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Avoiding crime, adhering to new requirements makes for travel bliss
By Lou Christopher
achris25@mscd.edu

Students going abroad for spring break and those interested in Metro’s study abroad program should be aware of possible dangers while traveling and new passport requirements.

Every year 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad and about half of those are charged with narcotics violations, which often arise from small amounts of illegal substances, according to the State Department.

In some countries, conduct that would not result in an arrest in the U.S. may constitute a violation of local law.

Cultural differences can also affect the way Americans should behave while abroad.

“In other countries, the cultures can be so different. In some countries you shouldn’t make eye contact, because that is an invitation, especially when you are a girl, you have to be careful, and you have to know that,” said Gudrun Clay, a professor of modern languages at Metro and chair of Metro’s international education committee.

Safety is probably a bigger concern than cultural differences, but responsibility is the key.

“It’s common sense to me – because I travel a lot – but not to everybody. If you want to go out in the evening in a foreign country, you don’t go out alone,” Clay said.

“In group travel, Metro is responsible for the safety. In individual travel, the student is responsible for his own safety.”

If a student is traveling with the study abroad program, proof of insurance in America and abroad is required, and students must sign a waiver to travel.

Students who don’t follow the rules and misbehave while with the study abroad program will be kicked out of the country and the class and will also lose their tuition.

“I think everybody thinks it is such a privilege to experience another country that they really behave well,” Clay said, adding that she has never had a problem with misbehavior from a study abroad class.

Americans can register their plans for foreign travel, in case of a family emergency or a crisis in the country they’re visiting, on the State Department’s website at http://travelregistration.state.gov. The travel abroad program requires registration with the site, and has an extensive checklist to be followed before travel to another country is approved.

“If you decide to travel, you should register with the State Department,” Clay said.

The State Department also offers a country-by-country list on their website with concerns that should be taken into consideration, such as crime levels and penalties, health information and travel conditions.

If a country has considerable problems, the department will issue a travel warning encouraging Americans to avoid travel to that country. There are currently 31 countries that have travel warnings.
Aside from respecting foreign law, the department said getting a passport is also a concern due to new passport requirements.

Effective Jan. 23, U.S. citizens traveling back to the United States by air from all countries – including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean – will be required to have a passport to re-enter the country.

Acquiring a passport can take several weeks, so the department urges students who intend to travel over spring break to apply now.

The new requirement currently applies only to air travel.