Eye contact between strangers or a smile at someone passing in the street, which is not uncommon in the US, may result in totally unexpected invitations. Some women feel that they are forced to stare intently at the ground when they walk down the street. Indigenous women, who often get the same treatment, have been taught, either explicitly or through experience, how to ignore the attention. Many US students find that hard to do or feel that they attract unwanted attention simply because they are American. You will have to learn the unwritten rules about what you can and cannot do.
Women can provide support for each other.
Former students suggest that you get together several times early in your stay to talk about what works and what does not for dealing with the unwanted attention. Needless to say, all of this makes male-female friendships more difficult to develop. Be careful about the implicit messages you are communicating. Above all, try to maintain the perspective that these challenging and sometimes difficult experiences are part of the process of learning a new culture. It is important to be aware of laws pertaining to homosexuality in other countries, as well as the general attitudes of the populace.