Study Abroad
Study Abroad Short-term Program Pre-departure Information for Students
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Staying Healthy Abroad
Good health is a prerequisite to an enjoyable stay abroad and crucial while you are traveling. You may be exposed to unfamiliar climates, food, medicine and health care systems. In many cases, a good measure of common sense and a health respect for your own body (and its limitations) will help to avoid medical problems. A few preliminary precautions can spare you a good deal of unpleasantness.
There are a number of precautions you can take while abroad to ensure that you stay healthy. Here are some basic pointers:
- Monitor your health. Do not run yourself into the ground trying to see everything and to sample all the culinary delights. Moderation will pay off in the long run.
- Eat well. This does not mean spending money freely in elegant restaurants, but it does mean eating a well-balanced diet. Note to vegetarians --You may find that maintaining a vegetarian diet abroad can be a challenge since many countries use meat as a staple of their cuisine. It may be difficult to obtain enough quality fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy diet, and meal plans may or may not include vegetarian offerings.
- Watch what you eat. Traveling will bring your body in contact with different bacteria, which are not necessarily harmful in themselves, but the change can unsettle your stomach or cause other health problems. Water, including ice cubes, milk, fresh fruit and unwashed, raw vegetables could upset your system until your body adjusts to its new surroundings.
- Take measures to reduce the risk of exposure to STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Intimate contact could expose you to different bacteria or viruses that could lead to infections or contraction of STDs, including AIDS.
- Know where to get treatment. When you settle in, find out where health care facilities are and check your IAMAT directory of physicians (see “What to Bring”) or ask the U.S. Embassy or your host program coordinator for the name of a doctor before the need for medical treatment arises.
Health Insurance
The well-being of students participating in Towson University study abroad programs is our priority. To support a healthy and safe experience, Towson University provides a health insurance and assistance plan to all students participating on Towson University Study Abroad Programs. This is not an optional benefit; every participant on a Towson University administered study abroad program will be covered by the CMI Insurance plan and the cost is included in the program fee.
All participants in TU programs will be automatically enrolled and will receive an individual ID card that includes contact information for plan services. Students and parents are strongly advised to become familiar with the Towson University Plan’s benefits and features.
Upon setting foot back on US soil, most study abroad insurance policies will no longer be in effect. In case of injury or serious illness resulting in the need to return to the US for treatment, coverage will need to be in place here in the US. Therefore, we strongly advise that students also maintain a US health insurance policy while abroad.
If you plan to extend your stay after the program, or will arrive before the group, you should obtain an extension of your coverage. Speak with the TU Study Abroad Adviser responsible for your program in advance.
Medical and Dental Check-Ups
Medical and dental checkups prior to your departure are a good idea. It is a good idea to review your travel plans with your physician. Frequently, health statements from your doctor are required to obtain a visa to enter your host country. Be sure to inform the Study Abroad Office if your checkup raises any health issues or concerns not mentioned previously, so that Towson can take steps to accommodate any needs you may have.
Medicines
If you take prescription medicine bring a supply that will last your entire stay. It is also a good idea to bring a copy of the prescription for the generic name of the drug in case you need an emergency refill. If you have any favorite over-the-counter remedies that you use, you may want to take a small supply.
IMPORTANT:Some prescription and over-the counter medicines that are readily available in the United States may not be permitted overseas. If you plan on taking any medications with you abroad, check with the host country’s embassy to make sure they are legal to take through customs and use in-country. In some instances you may need to acquire documentation from the host country consulate in the U.S. before you go or switch medications in consultation with your doctor prior to studying abroad.
TIP: For customs purposes, it is best to take all medicines in their original containers. Pack important medicines in the carry-on bag in case the checked luggage is delayed or lost.
Syringes
Syringes can be construed as drug paraphernalia. Students should bring a doctor’s note with them. They should also check whether documentation is needed from the host country’s local consulate before departure.
Shots and Inoculations
Most TU Faculty-led programs do not take place in countries where students need to get vaccinations and/or take medicine to prevent disease. However, for those destinations where it is recommended, you can get the medicines from your primary care physician, or from travel health clinics.
To find out if vaccinations are recommended for the country where you going, check the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Since many inoculations require more than one visit to the clinic or cannot be taken in combination with others, it is recommended that you begin your inquiries well in advance of your departure. You may be able to combine your physical checkup with an appointment for inoculations.
Overseas Medical Emergencies
Seek medical assistance immediately! Your overseas health insurance will cover you for any emergencies that happen overseas. Notify your program faculty director as soon as possible.
You will be provided with a wallet-sized card with emergency information on it. This card is to be placed in your wallet and carried with you at all times. If you lose it, inform the faculty member leading your program for another copy.
Staying Safe Abroad
Towson University monitors the safety of locations where students regularly study by tracking Travel Warnings issued by the State Department as well as by keeping current and active with our professional organization, NAFSA. See the Travel Warnings on the State Department’s Website at www.travel.state.gov .
In general, students who maintain good common sense and understand the local laws and customs will find themselves living in less dangerous locations than what we are accustomed to in the US. Personal theft is the most common crime overseas, and the most dangerous accidents (which rarely occur) are pedestrian accidents, usually attributable to unfamiliarity with traffic laws, e.g.: driving on the left side of the road, pedestrian right of way, and/or those involving alcohol. Because of the sheer number of students going to the UK and Australia, statistics will follow that crossing the street in these locations may be the most dangerous part of study abroad.
Registering with Overseas Embassies
All students participating in TU short-term programs will be registered with the U.S. embassy prior to departure in case of an emergency.
Legal Requirements Abroad
When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. There are no exceptions, so use good common sense. Develop a cultural and political awareness of your area to avoid inadvertent misunderstanding and political difficulties.
When you enter some countries and when you register at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police information card listing your name, passport number, destination local address and reason for traveling. In some nations, you will be asked to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight in order that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws.
You should be aware as well that many countries have laws under which you can be held “guilty by associations.” It is wise to avoid others who are in possession of illegal goods of any sort.
Some pointers:
- Deal only with authorized outlets when you exchange money or buy and sell airline tickets and traveler’s checks. Do not exchange money on the black market.
- Avoid areas of unrest and disturbance.
- Do not deliver packages for anyone unless you are certain they do not contain drugs or other prohibited items.
- Become familiar with local regulations before you sell personal effects such as clothing, cameras and jewelry.
- Don’t assume that what is legal in the United States is also legal in other countries. Adhere to local laws strictly. The penalties you risk are severe.
Drug Arrests
Many Americans are now in foreign jail on drug charges. If you are caught with illicit soft or hard drugs overseas, you are subject to local--not U.S.--laws. The penalties for possession are often the same as for trafficking.
If you are arrested, you will find that Few countries provide a jury trial and most countries do not accept bail. Pretrial detention, often in solitary confinement, may last for months while prisons may lack even minimal comforts such as a bed, toilet, or wash basin. Food is often inadequate and requires supplements from relatives and friends. In addition, physical abuse, confiscation of personal property, degrading or inhumane treatment and extortion are not unknown.
If you are convicted y ou may face a sentence of two to ten years in most countries or death in some countries, such as Algeria, Iran, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey. Very simply, it is a wise choice not to get involved with drugs while you are abroad. The apparent availability of drugs in some countries is illusory; often the dealer from whom you buy will turn you in and be paid by the police for their services.
Avoid incurring the suspicion of authorities. Anyone carrying parsley in a film canister, or pills in a bottle marked “cough syrup,” may be subjected to the painful uncertainty of hours or even days of confinement while the laboratory analysis is completed.
Photography
Some countries are very sensitive and impose strict requirements about what may not be photographed, such as police stations, military posts, etc. Taking a picture of a harbor may seem harmless to you, but it might be construed as a threat to the country’s national security. Before you take out your camera, check for any signs posting restrictions or ask an official if it is okay.
Personal Safety
As you’re preparing for study abroad, remember to make preparations for your personal safety as well. Many travelers fall victim to crimes because it is assumed they are carrying cash, and in an already-foreign environment, they are often easy to distract. Americans are generally easy to spot and therefore easy targets. Try and blend in with the local people. While abroad, you should take the same common-sense safety precautions that you would at home.
Money and Valuables
Do not carry large amounts of cash --- carry traveler’s checks and major credit cards instead.
Keep your passport and money safe in a money belt or small purse that can be worn underneath your clothing. Wearing a purse on the outside highlights where you keep money and valuables; moreover, it can easily be cut or ripped from your shoulder. Many thieves will simply grab the bag and run, sometimes breaking arms in the process. If possible, don’t carry a handbag at all. Wrapping rubber bands around your wallet can make it difficult for a pickpocket to remove.
Do not take valuable items on your trip.
Your Passport
Guard carefully at all times your passport, visas and other documents that you carry with you, and do not leave them in the outer flaps of your bags. It is better to have to dig for them the few times you will need them, than to leave them out for anyone to steal.
Before leaving, make a copy of the identification page of your passport. Keep this copy separate from your passport and carry it with you at all times.
If local law does not require you to keep your passport with you, carry only the photocopy of your passport when you are out and about.
When Traveling
- Make sure someone else knows your itinerary.
- When you’re distracted, you’re an easy target for thieves. Do not leave your bags unattended.
- When you’re on the telephone or reading a sign or train schedule, do not forget to keep an eye on your bags. Remember: keep your eyes-and hands-on your bags at all times.
- Be especially alert in crowds. Train stations, crowded shopping areas and tourist spots -- any place with a crowd is likely to be a place for thieves and muggers as well.
- Be careful to whom you give your luggage. Sometimes thieves pose as porters or taxi drivers.
- When you stay at a hotel, make use of the safety deposit boxes that many hotels have. Leave your passport and any money you don’t expect to need that day safely locked away.
Out on the Town
Two are safer than one. Make an effort to meet the locals but DO NOT go with any strangers if you are alone.
Dress to blend in with the local citizens. Find out which parts of town are considered risky by the locals. As in the United States, always stay in well-lit and well-traveled areas. Don’t take short cuts through alleys or unsafe areas.
If you should fall victim to crime, remember that the U.S. Embassy is there to help you. Every embassy and consulate has a duty officer on-call around the clock to assist in an emergency.
Perceptions from Abroad
Students should be aware that political or natural events in their host country might be in the news at home. News accounts often give a distorted picture of events and a false sense of imminent danger to those not on the scene.
- Keep in touch with family and friends and give them your sense of the local situation.
- Use mature judgment in deciding how to deal with any unusual event in your area.
- Be sure that your parents know how to reach the TU Study Abroad Office in case they have particular concerns.
Racial Issues Abroad
In addition to culture shock, students may experience greater acceptance abroad or perhaps encounter discrimination or even racism. While Towson does not tolerate discrimination or racism on the part of the host institutions, whether and to what extent students have such experiences in their dealing with society at large will vary greatly depending on the culture, socioeconomic and political situation of the host country; where the host institution is located within the country; and the education level, perceptions and attitudes of the people they encounter.
In dealing with such issues, try to remember some key points. First, being aware of your own self-image and expectations is very important. In addition, it is possible that other people’s actions might reflect their curiosity about you. Therefore, keep in mind your own cultural assumption when encountering new situations before jumping to conclusions. It is also good to remember that you do have choices in how to deal with these issues. Finally, be aware that the “culture shock” and discrimination you may experience by your fellow foreign students. Should any racial incidents arise, please speak to the program coordinator at your host institution. Should this fail to resolve the situation, please contact your Study Abroad Advisor at Towson.
Being Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Abroad
It is important to be aware of the laws pertaining to homosexuality in other countries, as well as the general attitudes of the populace toward gay, lesbian, and bisexual members of their community. The countries you visit may be more, or may be less, ‘liberated’ (on a general U.S. scale of values) in these regards but will in all cases be at least somewhat unique. Moreover, whatever the general rule, there will always be pockets of difference and personal idiosyncrasies. Country-specific information is often available from campus offices, personnel, and student groups. You should certainly talk with other students who have been where you will be.
For information on issues and resources pertaining to gay, lesbian, and bisexual travel, you also may want to consult publications available in most bookstores and libraries which carry such literature as Gaia’s Guide, “an international guide for traveling women,” that includes information on restaurants, accommodations, travel, and the like; or Sparticus International Gay Guide, which provides listings of hotlines, publications, bars, etc. for gay men throughout the world.
Special Note to Women
Some women students, in certain overseas countries (e.g. South America, the Middle East, and parts of Europe) have a hard time adjusting to attitudes they encounter abroad, in both public and private interactions between men and women. Some (but not all) men in such countries openly demonstrate their appraisal of women in ways that many American women find offensive. It is not uncommon to be honked at, stared at, verbally and loudly appraised, and to be actively noticed for being an American woman. Sometimes the attention can be flattering. However, it may become very annoying, and potentially even angering. Indigenous women, who often get the same sort of treatment, have been taught how to ignore the attention. Many American women students find this hard to do. Eye contact between strangers or a smile at someone passing in the street, which is not uncommon in the States, may result in totally unexpected invitations. Some women feel they are forced to stare intently at the ground while they walk down the street.
You will have to learn what the unwritten rules are about what you can and cannot do abroad. Women can provide support for each other, and former students suggest that you get together several times early in your stay overseas to talk about what works and what doesn’t for dealing with the unwanted attention. American women are seen as “liberated’ in many ways, and sometimes the cultural misunderstandings that come out of this image can lead to difficult and unpleasant experiences.
Needless to say, this special and surprising status may make male-female relationships more difficult to develop. Be careful about the implicit messages you may be unintentionally communicating. Above all, try to maintain the perspective that these challenging (and sometimes difficult experiences) are part of the growth of cultural understanding which is one of the important reasons you are studying abroad may prevail elsewhere, but also the uniqueness of American gender politics, which may or may not be understood, much less prevail, in other countries.
Study Abroad Office
Administration Building, 2nd Floor
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: 410-704-2451
Fax: 410-704-4703
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