friendliness. This can be taken the wrong way in cultures where social hierarchies and more rigid gender roles predominate, or where people are generally more restrained in their behavior and speech. For example, a friendly smile on the street in Spain could seem like an invitation to an Italian man. The best tip to follow is to be more reserved and formal in your social contacts, especially until you understand the cultural cues. Try not to travel alone, since solitude in some places means you want company. Observe how the women of the country dress and behave and follow suit. |
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6. Family Emergencies: |
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Discuss with your family what you will do in the event of a family emergency, illness or death before you leave. It is much easier to have these conversations prior to departure than in an international phone call in the midst of a crisis. |