In the event of protests or disturbances, do not get involved. You might also want to familiarize yourself with the homepage of the U.S. consulate nearest you . That page will include contact and services information for everything from lost passports to natural disasters. Most important of all, use your common sense. If you wouldn't camp out in a park in inner city USA, then be circumspect about doing it elsewhere.
Pickpockets can be extremely subtle.
Don't ever carry large amounts of cash and be careful where you put your passport or airline tickets. The safest way to carry money and your passport while travelling is to wear a hanging wallet around your neck hidden under your shirt or at your waist. You should make copies of the information and visa pages of your passport and keep them in a safe place in case you need to replace your passport. Currency Conversion . Your on-site program orientation should have provided you with the local banking information you need.