| Traveling
Outside of the U.S.
Be sure to read
"Medical Issues if You are Traveling Outside of the U.S."
The U.S. State
Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs assists American citizens traveling or
living abroad. The Bureau also issues Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings,
and Public Announcements that provide important information to American citizens
considering foreign travel.
Check the U.S.
State Department's Travel Advisories for information about health and safety conditions
worldwide at U.S. State Department's International Travel site, http://travel.state.gov/travel.
Please consult
the UM International Travel Information Web Site http://www.umich.edu/itoc/
for information concerning overseas travel. This site is maintained by the University's
International Travel Oversight Committee. The University of Michigan requires
all faculty, staff, and students who are planning University-related international
travel (outside the United States) to provide emergency contact information. Such
travel may be conducted for study, research, participation in sponsored projects
or programs, business, or other purposes. To register this contact information,
please go to https://websvcs.itd.umich.edu/itoc-bin/main.
Emergency Contacts.
For travel-related emergencies (whether you are traveling or you urgently need
to contact someone else who is traveling), call the U.S. State Department's Citizens
Emergency Center 24-hour hotline at 1-888-407-4747 or from overseas 317-472-2328.
Important Information
Travel Warnings.
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant
information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries
where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as
Consular Information Sheets. For University guidelines on travel to countries for which a Travel Warning is in effect, please see www.umich.edu/~itoc/guidelines.html.
Public Announcements.
Public Announcements are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats
and other relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant
risks to the security of American travelers. They are made any time there is a
perceived threat and usually have Americans as a particular target group. In the
past, Public Announcements have been issued to deal with short-term coups, bomb
threats to airlines, violence by terrorists, and anniversary dates of specific
terrorist events.
Consular Information
Sheets. These are available for every country of the world. They include such
information as location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country,
unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances,
unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug
penalties. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough
to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included
under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security." Sometimes, U.S. embassy
information given to official employees is restated here. Consular Information
Sheets generally do not include advice, but present information in a factual manner
so the traveler can make his or her own decisions concerning travel to a particular
country.
Travel Warnings,
Public Announcements, and Consular Information Sheets may be heard at any time
by dialing the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, American Citizens Services
and Crisis Management, Bureau of Consular Affairs, at 202-647-5225 from a Touch-tone
telephone. The recording is updated as new information becomes available. Travel
Warnings, Public Announcements, and Consular Information Sheets may also be obtained
from the State Department's Web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel.
Advice
Read books and
explore Web sites about the country and about traveling abroad. See the International
Center Web site, http://www.umich.edu/~icenter/overseas/.
Also, the Center has an extensive library of books of interest for those traveling,
studying, or living abroad. Contact the IC's Overseas Opportunities Office, 603
E. Madison Street, 734-647-2299.
Become aware of
cultural taboos in the countries you plan to visit.
There are restrictions
on photography in certain countries. Check the Consular Information Sheet for
the countries you plan to travel to.
Know the language
or hire someone who is bilingual.
Know the location
of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. See the U.S. embassy Web site at http://usembassy.state.gov/.
Express yourself
with patience, diplomacy, and an unassuming manner in an effort to be perceived
as a welcomed visitor.
- Use the same precautions
abroad that you would in any U.S. metropolitan area.
- Avoid poorly lit
places and walking alone. Stick to well-traveled streets, and try to walk in groups
at night. Be especially cautious when you are new to a city and do not yet know
what parts of town may be less safe.
- Don't carry valuables,
even in a backpack or locked luggage. If you must carry cameras, radios, etc.,
don't leave them unattended.
- Don't flaunt wallets,
purses, or cameras. Wear a money belt, concealed under your clothing.
- Put valuables
in the hotel safe or ask your local contact about storing valuables at the program
site.
- Leave expensive or expensive-looking jewelry at home.
- Be on the offensive,
rather than the defensive. Be aware of your surroundings.
- When possible,
avoid traveling by car. More people are injured or killed abroad in automobile
accidents than through violent crime. Driving in a foreign country is particularly
dangerous as you may be unaware of driving customs and local laws.
For travel warnings
and emergency information for foreign-bound travelers, see http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html.
Personal Safety
for Women Travelers.
While it is impossible to generalize about the experience of women traveling in
all places in the world, you may experience some gender-specific challenges when
you live or travel abroad. Due to language and cultural differences, the men-and
the women-of your host country may interpret much differently what you consider
appropriate behavior for a woman in the U.S. This may be further compounded by
the fact that the people in some countries may have distorted or stereotypical
notions about American women based on images acquired through American film and
advertising. You should also be aware that behavior that is considered acceptable
in the U.S. may not be viewed this way abroad (e.g., whistling or personal comments).
A smile, eye contact,
certain clothing, or the way you carry yourself can connote
different things in different cultures. In many ways, you
are your own best resource. Read travel guides or articles,
and talk to women who have traveled to your host country.
The more familiar you are with the customs and traditions
of your host country, the more you will understand why they
exist-and the safer you will feel while you are abroad.
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