• Basic Information

  • What type of government does your host country have? Who do the majority and minority parties represent and who are their leaders? What are the distinguishing differences among these parties?
  • What is the geography of your host country like? How about the climate?
  • Do you know a brief history of your host country? How long has it been independent? Was it a colonizer or a colony? Was it a major power in the region at some time? Did it win or lose any important wars? How long has the current governmental structure and/or system been in operation?
  • What is the education system like? How much education is compulsory? Does the government heavily subsidize higher education?
  • What languages are present? Are these official or unofficial? Do these languages represent any geographical, economic, or other divisions?
  • What religions are present? Are these official or unofficial? What do you know about these religions (e.g., beliefs, practices, holidays)? If the country is mainly Christian, does it have a patron saint?
  • Who are the service workers of your host country? Did they come from somewhere else and why? Who is the elite of your host country? Is there an indigenous population? How do these groups relate?
  • Who are the national heroes/heroines? Who are the celebrities?
  • What kind of relationship does your host country have with the USA?

  
  General Attitudes

  • Are the roles of men and women in your host distinctly different? How are these differences manifested? How should you respond to this while in the culture?
  • What is an appropriate school dress for men? For women? How about social occasion dress for men? For women? How should you dress in order to be appropriate in your host country?
  • Is your host country's culture formal or informal when meeting new people? How does the culture respond to personal questions?

  
  Customs

  • What is the formal way of greeting someone in your host country? The informal way? Do they use gestures like handshakes, kisses, hugs, etc.?
  • What is a "typical" home visit like?
  • What familiar "western" gestures are used in normal conversation? Which gestures might be considered inappropriate or insulting?

  
  Lifestyles

  • What is the place of family life in your host culture? Is most entertaining at home or away? Is it formal or informal?
  • What are the dating and marriage customs of your host culture (e.g., typical age? Do couples live together before/instead of marriage?, Are there a church or civil ceremonies?)
  • What do the people of your host country eat (i.e., what are the typical foods)? Which meals are eaten at home or outside the home? By whom?
  • What are the popular sports and entertainment activities of your host culture? What do these reflect about the people in your host country? About the age groups?
  • What are normal business hours? What are the major holidays and what determines these holidays (religion, state laws, politics, etc.)?

   

All students on our study abroad programs are legally adults and are ultimately responsible for their decision-making and their safety. We expect students to act in a safe and thoughtful manner; otherwise, we reserve the right to ask a student to leave the program.

We encourage students and parents to have in-depth discussions about safety before and during the study abroad process. We also encourage parents and students to read the Health and Safety practices recommended by the Interorganizational Task Force on Safety and Responsibility in Study Abroad, a consortium made up of the leading organizations in overseas studies.

We believe these practices offer a helpful overview of the best practices for study abroad providers, students and parents in health and safety issues.

Responsibilities of Participants

In study abroad, as in other settings, participants can have a major impact on their own health and safety through the decisions they make before and during their program and by their day-to-day choices and behaviors.

Participants should:

A. Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations.

B. Read and carefully consider all materials issued by the sponsor that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies).

C. Conduct their own research on the country(ies) they plan to visit with particular emphasis on health and safety concerns, as well as the social, cultural, and political situations.

D. Consider their physical and mental health, and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in a program, and make available to the sponsor accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.

E. Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.

F. Inform parents/guardians/families and any others who may need to know about their participation in the study abroad program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed of their whereabouts and activities.

G. Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the program.

H. Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health or safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals before and/or during the program.

I. Accept responsibility for their own decisions and actions.

J. Obey host-country laws.

K. Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well being of others, and encourage others to behave in a similar manner.

L. Avoid illegal drugs and excessive or irresponsible consumption of alcohol.

M. Follow the program policies for keeping program staff informed of their whereabouts and well being.

N. Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and legal system services in the host county.

III. Recommendations to Parents/Guardians/Families

In study abroad, as in other settings, parents, guardians, and families can play an important role in the health and safety of participants by helping them make decisions and by influencing their behavior overseas.

Parents/guardians/families should:

A. Be informed about and involved in the decision of the participant to enroll in a particular program.

B. Obtain and carefully evaluate participant program materials, as well as related health, safety and security information.

C. Discuss with the participant any of his/her travel plans and activities that may be independent of the study abroad program.

D. Engage the participant in a thorough discussion of safety and behavior issues, insurance needs, and emergency procedures related to living abroad.

E. Be responsive to requests from the program sponsor for information regarding the participant.

F. Keep in touch with the participant.

G. Be aware that the participant, rather than the program may most appropriately provide some information.

This material was reproduced with permission from the Interorganizational Task Force on Safety and Responsibility in Study Abroad, Revised November 8, 2002.

Staying Safe While Studying Abroad

By Erin E. Sullivan

The first step to staying safe is becoming familiar with the area where you live and go to school. Ask other students, campus security, your program director, or the International Student Office for local safety information.

• Find out which areas of your town or city are safe and unsafe during the daytime and at night. Avoid dangerous areas where you could become the victim of a crime.

• Don’t use shortcuts, narrow alleys, or poorly lit streets.

• Try not to travel alone at night.

• Keep a low profile and try not to stand out as a foreigner or tourist. In most places, wearing tennis shoes, baseball hats, jeans, or sweatpants are dead giveaways that you're American. Observe the local dress standards — and don't hang a camera around your neck.

• Never, ever discuss travel plans or personal information with strangers.

Aim to blend in. Speak the language of your host country instead of English. Also, speak softly. Americans tend to speak loudly and this attracts attention. Don't frequent American hangouts like McDonald's — pickpockets can linger around looking for unsuspecting American students.

Warding off pickpockets

When you're out and about in your host country, pay attention to your surroundings just as you would in any public place. Remember that crowded elevators, festivals, market places, subways, train stations, tourist sites, and marginal areas of cities are prime locations for thieves and scam artists. Beware of strangers who approach you offering bargains or to be your guide.

Petty theft is rampant in many countries, and foreigners are almost always a favorite target. Pickpockets often have an accomplice who jostles you, asks you for directions or the time, points to something spilled on your clothing, or otherwise distracts you by creating a disturbance as the pickpocket runs off with your money. Wear the shoulder strap of your bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to avoid drive-by purse-snatchers.

A child or even a woman carrying a baby can be a pickpocket. Beware of groups of vagrant children who create a distraction while picking your pocket.

If you're confronted by a thief, don't fight back. Just give him what he asks for. Give up your valuables. Your money and passport can be replaced, but you cannot.

Use the following tips to keep yourself safe on the streets:

• Try to seem purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost, act as if you know where you're going. Consult maps very discreetly.

• When possible, ask directions only from individuals in authority.

• Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances.

• Learn a few phrases in the local language so that you can signal your need for help, the police, or a doctor.

• Make a note of emergency telephone numbers you may need: police, fire, your hotel, host family, roommates, program director, and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

The U.S. Embassy is available to help you if you're the victim of a crime. Every embassy has an officer on call 24 hours a day to assist in an emergency and help you get in touch with medical care or police.

Staying safe aboard public transportation

As a student studying in a foreign country, you are probably not going to have access to a car. Wherever you're going, you'll likely be relying on your own two feet or public transportation to get you from place to place.

The consular information sheets on the State Department Web site list whether a country has a pattern of tourists being targeted by criminals on public transport in the "Crime Information" section. Even if your area isn't listed, always carefully watch your belongings while you travel.

Taxis

In cities, taxis are often the safest way to travel at night, but remember to keep your wits about you. Take only those taxis clearly identified with official markings. Beware of unmarked cabs or drivers soliciting passengers in train stations or airports: They may take advantage of you or take you somewhere you don't want to go. Never get into a taxi if someone is already in the backseat. Never put your bags in the taxi before you get in — the driver could take off with your stuff! Try to become familiar with routes to and from your destination so that taxis don't take the longest and most expensive routes possible.

When going out, always take enough money for a taxi home.

Trains and buses

Public transportation may be a new adventure for you and can be challenging and difficult until you get used to it. If you're intimidated by the rules and routes, take a friend with you to show you the ropes your first time out. If you do venture out on your own, carry a map of public transportation systems with you until you are comfortable getting where you need to go. Plan your routes ahead of time, and make sure you know the fares and how to signal the driver to stop.

Passenger robberies along popular tourist routes on trains and buses are a serious problem, but you can protect yourself. Take a look at the following list for some tips:

• First and foremost, never accept food or drink from strangers when traveling on trains and buses. Criminals have been known to put drugs in food or drink offered to passengers, and then rob them while they're sleeping.

• Crime on trains and buses is more common at night and especially on overnight trains. You don't need to avoid such trips altogether, but do stay alert and in tune with your surroundings.

• Remember the following if you travel via train at night:

• Lock your compartment.
• If you are unable to securely lock your compartment, sleep in shifts with your traveling companions. If you're traveling alone, stay awake.
• If you must sleep and are traveling alone, tie down your luggage, strap your valuables to you, and sleep on top of them as much as possible.

• Never be afraid to alert train authorities if you feel threatened in any way during your trip. Extra police are often assigned to ride trains on routes where crime is a serious problem.

In some countries, entire busloads of passengers have been robbed by gangs of bandits.

Memorizing the rules of the road

Road rules and conditions vary widely by country and region and likely aren't what you're used to.

If you rent a car for a road trip, make sure to take a friend with you (and a mobile phone if you have one) and follow these tips:

• Don't rent something exotic (like an SUV); choose a car that you see on the roads in the country you're in.

• Fully insure the car for the duration of your trip and make sure you have contact numbers for roadside assistance.

• Keep good road maps on hand.

• Ask your rental car agency for advice on avoiding robbery while visiting tourist destinations.

• Where possible, ask that markings that identify the rental car as a rental be removed, otherwise you're an easy target for thieves who prey on tourists.

• Make certain that the car is in good shape and recently serviced. When possible, choose a car with automatic door locks and power windows.

• Get a car with air conditioning so you can drive with the windows closed. Thieves can snatch purses and bags through open windows of moving cars.

• Keep bags and purses out of sight locked in the trunk.

• Keep car doors locked at all times. Wear seat belts.

• As much as possible, avoid driving at night.

• Don't leave valuables in the car.

• Don't park your car on the street overnight. If you can't park in a parking garage or other secure area, select a well-lit area.

• Never pick up hitchhikers.

• Don't stop to help strangers or accept help from anyone except authorized roadside assistance. Criminals may pose as stranded motorists seeking help. Or they may flag you down, ask for assistance, and then steal your luggage or car. Usually, they work in groups; one person preoccupies you by chatting while the others rob you.

• Never put yourself into a situation in which you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. If the area where you planned to park doesn't feel safe to you, drive away instead.

According to the State Department, victimization of motorists has been refined to an art in many places frequented by tourists, including areas of southern Europe. Where this sort of crime is a problem, U.S. Embassies are aware of it and try to warn the public about the dangers. In some locations, these efforts at public awareness have paid off, reducing the frequency of incidents.

Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, in parking lots, in city traffic, and along the highway — basically, anywhere there are cars. In extreme instances, criminals may attempt to get your attention with abuse, either trying to drive you off the road or causing an "accident" by rear-ending you and creating a fender bender. Or in some urban areas, thieves don't waste time on ploys: They simply smash your car windows at traffic lights, grab your valuables or your car, and getaway.

The bottom line is that it is simply better to avoid driving in a foreign country. If you must drive, drive defensively, and keep an eye out for potentially criminal pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders.

Source:  http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/staying-safe-while-studying-abroad.html

Transportation-related incidents are among the most common tragedies for Americans traveling abroad.

We do not recommend that students rent a vehicle or drive any vehicle while outside the USA.

Traffic laws, patterns and practices are often very different than in the USA and American travelers are often not prepared to navigate safely in another country.  Additionally, road signs are often unfamiliar and/or in another language, thus leading to driving safety issues.

• Do not ride in a vehicle with anyone but a local, licensed and alert driver
• Do not ride in a vehicle with any driver that is intoxicated and/or impaired
• Use extra caution that a vehicle is in good working condition and appropriate for passenger safety

We support the work of the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) and employs its Transportation Safety Checklists and Road Safety Tool Box for Study Abroad in staff training, student orientations, travel planning, and vetting of transportation providers.

Please visit ASIRT’s website at www.asirt.org for more information about this organization and its road safety initiatives in the U.S. and around the world.

Adjusting to life in the host country can be challenging and stressful. There will be new foods, unfamiliar behaviors, and often a different language. The level of the challenge and the amount of stress experienced will depend largely on each student’s preparation and expectations, personality and their level of immersion in the host culture.

Individual differences can greatly affect cross-cultural adjustment. Being high-strung in a laid-back culture, a Muslim in a predominately Catholic country, a vegan in a country that serves meat at every meal, a student of color, a woman, a student with a disability, a member of the LGBT community, etc. all affect a student’s cross-cultural adjustment. That is not to say that members of these groups do not adjust well, it is simply to say that these are factors to consider.

The following text provides an explanation of cultural adjustment, a list of symptoms that students may experience, a description of the stages of cross-cultural adjustment and tips on how to respond. This information is based on L. Robert Kohl’s Survival Kit for Overseas Living. The complete edition can be found on Google Books.

What is Cultural Adjustment?

Cross-cultural adjustment, often called “culture shock,” has many contributing factors including:

• being cut off from familiar cultural cues and known patterns
• living and/or working over an extended period of time in a situation that is ambiguous
• having one’s values brought into question
• being expected to function with maximum skill and speed in a setting where the rules have not been adequately explained

Cultural adjustment is a slow, cumulative feeling of frustration that can cause intense discomfort. It is often accompanied by hyper-irritability, anger, resentment, homesickness, and depression. In some cases distinct physical symptoms of psychosomatic illness occur.

Not everyone will experience a severe case of adjustment, nor will all the symptoms be observed in any single individual. Many people sail through cross-cultural adjustment with relative ease, only now and again experiencing the more serious reactions. But many others do not.

One might say that cross-cultural adjustment is the occupational hazard of overseas living. One has to be willing to go through it in order to have the pleasures of experiencing other countries and cultures.

The following chart lists the multiple reactions which people normally have to cultural adjustment.

What are the Stages of Cross-Cultural Adjustment?

There are several stages of cross-cultural adjustment, and though they are not absolutes, most students can see in themselves the characteristics of these stages.

1. Initial Euphoria
   Most people begin their study abroad experience with great expectations and a positive mindset. If anything, they come with expectations that are too high and attitudes that are too positive toward the host country. At this point, anything new is intriguing and exciting. But, for the most part, it is the similarities that stand out. The newcomer is really impressed with how people everywhere are really very much alike. This period of euphoria may last from a week to a month, but the letdown is inevitable.
2. Irritability and Hostility
   Gradually, a student’s focus turns from the similarities to the differences, and these differences, which suddenly seem to be everywhere, are troubling. Students tend to overreact and turn little, seemingly insignificant difficulties into major catastrophes. This is the stage generally identified as culture shock, and students may experience any of the symptoms listed in the chart above.
3. Gradual Adjustment
   In this stage the crisis is over, and students are on their way to recovery. This step may come so gradually that, at first, students are unaware that it is even happening. Once students can orient themselves and are able to interpret some of the subtle cultural cues that passed by unnoticed earlier, the culture seems more familiar. They become more comfortable in it and feel less isolated from it.
4. Adaptation and Bi-culturalism
   Full recovery will result in an ability to function in two cultures with confidence. Students who reach this stage will even find a great many customs, ways of doing and saying things, and personal attitudes which they enjoy and miss when they return home.

Students often experience “reverse culture shock” upon their return to the United States. In some cases, particularly where a person has adjusted exceptionally well to the host country, reverse culture shock may cause greater distress than the original culture shock.

Health and Wellness

All students in our study abroad programs are legally adults and are ultimately responsible for their decision-making and their safety. We expect students to act in a safe and thoughtful manner; otherwise, we reserve the right to ask a student to leave the program.

We encourage students and parents to have in-depth discussions about safety before and during the study abroad process. We also encourage parents and students to read the Health and Safety practices recommended by the Interorganizational Task Force on Safety and Responsibility in Study Abroad, a consortium made up of the leading organizations in overseas studies.

We believe these practices offer a helpful overview of the best practices for study abroad providers, students, and parents in health and safety issues.

Responsibilities of Participants
In study abroad, as in other settings, participants can have a major impact on their own health and safety through the decisions they make before and during their program and by their day-to-day choices and behaviors.
 

Participants should:
A. Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations.

B. Read and carefully consider all materials issued by the sponsor that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies).

C. Conduct their own research on the country(ies) they plan to visit with particular emphasis on health and safety concerns, as well as the social, cultural, and political situations.

D. Consider their physical and mental health and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in a program, and make available to the sponsor accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary for planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.

E. Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.

F. Inform parents/guardians/families and any others who may need to know about their participation in the study abroad program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed of their whereabouts and activities.

G. Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the program.

H. Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health or safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals before and/or during the program.

I. Accept responsibility for their own decisions and actions.

J. Obey host-country laws.

K. Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well being of others and encourages others to behave in a similar manner.

L. Avoid illegal drugs and excessive or irresponsible consumption of alcohol.

M. Follow the program policies for keeping program staff informed of their whereabouts and well being.

N. Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and legal system services in the host county.

III. Recommendations to Parents/Guardians/Families

In study abroad, as in other settings, parents, guardians, and families can play an important role in the health and safety of participants by helping them make decisions and by influencing their behavior overseas.

Parents/guardians/families should:

A. Be informed about and involved in the decision of the participant to enroll in a particular program.

B. Obtain and carefully evaluate participant program materials, as well as related health, safety, and security information.

C. Discuss with the participant any of his/her travel plans and activities that may be independent of the study abroad program.

D. Engage the participant in a thorough discussion of safety and behavior issues, insurance needs, and emergency procedures related to living abroad.

E. Be responsive to requests from the program sponsor for information regarding the participant.

F. Keep in touch with the participant.

G. Be aware that the participant rather than the program may most appropriately provide some information.

This material reproduced with permission from the Interorganizational Task Force on Safety and Responsibility in Study Abroad, Revised November 8, 2002.

Staying Safe While Studying Abroad

By Erin E. Sullivan

The first step to staying safe is becoming familiar with the area in which you live and go to school. Ask other students, campus security, your program director, or the International Student Office for local safety information.

• Find out which areas of your town or city are safe and unsafe during the daytime and at night. Avoid dangerous areas where you could become the victim of a crime.
• Don't use shortcuts, narrow alleys, or poorly lit streets.
• Try not to travel alone at night.
• Keep a low profile and try not to stand out as a foreigner or tourist. In most places, wearing tennis shoes, baseball hats, jeans, or sweatpants are dead giveaways that you're American. Observe the local standards of dress — and don't hang a camera around your neck.
• Never, ever discuss travel plans or personal information with strangers.

Aim to blend in. Speak the language of your host country instead of English. Also, speak softly. Americans tend to speak loudly and this attracts attention. Don't frequent American hangouts like McDonald's — pickpockets can linger around looking for unsuspecting American students.

Warding off pickpockets

When you're out and about in your host country, pay attention to your surroundings just as you would in any public place. Remember that crowded elevators, festivals, market places, subways, train stations, tourist sites, and marginal areas of cities are prime locations for thieves and scam artists. Beware of strangers who approach you offering bargains or to be your guide.

Petty theft is rampant in many countries, and foreigners are almost always a favorite target. Pickpockets often have an accomplice who jostles you, asks you for directions or the time, points to something spilled on your clothing, or otherwise distracts you by creating a disturbance as the pickpocket runs off with your money. Wear the shoulder strap of your bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to avoid drive-by purse-snatchers.

A child or even a woman carrying a baby can be a pickpocket. Beware of groups of vagrant children who create a distraction while picking your pocket.

If you're confronted by a thief, don't fight back. Just give him what he asks for. Give up your valuables. Your money and passport can be replaced, but you cannot.

Use the following tips to keep yourself safe on the streets:

• Try to seem purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost, act as if you know where you're going. Consult maps very discreetly.
• When possible, ask directions only from individuals in authority.
• Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances.
• Learn a few phrases in the local language so that you can signal your need for help, the police, or a doctor.
• Make a note of emergency telephone numbers you may need: police, fire, your hotel, host family, roommates, program director, and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

The U.S. Embassy is available to help you if you're the victim of a crime. Every embassy has an officer on call 24 hours a day to assist in an emergency and help you get in touch with medical care or police.

Staying safe aboard public transportation

As a student studying in a foreign country, you are probably not going to have access to a car. Wherever you're going, you'll likely be relying on your own two feet or public transportation to get you from place to place.

The consular information sheets on the State Department Web site list whether a country has a pattern of tourists being targeted by criminals on public transport in the "Crime Information" section. Even if your area isn't listed, always carefully watch your belongings while you travel.

Taxis

In cities, taxis are often the safest way to travel at night, but remember to keep your wits about you. Take only those taxis clearly identified with official markings. Beware of unmarked cabs or drivers soliciting passengers in train stations or airports: They may take advantage of you or take you somewhere you don't want to go. Never get into a taxi if someone is already in the backseat. Never put your bags in the taxi before you get in — the driver could take off with your stuff! Try to become familiar with routes to and from your destination so that taxis don't take the longest and most expensive routes possible.

When going out, always take enough money for a taxi home.

Trains and buses

Public transportation may be a new adventure for you and can be challenging and difficult until you get used to it. If you're intimidated by the rules and routes, take a friend with you to show you the ropes your first time out. If you do venture out on your own, carry a map of public transportation systems with you until you are comfortable getting where you need to go. Plan your routes ahead of time, and make sure you know the fares and how to signal the driver to stop.

Passenger robberies along popular tourist routes on trains and buses are a serious problem, but you can protect yourself. Take a look at the following list for some tips:

• First and foremost, never accept food or drink from strangers when traveling on trains and buses. Criminals have been known to put drugs in food or drink offered to passengers, and then rob them while they're sleeping.
• Crime on trains and buses is more common at night and especially on overnight trains. You don't need to avoid such trips altogether, but do stay alert and in tune with your surroundings.
• Remember the following if you travel via train at night:

• Lock your compartment.

• If you are unable to securely lock your compartment, sleep in shifts with your traveling companions. If you're traveling alone, stay awake.

• If you must sleep and are traveling alone, tie down your luggage, strap your valuables to you, and sleep on top of them as much as possible.

• Never be afraid to alert train authorities if you feel threatened in any way during your trip. Extra police are often assigned to ride trains on routes where crime is a serious problem.

In some countries, entire busloads of passengers have been robbed by gangs of bandits.

Memorizing the rules of the road

Road rules and conditions vary widely by country and region and likely aren't what you're used to.

If you rent a car for a road-trip, make sure to take a friend with you (and a mobile phone if you have one) and follow these tips:

• Don't rent something exotic (like an SUV); choose a car that you see on the roads in the country you're in.
• Fully insure the car for the duration of your trip and make sure you have contact numbers for roadside assistance.
• Keep good road maps on hand.
• Ask your rental car agency for advice on avoiding robbery while visiting tourist destinations.
• Where possible, ask that markings that identify the rental car as a rental be removed, otherwise you're an easy target for thieves who prey on tourists.
• Make certain that the car is in good shape and recently serviced. When possible, choose a car with automatic door locks and power windows.
• Get a car with air conditioning so you can drive with the windows closed. Thieves can snatch purses and bags through open windows of moving cars.
• Keep bags and purses out of sight locked in the trunk.
• Keep car doors locked at all times. Wear seat belts.
• As much as possible, avoid driving at night.
• Don't leave valuables in the car.
• Don't park your car on the street overnight. If you can't park in a parking garage or other secure area, select a well-lit area.
• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• Don't stop to help strangers or accept help from anyone except authorized roadside assistance. Criminals may pose as stranded motorists seeking help. Or they may flag you down, ask for assistance, and then steal your luggage or car. Usually they work in groups; one person preoccupies you by chatting while the others rob you.
• Never put yourself into a situation in which you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. If the area where you planned to park doesn't feel safe to you, drive away instead.

According to the State Department, victimization of motorists has been refined to an art in many places frequented by tourists, including areas of southern Europe. Where this sort of crime is a problem, U.S. Embassies are aware of it and try to warn the public about the dangers. In some locations, these efforts at public awareness have paid off, reducing the frequency of incidents.

Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, in parking lots, in city traffic, and along the highway — basically, anywhere there are cars. In extreme instances, criminals may attempt to get your attention with abuse, either trying to drive you off the road or causing an "accident" by rear-ending you and creating a fender bender. Or in some urban areas, thieves don't waste time on ploys: They simply smash your car windows at traffic lights, grab your valuables or your car, and get away.

The bottom line is that it is simply better to avoid driving in a foreign country. If you must drive, drive defensively, and keep an eye out for potentially criminal pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders.

Pre-Departure Manual