By Mike O Neill Volunteer Safety Coordinator Office of Special Services United States Peace Corps Living and traveling alone in a foreign culture may present certain risks to your personal safety. Each individual can develop effective strategies to reduce these risks and have an enjoyable, productive and safe experience.
Common sense is the watchword here.
It takes time to develop the understanding and skills to recognize and accurately interpret the cultural cues and nuances that attend daily interactions. Your actions and exposure to risk should be guided by an appreciation of this vulnerability. There are no firm guarantees for your safety, but there are attitudes you can develop and actions you can take to reduce the risk of being victimized. Fellow expatriates and local colleagues will also have a wealth of information and guidance for you. When it comes to personal safety in a variety of foreign environments, there are few definitive prescriptions.