Safety Information

Be Prepared

Discuss safety and terrorism issues with your family; develop emergency contact procedures.
Research health and safety information, not only for the country in which you will be living, but also for any country you may be visiting.
Leave behind photocopies of your passport, visa, travel arrangements, airline tickets, and travelers check receipts. Take a copy for yourself and keep in a safe place.
Keep your emergency contact card with you at all times. This card includes emergency phone numbers for study abroad coordinators at Northeastern and your host school. You should also keep contact numbers on you for the nearest US embassy or consulate; and your health insurance company.
When you are traveling independently from a school-sponsored trip, notify a school administrator and at least one friend on your program where you will be going and when you expect to return. If you enter a new country, register with the US consulate or embassy.

Know the rules of conduct-cultural, civil, and criminal-before you go.
Don't ask for trouble by acting in a disrespectful manner, assuming that what is appropriate speech and behavior in the US is also appropriate in your host country.
Remember you are the guest. So you need to be sensitive to your hosts, not vise versa.
A good rule of thumb is to carefully observe what the locals do and, when in doubt, ASK.
Never Travel Alone

DON'T DO IT! The majority of accidents and deaths overseas involve drugs and alcohol.
If you carry or take drugs, you will be subject to the laws and penalties of the country in which you are visiting, and in most cases, they will be more severe than in the US. They will not care if you are a US citizen; they will not care if it was just a small amount; and there will be nothing that the US government or your family will be able to do for you. The average jail sentence worldwide for a drug conviction is 7 years, and that does not include the length of time you will sit in jail waiting for a trial.
Being abroad, you will be less able to discern the safety of your environment and the trustworthiness of the people around you. This makes you even more susceptible to problems, such as theft and assault, when under the influence.

Always be aware of your surroundings and use the street-smart senses you have developed by living in Boston.
Always keep your valuables (passport, money, credit card) in a safe place when at school and wear them in a money belt when touring.
Do not put valuables in exterior pockets of backpacks or book-bags or leave them unattended.
Find out which areas are considered unsafe by the locals and avoid them.
Always carry emergency cash for phone calls or cab fares.

Going to a political "hot spot" may sound exciting in the abstract, but it is not worth your life.
Pay attention to US travel advisories and school warnings. They are policy for a reason.
Avoid demonstrations. What appears peaceful can suddenly change into a dangerous situation, and you could become caught in the middle.

When living in a different culture, you can't expect that relations between genders will follow American traditions and rules.
Be advised that men from other cultures may mistake friendliness for romantic interest.
In many other cultures, it is acceptable for men to approach women, even touch them, without permission - especially if the woman is "western".
Some ways to avoid this are by dressing conservatively or adopting local dressing habits. Avoid walking alone or meeting a person you do not know well in a non-public place.
Do not travel alone. In some countries, an unaccompanied woman is an open invitation.

DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY. Traffic accidents are actually one of the major causes of injury and death among international travelers.
Drive responsibly if you rent a car. Be especially cautious since you will be in unfamiliar territory. Learn the local customs and signs. Most importantly, know on which side of the road people drive!
Be cautious even when using public transportation, and never get in a vehicle you suspect will not safely make it to your destination. Avoid overnight transport, which in many countries has become targets for crime.
Do not hitchhike.

The best advice is to know and obey the laws of your host school and country.
Should you find yourself in legal difficulty, contact your program coordinator or a consular officer immediately. They cannot serve as your legal counsel but they can provide you with a list of local attorneys who speak English, advise you of your rights under local laws, ensure that you are held under humane conditions, and are treated fairly under local law.
Under international law, you have the right to talk to the US consul if you are detained. If you are denied this right, be persistent and try to get someone else to contact the consulate.
Legal protections, taken for granted in the US, are nonexistent in some other countries. You may be "presumed guilty until proven innocent", denied bail, and detained until trial.