Safety issues are addressed in the Study Abroad Orientation before students leave campus, it’s reiterated each time we meet with students to respond to their specific questions, when the student first arrive on-site at the host institution and in any published materials that we disseminate. Once on-site at their host institution, we strongly recommend that students try not to draw unnecessary attention to themselves as Americans (e.g. constantly wear UWF t-shirts or other university-specific clothes), and always travel with a partner but not in a pack.
Equally important about safety abroad is that students follow all the laws and rules of their host university and country. The use of alcohol and traffic-related accidents and injuries present the same potential risks as they do in the U.S. Be aware that laws concerning consumption of alcohol and driving may be significantly different abroad and all students should learn as quickly as possible what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. We discourage students from renting cars or using other people’s transportation. Typically, public transportation, such as trains and buses, in other countries is superior in terms of reliability and safety compared to what is offered in the United States. Although we cannot regulate or prohibit students’ consumption of alcohol, we strongly encourage students to observe and respect the local customs of alcohol use.
