 Traveling in Europe, Canada or Australia can be pretty tame.
The majority of travelers there encounter few, if any,
problems. However, travel in many third-world countries brings a
host of potential problems into play. Even before September 11th Americans
(both civilian and military) were the target of extremists and this fact has
only gained strength since. Be very mindful of the following issues:
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Acquaint yourself with the
social mores (the fixed morally binding customs of a people).
Something as simple as giving the "okay" sign, shaking hands, or
eating with your left hand can be highly offensive.
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Know the political
situation in your destination country. Check the US
State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. This is the
US government division responsible for assisting Americans abroad.
The US State Department (and its equivalents overseas) releases "Consular
Information Sheets" on every country in the world in which they
describe visa requirements, quality of medical facilities, political
situations and embassy locations. The State Department also issues "Travel
Warnings" for political problems, national disasters or other
activities that may affect Americans in specific areas.
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Countries in the Middle
East are known for having Religious Police in addition to
"regular" law enforcement. These officers are to be
respected at all times! They operate under official branches of
law enforcement in various countries, and it is their job to enforce
religious law in their particular country. Be VERY mindful of
your behavior. You can be jailed for several days over something
as minor as trimming a beard or staring at a woman.
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- The Association
for Safe International Road Travel, founded by parents of a
student killed in a car accident in Turkey in 1995, provides free
worldwide recommendations on safe car rental and public
transportation. The reports are gathered from sources
such as the United Nations, International Road Federation, newspapers and
locals. They contain specific information on traffic regulations,
English translations of road signs, road conditions, etc.
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| The leading cause
of American deaths and serious injuries abroad is transportation
accidents. Know the quality of
public transportation. |
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In third-world countries,
it will be nearly
impossible to blend in, and you'll stand out like a million bucks. Nonetheless, dress conservatively, and don't
show off your "amazing" field gear.
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Let people know where you
are going to be. Leave your travel itinerary with friends or family
and check in with the local American embassy if you are going to be in one
location for a week or longer.
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Make inquiries about the
poisonous
plants you may encounter, and check on the dangerous animals such as
poisonous
snakes,
crocodiles, poisonous frogs, etc.
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Carry your money,
passport
and tickets in a neck or waist pouch under your clothes. If you're
mugged, give up whatever you're asked to.
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Carry a road map
(in addition to your geologic maps) of the region you'll be in so you have
a general idea of where you are at.
Check with a travel agent or the Wisconsin
Union Travel Center.
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Avoid traveling at
night. Some foreign highway systems are very poorly maintained, and
emergency services will often take longer to reach you.
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