Abroad - Blog Posts
Travel Safety: Preparing for Unexpected Situations and Staying Secure Abroad
Traveling to different countries can be an amazing adventure, allowing us to immerse ourselves in new cultures and landscapes. However, it's super important to focus on safety and being ready for anything when we're exploring places that are unfamiliar to us. Unexpected things can happen during our international travels, from small inconveniences to more serious emergencies. So, it's essential to get ourselves equipped with the right knowledge and precautions to handle these situations well.
1. Research and Planning:
Conduct thorough research on your travel destination. Familiarize yourself with the local customs, laws, and potential risks. Make note of emergency contact numbers and the location of your country's embassy or consulate. Plan your itinerary, accommodations, and transportation in advance to minimize uncertainties.
2. Travel Insurance:
Invest in comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost belongings, and other unexpected events. Verify the coverage details and ensure it aligns with your travel needs.
3. Secure Documentation:
Safeguard essential documents such as your passport, visa, tickets, and travel insurance policy. Consider making digital copies and storing them securely online or in a separate location from the originals.
4. Health Precautions:
Prioritize your health by visiting a healthcare professional for necessary vaccinations and medications related to your destination. Carry a basic first aid kit with essential supplies and any prescribed medicines.
5. Money Matters:
Diversify your financial resources by carrying a mix of cash, credit/debit cards, and traveler's checks. Notify your bank of your travel plans to avoid any unexpected issues with accessing your funds.
6. Stay Informed:
Stay updated on current events and travel advisories pertaining to your destination. Subscribe to alerts from reliable sources to receive real-time information about potential safety concerns.
7. Stay Connected:
Maintain regular communication with trusted individuals back home. Share your itinerary, contact information, and any changes in your plans. Stay in touch periodically to provide updates on your whereabouts and well-being.
8. Cultural Sensitivity:
Respect local customs, traditions, and cultural norms. Dress appropriately and avoid behaviors that may offend or violate local sensitivities.
9. Personal Security:
Be vigilant in crowded or unfamiliar areas. Keep your belongings close and avoid displaying signs of affluence that may attract unwanted attention. Use reputable transportation and exercise caution when exploring isolated or poorly lit areas.
10. Emergency Preparedness:
Familiarize yourself with the emergency exits and evacuation routes of your accommodations. Know the local emergency numbers and basic phrases in the local language to seek help if needed.
International travel can be a rewarding experience when approached with caution and preparedness. By conducting thorough research, investing in appropriate insurance, securing essential documents, and staying informed about your surroundings, you can mitigate potential risks and ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. Remember, prioritizing your safety and being prepared for the unexpected are key aspects of responsible travel.
The geography of my way
It has come a time for me to change scenery and this time permanently. Having lived abroad now twice (short term) and somewhat knowing what this process and making the decision takes I felt inspired to write about MOVING ABROAD. Even though after last days’ tragic events in UK... in front of these kinds of headlines - you always wonder your safety and choices affecting on it but there’s no stopping now. Or ever.
“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” - Chinese proverb
Basically the rule of being prepared for everything or expect the unexpected would go here perfectly but never mind how many months or years you’ve been gathering information and prepared yourself for one of the biggest changes of your life, however YOU WILL NEVER BE READY.
There are million things which you cannot be prepared for.. like that the cheese is way more expensive here than what it was back home or that the ice cream section at your new local store only has magnum! Not to mention that the settling in the culture and society takes effort and huge amount of time and patience or way more of everything than what you ever expected. Moving abroad ain’t one of those romantized movies you’ve seen on tv.
“Travelling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance.” - Cesare Pavese
Travelling is hard work. Goes for a full day at the office. Who knew that just moving your ass from one place to another and your brain having to deal with ALL that information fed by your eyes, ears and body can be so exhausting! But it is the adrenaline, the feeling of experiencing something new and unique that makes us learn, grow, change and so, to go back for more. Not necessarily to the same destination but just to hit the road again. During my travels the part I’ve ALWAYS hated is the part of coming back. So this time I’ll skip that one.
Before making the actual BIG decision of moving abroad you should understand that being on a vacation ain’t the same thing as living and working there. Life will have its routines, dull moments and troubles even across the borders which I imagine are similar to the ones you’ve already had in someplace else. There’s no running from it. It’s just the other side of the coin that makes you wanna stand the negative parts better. Whether it’s the sunnier culture or a better job or whatever that gives you the energy and desire to make it to another day but living without these positive things, life can be pretty heavy to bear.
Planning is always THE FIRST STEP, at least for me. Some do it without but it does smooth the way. Destination, practical things like working and living, then comes the paying taxes, having health and banking services. What about the currency? Do you speak the language? If you need to change/learn the last two things double the amount of work and time you will have to put in to survive! The beginning of the road is rarely easy and the unexpected part will come across more than once.
UNDERSTAND that you’ll be actually living away, you decide how far, from your family and friends. Your favourite things, tv shows and ice creams, everything you’ve called yourself a home and all that comfort will soon be gone. Then we’ll hit to the another painful thing. YOUR STUFF. You’re gonna have to give it all up. Everything apart from one or two suitcases and that my friend ain’t much. Unless you’ll have a storage (quite pricey in a long run) or another place (parents’ most often) where you can stuff them into. And to be honest, when I was in Canada for a year there wasn’t much I actually missed from my things in Finland. Unless you’re moving to the South Pole there will be stores and trust me you will be doing some serious shopping and buying new things that will replace the old ones.
I still don’t know what is it that makes me happier living abroad than home or what makes me go back to it. Especially coming and going, packing and unpacking, moving in and out which is so NOT my favourite thing to do. Wanderlust is is remarkable thing. There’s something very charming about starting over in a new place. There are no mistakes to be sorry for or things to regret. There’s the adrenaline whether you’ll make it and freshness of not having been embarrassed in front of anyone yet. And the feeling of uniqueness in each moment when you live something, meet someone, feel something. And having the power of your life in your hands knowing that any of this wouldn’t be happening without your leap of faith.
“Always do what you’re afraid to do.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Taking action is unique because we’re living in a world where people are talking mostly shit to be honestly. A lot of if’s, but’s, maybe’s and someday’s. I find this incredibly annoying. I wanna believe that I do have a control over my life and I can have an effect how and when things happen to me. You’re the only one that can make things like this happen to you and the only one stopping them happening.
It’s also kind of cool thing to do. People will come to you to hear your stories but also give their respect for the big transformation you’ve been able to do in your life. It’s also equally rewarding to share these stories I OWN. Indeed my travels, experiences, memories and friends made are the most valuable things I’ll ever have. And if people don’t see the beauty and wisdom of it, then you’ll know they might not be your kind of people… or people who’d do the same as you. And that’s okay.
When on the road it does make you question yourself, who you are and where you come from and what is that you hope to become. You’ll learn new things, languages, habits, friends and still keeping the old ones, the best part of the past with you. Living abroad gives you perspective, contrast which is hard to predict in advance but afterwards you can’t remember a life without it.
