Traveling abroad can be an incredible, eye-opening glimpse into another culture. Whether you choose China, Canada or Costa Rica, there’s so much to learn from immersing yourself in another place for a period of time.

I, myself, am thinking of studying abroad next year, but I’m somewhat wary of starting this new adventure. As a criminology major, I tend to be cautious when I’m in new places and around new people, as crime can occur anytime and anywhere.

That’s in America, though, in a country where I know the language and the criminal justice system. What would happen if I were to get caught up in an unfamiliar justice system, perhaps one that operates in a different language than the one in which I’m fluent? How would I interpret the laws of that foreign justice system when I can barely order off of a menu in a restaurant? Might it be possible to be accused, and even convicted, of a crime when I’m innocent?

These scenarios are unlikely, but they're also not impossible. There are certainly some protections in place to safeguard the liberties of college students traveling and studying abroad, but those measures aren’t always enough. Plus, we can’t rely solely on others to protect us – we have to also protect ourselves. Here are five tips for how to do just that!

1. Do a bit of research into the country you want to visit.

Before you go, perhaps even before you finalize which country you’ll go to, familiarize yourself generally with the laws and the punishments of your destination country. Do they have any laws that apply specifically to foreigners, dictating what they can and can’t do? Are the punishments given out usually on the harsher side or are they typically more lenient? Does the country use the death penalty as a sentence?

Also, what kind of justice system do they have? (Here’s a quick criminology lesson for you: The two main types of justice systems found around the world are adversarial and inquisitorial. An adversarial system leaves the judge and/or jury to impartially act as a referee between the prosecution and the defense, while an inquisitorial system allows the judge/jury to maintain a more investigatory role in the proceedings.)

Hopefully, whichever country you’ve chosen has an adversarial system, as they tend to be less biased and more fair (just in case!). Also, consider the crime rates against American tourists. Mexico is the country with the highest rate of Americans murdered abroad, with 843 homicides reported per 25,900,000 American visitors. The Philippines comes second, with 110 homicides reported per 708,000 American visitors. The Dominican Republic takes third place, with 91 homicides reported per 2,700,000 American visitors.

Related: Voices: 7 things I wish knew before traveling abroad

2. When packing, don’t take clothing that will identify you as a tourist.

OK, you’ve chosen your destination country. Now you need to pack for your trip. When you pack, an important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to bring any clothes that will mark you as a visiting American, or a tourist. Because that’s just what you could be: a mark for someone who wants to target you to be the victim of their next crime. Unsuspecting tourists, and especially Americans, are considered easy prey for pickpockets and other thieves when visiting foreign countries, so leave your “I heart New York” T-shirt at home.

3. Use the buddy system.

There’s not much to say about this, except that as childish as this sounds, it’s really important. Find a friend or someone you know from your program and stick with them. You should never be alone in public an unfamiliar country, because a person on his/her own is much easier to victimize.

4. Keep your eyes and ears open.

I’m naturally a very observant person, so this comes second-nature to me, but it doesn’t for everyone. Still, it’s vital that you watch and listen to your surroundings when you travel abroad.

Really, though, you should do this everywhere, even in your hometown or in your front yard, as crime can happen anywhere. When you walk down the street and you’re listening to music, try having one earbud in your ear and the other just dangling, with your music at a reasonable volume. This way, your music won’t make you deaf to the world, and you aren’t a walking target. Just be alert as you go through your daily activities, especially when they take place in a foreign country.

5. Don’t assume that because someone is friendly to you, they are a friend.

It’s tempting when you’re in a new country to be reassured by the friendliness of someone you meet, but just because someone goes out of their way to be interested in you doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still be wary of them. Remember that you don’t know them and they don’t know you, which, in this case, could make their friendly behavior a red flag. So just be cautious.

With all this being said, though, there’s no need to be fearful when traveling abroad as a college student. Just use common sense and be alert to your surroundings.

Elizabeth Anna Rosen is a member of the USA TODAY College contributor network.



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