General Travel Information

Prescriptions If you take prescription medicine regularly or expect to take any while away, make sure to bring a sufficient supply with you for the time you will be abroad. Be sure to keep all prescription medications in their original bottles to facilitate clearance through customs. In many places, you will also need to carry a letter from your physician, stating why you need your prescription medication. Pack all prescription medicines in your carry-on luggage in case your checked baggage is lost or delayed.

Safety and Security Listed below are a variety of resources that we monitor regularly and that are open to the public:

1. State Department resources. The U.S. government provides accurate and timely information for overseas travelers on their websites: www.state.gov/travel and www.travel.state.gov. You may find information about emergencies, country info, visas, passports, living abroad, and other topics. The publications found at www.travel.state.gov/travel_pubs.html contain a variety of helpful tips for overseas travelers. 2. Consular Information Sheets. Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world and are given to all study abroad participants prior to departure. They include such information as location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security." Consular Information Sheets generally do not include advice, but present information in a factual manner so the traveler can make his or her own decisions concerning travel to a particular country. 3. Public Announcements. Public Announcements are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. They are made any time there is a perceived threat and usually have Americans as a particular target group. In the past, Public Announcements have been issued to deal with demonstrations, conferences, and violence by terrorists. o Travel Warnings. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC also provides valuable information for travelers on its website: www.cdc.gov/travel/

5. Personal Safety

In addition, students should consider the following safety-related issues.

Participants may want to consider having insurance to cover damage or theft of personal property, which they take with them abroad. Although occurrences are rare, your student may encounter personal property loss. Insurance company policies vary widely on the circumstances and amount of coverage for personal property abroad. In some instances, your homeowner's policy or your student's own renter's insurance policy is enough to provide limited coverage. In other cases, a special policy must be purchased. Check with your insurance company, or contact any insurance company that provides home or renter's insurance to learn more about the extent of coverage possible for personal property that your student will take with abroad. Most large cities as well as remote areas, in the U.S. and abroad, suffer from common crimes. Students should use the same precautions abroad that they would in any large metropolitan area. The following are some general safety precautions we give to students:

o Know where you are going. Do your homework before traveling: read guidebooks, look at maps, check with local staff, etc. o Leave expensive or expensive-looking jewelry at home. o Do not carry valuables, even in a backpack or locked luggage. If you must carry cameras, radios, etc. don't leave them unattended. o Do not flaunt wallets, purses, cell phones or cameras. Wear a money belt, concealed under your clothing. o Put valuables in the hotel safe or ask your local contact about storing valuables while at the program site.

Avoid unlit places and walking alone. Stick to well-traveled streets and walk in groups at night. Be especially cautious when you are new to a city and know little about what parts of town may be less safe. Personal Safety for Female Travelers Female students may or may not have thought about what it might mean to live as a woman in the country in which you will be studying abroad, but we encourage you to do so. While it is impossible to generalize about the experience of women traveling in all places in the world, you may experience some gender-specific challenges when you live or travel abroad. This is not to say that it is more dangerous to be a woman elsewhere in the world. In fact, the incidence of violent crime against women is higher in the U.S. than in many other countries. However, language and cultural differences might mean what you consider appropriate behavior for a woman in the U.S. will be interpreted much differently by the men-- and women--of your host country. This is further compounded by the fact that the people in some other countries may have distorted or stereotyped notions about American women, based on images acquired through American films and advertising. The very characteristics of U.S. women such as independence and strength may be conceived differently in other countries. A smile, eye contact, certain clothing, or the way you carry yourself can connote different things in different cultures. While we will supply you with what information we can, you are your own best resource. Read travel guides or articles and talk to women who have been to your host country. The more familiar you are with the customs and traditions of your host country, the more understanding you will have for why they exist and the safer you will feel while abroad. Some safety suggestions women on past programs have made include:

 Follow the example of women from your host country, in terms of culturally appropriate dress and demeanor.  Trust your instincts. If you do not feel safe in a situation or someone's behavior is making you uncomfortable, get out.  Travel in groups of at least two, especially when you are unfamiliar with a city or town.  Lock hotel rooms when traveling. Do not stay in hotels without adequate locks. The money you would save is not worth putting yourself at risk.  Walk with purpose and avoid eye contact with strangers.  Firmly say "no" to any invitation you do not want and turn away. Ignore persistent overtures.