Travelers to foreign lands should beware security risks
by John Vittas
reporter

   Megan Gaither, a 21-year-old college student, has a knack for traveling to all sorts of places.
   “After I graduated from high school, we backpacked through Europe,” she said with a grin. “I’ve also been to Denmark, Brazil and Taiwan. It was all sort of scary at times, and there were some moments when we got really homesick. But the trips were definitely well worth it, and they all were experiences I’ll never forget.”
   Gaither is not alone. Each year about 500,000 students head abroad to places like Europe, Spain and Australia. Out of that group, about a thousand stay on foreign soil for a year or more to study. However, now more than ever, the travel industry and other government offices are urging Americans to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times.
   At the time this story was written, an unprecedented number of travel warnings have been issued for overseas lands because of terrorist activity. In all, 14 of these warnings have been put in action from the Middle East to Bolivia, the Philippines, Guatemala, Venezuela and other countries. While some of these places are not exactly known for being tourist stops by American citizens, one thing is perfectly clear.
   “American interests overseas are especially a target for terrorists,” according to a U.S. State Department memo.
   As part of an increased effort to make Americans as knowledgeable as they can about their surroundings in foreign lands, the State Department offers tips for travelers.
   Students should take time to learn about and get to know the countries they plan to travel to. According to the state department, the most dangerous person is an uninformed person. Therefore, travelers should study the history, culture, and manners of the country and obey its customs, rules and laws.
   Before heading overseas, students should make absolutely sure the information in their passport is completely and properly filled out. Gaither described a passport experience she had during a group outing in Greece.
   “While we were mountain climbing somewhere in Greece, one of the girls in our group slipped, fell and broke her leg in several places.”
   Gaither said the girl was rushed to the hospital in Athens and was required to stay there for a week while pins were inserted into her badly injured leg. While there, the proper authorities alerted the girl’s parents back home and made sure the right steps were taken.
   “I’m glad we made sure to check our passport before we left. Who knows what kind of trouble we’d have been in,” she said.
   Students planning to stay overseas for more than just a couple of weeks must register at that country’s American Embassy or Consulate. By doing this, it becomes increasingly easier for Consul officers to help in case of injury, illness, natural disasters and other emergencies. Gloria Cojuango, a former TCC student and UNT graduate, cited an example of what a Consul officer in action can do.
   In the mid ’90s Gloria and a friend went on an extended trip they had been dreaming about for quite some time.
   “Being born in America, I never had the chance to see my homeland of the Philippines,” she said in her still somewhat broken English. “I finally got a chance to in 1997. It was an exhilarating experience, but it almost turned into a nightmare.”
   While enjoying the night at a club in the capital city of Manila, her travel partner was wrongfully arrested for participation in a barroom fight.
   “It was frightening to see a good friend of mine behind bars in a foreign country. We were very afraid of the consequences,” she said.
   Thankfully for them both, the U.S. Consul was there to help.
   “There was an officer that helped us a great deal, and my friend was released from jail without any other consequences. I’m scared to think what would have happened otherwise,” she said.
   Each year more than 2,500 Americans are arrested overseas—about half on narcotics charges. The U.S. government wants travelers to remember that while something might be legal in one country, it might be strictly outlawed in another.
   Gaither emphasized that students should, above all else, become knowledgeable travelers.
   “I plan on spending a month in London this spring,” she said. “But I know that you can have fun and be an extra careful traveler.”
   For more information on traveling overseas, visit www.travel.state.gov.