Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. – Gustave Flaubert

In continuation of my previous post Travel Safety Tips for the Female College Student Abroad Part 1. Here are some more tried and true steps and missteps that I have encountered during my travels abroad.

Personal boundaries

Sometimes traveling can bring forth certain desires. It is not uncommon to hear of some travelers finding lovers abroad. However, not every man or woman who you encounter may have the best intentions concerning your well being. Americans traveling solo can yield a baggage-load of negative stereotypes. Some of the stereotypes include thoughts that American women are rich, promiscuous, and rather easy to manipulate, both sexually and monetarily.

Please, do not be tempted to disclose your purpose or lodging before getting intimately involved with locals. It is best to enjoy the trip and not get tied up in the emotional wake of a smooth-talking man or woman romancing you for a green card, money, or sex. First, look for warning signs and save the heartache and just experience the adrenaline of traveling with independence and empowerment.

Red Flags

I have done a few experiments abroad by testing my nationality with locals. There have been times when I would tell a taxi driver that I was American and they would often (almost immediately) fiercely demand a tip after the ride. This has also happened at some restaurants in tip-free countries whenever asked where I hail from. However, there were times when I would tell a taxi driver that I was from Russia, and no tip or extra fees were demanded. This intrigued me. Americans seem to come with the stereotype that we are all rich and ready to tip everyone we meet. It seems that Americans are essentially viewed as walking dollar signs wherever they go. This really is a frustrating red flag for me when traveling, especially when you are on a budget. Please, do not expect or let the American tip culture to always accompany you abroad, like some money hungry-ghost.

Another example of keeping sight of the red flags while traveling is to always stay alert when trying to purchase something for, some shopkeepers might do to trick you with “tourist” prices. It is never a good feeling when you find out that all your money rapidly slipping away after purchasing a few things without haggling or questioning the shopkeeper’s prices. This has happened to me a few times during my travels. In Kazakhstan, I walked up to an elderly Russian man who was selling some old Soviet pins and medals at a booth. I wanted to buy a medal as a gift for a friend. However, after selecting the antique Soviet-era medal I wanted, the man took the chosen item off of his stand and put it under the table to wrap it for me. After buying the medal and touring around the city for a few hours, I opened up the packet with the medal on the bus ride home and noticed that it actually wasn’t the medal I selected, but a fake version of it. The pricey soviet collector’s item medal I paid for was swapped with a fake one under the table. The medal was light in weight, poorly made, and looked as if it was engraved in a hurry.

Nonetheless, whenever I think back to it, this has got to be one of the oldest salesman tricks in the book and I fell for it, unfortunately. So, watch out ladies when purchasing certain historical “collectibles” and various items abroad, for there is a rather high chance of dropping some of your hard-earned cash for something cheaply made and fake.

Some other red flags to be aware of include being taken advantage of monetarily or sexually for being female and even an American. Remember that it is always safe to assume that everyone around you is not trustworthy or has good intentions. Ultimately, what I am trying to say is to always trust your gut instincts before desire!

Learn a Foreign language

Another stereotype and also an unfortunate truth is that many Americans do not speak a second language. In my opinion, this is a rather embarrassing, especially for a country universally acknowledged for being a cultural melting pot. Learning and maintaining a second language other than English is becoming more and more essential for the globalized society we live in today. Learning another languages is a skill that can open up doors, broaden one’s perspective of life, word choice, and cultural understanding. Knowing more than one language has greatly helped me master the art of disguise in order to not be tied down by some of the many stereotypes for Americans abroad. 

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Traveling alone as a female does come with its own risks that we, women, all must to be aware of beforehand. However, venturing into foreign lands is really one of the best ways to experience the world, understand one’s limits, explore new sounds and smells, and to become independent. However, please note that none of these tips are country-specific for there are still these same risks that already exist within our own country. 

I hope these posts have been fun and informative. If you have any travel tip and trick to share, feel free to comment!

Happy traveling, ladies!

Yours,

The Wandering Ghost

Banner image taken by me in Western Mongolia.