6 Ways to Sabotage Your Study Abroad Trip

Students preparing for a semester abroad often envision themselves flirting with gorgeous locals in their newly perfected foreign language, strolling across a picturesque foreign campus and wiling away the afternoons with lattes at outdoor cafes. The beauty of these dreams is that with the right attitude, they are all attainable. But who dreams of spending the night in a jail cell with 80 guys or getting assaulted, robbed and flown back home? This too can be a reality if you don’t take the proper precautions and use your head. Below is a list of six ways you can thwart what could be a once-in a lifetime experience.

1. Getting Lost

Believe it or not, this does not only happen to the most dim-witted in the bunch. Countless students go out on their first night and split from the group only to realize later that they don’t know where their new home is. You don’t have a cell phone, you may or may not speak the language, perhaps you’ve had some drinks, etc. At best, it’s temporarily embarrassing and a quick reality check that you're not on your own turf anymore. At worst, you wander into a bad part of town at three in the morning. Do yourself a favor and keep your new address and phone numbers in your purse or wallet. And remember that a taxi is usually a safer bet than wandering aimlessly, but try to call a reputable taxi company if you can.

2. Rejecting the New Culture or Way of Life

It's nice to have some of the comforts of home during your time away, but some students will cling to these with such ferocity that they end up trying to force their old way of life onto an entire nation. Yes, you will probably have trouble finding a wide variety of snacks if you’re a vegan studying in rural Mexico. Yes, the used toilet paper really does goes into the trashcan and not down the drain. There will be little things that will bug you, frustrate you and seem completely illogical, but you’ve got to laugh them off. These are the things that will make your trip irreplaceable and that you may come to miss once you're back home. Fighting this will make you and everyone who has to deal with you crazy. Remember, You traveled to a new part of the world for a reason.

3. Getting Stuck in the Ex-pat Bubble

By all means, be friends with the other members of your group. You are sharing an amazing experience with these people and are going to have friendships and memories that last a lifetime. That being said, do you really want to spend every night of the week watching basketball with Johnny and Donny at the Hard Rock Cafe? There are lots of opportunities for you to meet people outside your normal circle of friends and a good program coordinator can help with this. Join a gym, seek out local clubs or take advantage of language exchange programs. The trip will be over before you know it and you want to come home knowing you made every second count.

4. Getting Sick

Everybody warns you about getting sick abroad for two reasons: it's going to happen to you or someone in your group, and when it does, it's going to be a terrible, terrible experience. If you’ve gotten the proper vaccinations before your trip you’ll probably live, but even the little problems will ruin your fun and could escalate into something worse. Erin Thomas, a senior from the University of Oregon, puts the importance of taking care of yourself in perspective when she asks, “Would you rather be out enjoying yourself or laid up in a hospital bed?" If you’re not sure about the water, don’t drink it. The same goes for ice in your drinks and any vegetables or salads that may have been rinsed in that water.

5. Going to Jail

Living in a new country can be such a liberating experience that people can begin to feel invincible. “I’ve learned the language, mastered the bus routes, I can do anything!” A joint on the beach or a scuffle at the bar can bring this misconception to a very unsavory end as you’re dumped into a jail a thousand times dodgier, dirtier and scarier and than anything you’ve seen on TV. Will a foreigner get preferential treatment from the police? Maybe. Will a foreigner be treated worse, made an example of and shaken down? Also maybe. Forget anything you’ve heard about paying off the officials. Unless you really know how the system works there, offering a small bribe will probably result in your bank account being emptied or more serious charges being drawn up. If you’re with a local friend, let him or her handle everything. If you’re not, good luck.

6. Getting Robbed or Assaulted

Whether it’s getting pick-pocketed or held up at gunpoint, getting robbed is never on someone’s to-do list. You can lower your odds of becoming a victim by staying aware. Stay with friends as much as possible, especially when you’re out late at night. Don’t flash your digital camera around on the street and do not get so drunk that everyone in the neighborhood sees you as a mark. Learn what areas are okay and which are better off avoided. If someone does mug you, hand over whatever they ask for! Don't risk getting killed over an Ipod. If you are going to be frequenting a dangerous area, consider keeping a dummy wallet with a few bucks in it that you can hand over if necessary.

Studying in a foreign country will change you. You may gain a new philosophy on life. You may spend the rest of it in a Thai jail. At the very least, you’re going to have memories, friends and stories that you’ll never forget. If you keep your wits about you and follow these basic guidelines while abroad, you'll make it the time of your life.