Staying safe while studying abroad is incredibly important. When you travel to a foreign country and begin living and studying there, you will sometimes find yourself in situations where you question your own safety. Without the knowledge of how to conduct yourself in this new environment, you might put yourself in unnecessary danger. Therefore, we have decided to put together this blog article and educate you on how to stay safe out there. Although you might have already known about some of these tips, it can never hurt to solidify your knowledge while learning something new.
This is one of the best tips for staying safe in general. Wherever you are but especially if you are in unfamiliar territory and the hour is late, always be aware of your surroundings and the situation developing around you. That means that you should pay attention to where you are going and who is around you, as well as be mindful of any dangers that might be lurking just around the corner, whether you are outdoors or indoors. You will be less likely to be surprised and also more vigilant about perhaps moving away from a dangerous situation.
Staying safe while studying abroad is much easier if you keep a low profile. Of course, we are not talking about when you are on campus just going about your daily life. Rather, this applies more to situations where you might be walking home late at night through an unfamiliar street after a night out partying with your friends. Being a foreigner, you are more vulnerable to any bad actors. It is best to never draw more attention to yourself than necessary.
Going out drinking is one of the main ways college students bond all over the world. However, it should be done responsibly. If you are not careful, not only do you run the risk of someone putting something that you did not sign up for into your drink, but getting completely wasted is basically asking for trouble. Know your limits when it comes to alcohol and be careful not to overdo it as it can seriously inhibit your ability to practice situational awareness as well as maintain a low profile.
Staying safe while studying abroad does not only include keeping yourself safe but also your possessions. Related to situational awareness, you should always make sure that you know where your valuables are and keep them close to you. Also, regularly check if everything is where it is supposed to be. This might include things like taking off your backpack and holding it in front of you on crowded public transport or keeping your wallet out of your back pocket when walking through a busy area. That said, all of this falls away if someone threatens your life. In that case, give them whatever they want as it is not worth your well-being.
A great measure for staying safe in any situation is being in contact with friends. Although this can mean calling or messaging someone if you feel uncomfortable, it also means letting them know beforehand when you will be somewhere so they can check up on you and take action if necessary. Emergency contacts can be a lifesaver. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to develop strong friendships when studying abroad.
Although it might be a hassle, staying safe while studying abroad might involve carrying some stuff with you to help you get out of potentially sticky situations. What these items are will vary from person to person, but they are any combination of first aid kits, portable phone chargers, a flashlight, some emergency cash, as well pepper spray if legal. You never know when one of these might come in useful.
Our goal with this article was not to scare you away from studying abroad. On the contrary, we consider it to be one of the best experiences anyone could wish for. However, we also think that it is our responsibility to make sure that you know how to keep yourself safe in your new environment and truly enjoy this wonderful experience. Read up on some of our other articles for more useful info on studying abroad or contact us directly for specific questions. We hope that these tips will stay with you and keep you safe!
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