Traveling to another country or going abroad for studies is something most people look forward to. Everything feels exciting - new places, new food, new people.
But there’s one thing we often ignore during all this: our personal data.
Think about it. The moment you land somewhere new, you start connecting to airport Wi-Fi, logging into apps, booking rides, checking maps, and messaging people back home. All of this happens online, and most of the time, without thinking twice about security.
Whilst law-breaking tourists are undoubtedly in the minority, and I am confident that no Wandering Educators fall within their ranks, they still remain a key component in discussions about the relationship between tourism and crime. Whether these individuals fall foul of the law through the excesses of alcohol (or other substances), a lack of legal awareness before travelling, or have deliberately sought out destinations to commit illegal acts, not every traveller stops to consider how their actions may impact the places they visit.
Ahhh, holidays (or vacations, sorry, North American friends; it just doesn’t sound right to me, I’m a creature of habit). That glorious time we take to leave our daily stresses behind and focus on enjoying ourselves! For most of us, our trips go without a hitch, that is, if you overlook budget airlines’ baggage fees and the inevitable forgotten toothbrush.
But for a small (and unlucky number of travellers, a holiday abroad can take an unexpected turn, not because of lost luggage, but because they fall victim to crime.
My career spans more than 20 years working with children and adolescents in education and nonprofits. Since joining Sandy Hook Promise in 2022, my focus has been to develop and implement high-impact school safety initiatives and violence prevention programs. This work has given me a profound insight: true school safety requires a holistic approach, extending well beyond the school grounds.
Vacations are supposed to be when you get away from the stress and worry of daily life. You want to have fun and kick back while the real world goes on its merry way without you for a few days. The harsh truth is that the real world doesn't take a break for you or anyone else because you're on vacation. Disasters can still happen, houses get robbed, and cars are stolen right from the driveway or airport long term parking. The last thing anyone wants to do after coming home from a lovely vacation is filling out police reports.
When traveling, we are often in somewhat vulnerable positions; it is a foreign country we are visiting after all, which means a new culture, unfamiliar customs, and possibly different standards of appropriate behavior. Even though international traveling is exciting, adventurous, and rewarding, it can sometimes be potentially dangerous if we don't prepare accordingly.
Traveling alone is one of the most amazing experiences that everyone should have at least once in their lives. When being on the road on your own, you get the opportunity to test your limits, and discover and understand yourself better, because it is just you with your own thoughts and the emotions for everything new that experienced on your journey.
Children are the future, both for their families and for the nation. And as such, they are, in my honest opinion, the nation’s greatest resource. And like every resource that we hold dear, we need to take the utmost care of them.
Staying safe and not losing any of your possessions is probably the most important thing for travelers. Some countries, inevitably, are safer or more dangerous to visit than others. Central America may not be as safe as travelling to somewhere like Norway, for example. However, every country has risks, and you need to protect yourself in unfamiliar environments. The best way for me is to use a fanny pack, which lets me keep all my valuables in one safe place that the pickpockets can’t get to.
When you travel, do you worry about staying safe? Of course! And while you should be alert and conscious of your safety at all times, there are definite things you can do to make your travels, home, and personal security as safe as possible. Here are 7.
