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>> The short videos included in this series are meant to serve as an initial step
in your preparedness training for off campus travel.
You know it's easy to get lost in the excitement of the adventures to come,
but whether you're participating in the study aboard program and international internship,
research projects, service expedition or other experience.
There are several important items to consider before you go.
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>> Greetings traveler, you've made plans to embark on an exciting journey, huh?
Well, before you leave, let's check out some tried and true tips and guidelines from experts
who will help you stay safe and healthy while aboard.
Let's follow our three travelers, Emily, Sam,
and Isabella as they learn a thing or two about staying safe.
Emily is going to India to conduct her thesis research; however, before she leaves she wants
to register her travel plans with her country's embassy.
U.S. citizens can register with the embassy online through the STEP program.
Emily will also register her travel with the International SOS,
the Office of Emergency Response Provider.
She also wants to share her travel plans with her family and friends including lodging
and transportation arrangements and the contact information for her onsite contacts.
Emily will need to dig in and do some research on cultural differences before she goes,
for instance perspectives on gender, race, sexual orientation,
and religious tolerance vary across cultures.
It will help minimize culture shock to know as much as possible
about her host country and its culture before she goes.
Emily should consider the clothing she brings along; that nice bathing suit she got on sale,
it might not get the same reaction she's used to at home.
It's probably best for Emily to err on the side of caution
and bring conservative non-revealing clothing.
In many countries, women are expected to cover their knees and wear close toe shoes.
This may mean a different wardrobe than she wears on campus.
Emily and her fellow interns will also need to consider appropriate clothing
for their work assignments as well as their leisure time and weekend travel.
If she plans to exercise while overseas, she'll also want to find culturally appropriate
and conservative active wear to bring along.
It may also be useful for Emily to consider how she'll be doing her laundry.
She may have to hand wash or hand dry her clothes.
If she's lucky, she may have access to laundry machines and dry cleaning,
but she shouldn't bring too many items which rely solely on these processes.
After registering her travel, talking with her family, researching local customs,
and packing her bags, Emily is ready to go.
Hey, Em don't forget your passport.
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>> She's arrived and settled in in her accommodations.
Early on, she'll talk to her host family, or host organization
about precautions to take in her area.
Remember she's not in Hanover anymore; she should prepare some questions
such as how late can I stay out, or is it safe to go running on my own?
Emily understands that there are other considerations for staying safe as well;
she's sure to avoid bringing visitors to her room when she's alone, she's been advised
to avoid political rallies and demonstrations, these may seem exciting,
but they can easily get out of hand to become dangerous.
While she misses her pets at home, Emily also knows that she should not approach animals
in her host country, Fido may be cute, they could also be carrying diseases or parasites.
Most importantly, she use common sense.
Tourists sometimes feel like that they are allowed to take a picture of anything
and anyone, but do be respectful Emily.
In many cultures, taking photos of people is considered rude, besides how would you feel
if you were enjoying your sandwich at a restaurant when someone snapped your photo?
Before taking photos or video of anyone, ask politely if it's okay.
Emily is enjoying her time in India and making new friends.
She's staying safe and thriving by following these general tips,
but what about all the stuff someone brings with them on a trip,
let's follow Sam as he packs his bags and prepares to finances to go to France.
Sam is nervous, he's going to France for three months,
how will he survive without all of his belongings?
His first instinct might be to bring every knitted sweater his grandmother made him,
every book he's ever wanted to read, a toy dog, and every electronic device in his room
but he'd be wise to relax, pack light.
Carrying around luggage between airports and bus stations can quickly become exhausting
and it leaves you much more vulnerable to theft.
It's better to under pack and buy inexpensive clothes and toiletries in your host country
than to over pack and have to take care of all of your belongings.
Remember, you're likely to return home with much more than you came with, so pack light.
It's easy these days to bring an unlocked GS enabled cell phone when you travel;
this is a phone that works in any country with a locally purchased and rechargeable sim card.
If Sam can't buy on before he goes, he can purchase one in his host country,
once the phone is activated, he'll make sure to load the phone numbers
of host organizations, lodging, and emergency contacts.
Before he goes, Sam will need to alert his bank of his travel plans, so they are not surprised
when if he charges from overseas.
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If he doesn't talk with the bank and his credit card providers about the trip,
they will likely cut off his card access; not a good spot to be in when traveling.
Sam is also considering buying personal property liability insurance to protect his belongings,
this is often inexpensive and may be available through his travel agent or as an add
on to his parent's home owner's insurance.
Sam is ready to go he boards his plane and he's off.
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Sam has arrived in France and he needs to withdraw some money.
Any savvy traveler knows to go a well lit ATM in a public area, always remain aware
of the surroundings, especially when exchanging or withdrawing money.
The crowded street presents many challenges and here we can easily see watching
over someone's shoulder and valuable personal belongings [inaudible].
ATM's inside banks or hotels can be good options but still use caution
and put away your money before you exit the building site.
Never leave your belongings unattended;
don't assume practices you can do at home translate aboard.
Not only do you temp good and honest people and risk the items being stolen
but it can leave an impression of disregard for goods
but might be worth someone's monthly salary.
While staying in hotels try to lock your valuables in your in room safe
or in a safety deposit box at the front desk.
Sam is off to a great start in his new home, he's packed light
and remembered to be aware of his surroundings.
But how is one to get around when overseas?
Let's check in with our adventurous friend Isabella,
who's trying out the different transportation options in Argentina.
Isabella knows she might be riding a bicycle to her internship so she's making sure
to bring a bike helmet with her, it might be hard to find one locally.
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>> When she's not riding to work on her bike,
Isabella is sure to practice defensive pedestrian rules,
she looks both ways several times before crossing the street
and never expects cars to stop for her.
In many countries, cars drive on the left side of the road, many tourists have been injured
by looking the wrong way when they cross the street.
Don't expect drivers to stop or slow down for you, unlike Hanover where cars stop
for pedestrians in most locations it's the pedestrians who must stop for the cars.
Ask your hosts about the best and safest forms of local transportation,
never take rides from kind strangers, always seek out legitimate companies
with a high safety record when using buses, taxis, and trains.
You may pay a bit more for transport but you will be traveling safely.
Isabella is loving her internship in Argentina and being safe while she travels.
All three of our travelers are off to a good start; now let's talk to some experts
to learn more about health and wellness while abroad.
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