In 'riskier' study abroad locations, opportunities to learn

While studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain last spring, College senior Madeline Kronovet was not particularly surprised to find herself being mugged at 4 a.m. on her way home from an evening out with friends.

When an old man tried to grab her satchel, despite the fact that it was strapped across her chest, she simply grabbed it back.

Muggings and pick-pocketings were daily occurrences in Barcelona, explained Krovonet, a former Daily Pennsylvanian reporter. She and the other students in her program saw them happen on subways and streets all over the city. The director of their program warned that at least a few of the students would be robbed and expressed disinterest in hearing details of the muggings if and when they occurred.

"The funny thing was my parents didn't want me to go to Argentina [where I initially wanted to study]," said Kronovet, "because they were worried that it would be unsafe."

***

In the 2008-2009 academic year, Penn sent 592 undergraduate students into 41 countries through 93 different study-abroad programs. Students could be found on every continent except for Antarctica.

Of these countries, Spain certainly does not seem to be the most risky choice. Yet many Penn students name occurrences like the attempted muggings Kronovet experienced - not being targeted as Americans or caught in eruptions from international tensions - among the greatest potential risks of their study abroad locations. Still, rather than feeling threatened, they report experiencing personal comfort, enjoyment and growth.

Many participants say misinformation and cultural stigma may cause countries to be considered "high-risk" when their realities often don't align with dangerous perceptions.

"I don't feel that Morocco is a 'high-risk' place," wrote College junior Yuval Orr in an e-mail. "It is simply an unknown entity back in the States … and as such may appear to be riskier than other study-abroad destinations."

College junior J. Elliott Thomasson noted the media's role in shaping how people perceive his study abroad choice.

"Israel seems pretty high risk because it is in the news all the time," he wrote in an e-mail, "but in terms of my actual safety, I think that Israel is probably a whole lot safer than West Philly."

College junior Rose Espinola, who is studying in Cuba, wrote in an e-mail she "actually had forgotten that it is considered a high-risk place."

"I suppose our government calls Cuba a high-risk place because we don't officially have an embassy here," she added.

However superficial, looks can also factor into a student's comfort level in a given place.

Espinola said some people believe she looks Cuban, which is an asset in the country that not many foreign students get the chance to experience.

College junior Adam Hartheimer, also studying in Cuba, wrote in an e-mail that his blonde hair contributes to his fear that the government will target him as a "counter-revolutionary" and detain him or force him to leave.

Hartheimer specified, however, that his fears are particular to being a visiting student in a "quasi-totalitarian socialist county," and don't indicate nerves caused by his daily routine.

While he is on "high alert," he is not uncomfortable walking around during the day or experiencing nightlife with fellow students. "Safety and comfort were obviously factors in my decision, though they were secondary," he added.

When asked if she feels discriminated against as an American in Ghana, College junior Kelsey Wolfe wrote, "Not particularly because I'm American, but because I'm not black. I easily stick out by my skin and they all assume that if you have the money to fly here and be here that you have a lot of money."

***

Students also face health risks that may be specific to, or a more prevalent force in, the countries they visit.

Given the hard line her host country, China, is taking against H1N1 influenza risks, College junior Courtney Buie's biggest day-to-day worry is her health.

Despite the risk of tensions in China erupting into palpably dangerous situations - which could be reason to leave the country - her most "pressing concern" is contracting the illness.

"The Chinese take the threat of a swine flu outbreak very seriously," Buie wrote in an e-mail. "As a result, if any foreigner becomes ill, it can be pretty dangerous if you end up in a Chinese quarantine situation."

College junior Kaitlyn Berger said some of the serious risks of studying in Botswana are related to health issues, and in particular, HIV/AIDS. However, rather than panicking about this potential danger, she wrote that she feels the risks presented are greatly reduced by "a combination of knowledge on prevention and now first-hand experience seeing how people here are impacted by the virus."

***

If faced with such concerns when choosing where to study abroad, students have a resource on campus.

"I trusted Penn Abroad would not lead me to my death," Hartheimer explained.

Anne Waters, executive director of the Office of International Programs, said Penn Abroad works with students, faculty and staff to ensure traveling students have the skills to stay safe while abroad. To ensure successful stays, the office educates on health, safety and security.

The office also aims to maintain a dialogue with students while they are abroad through their individual advisors.

"'Safe' is a tough word," said Erika Gross, associate director in the Office of Risk Management, because it depends on a variety of variables.

Communication is vital to making students aware of the potential risks they are taking, such as outbreaks of H1N1 in Argentina and Spain. She added that there are risks associated with sending students anywhere to travel, citing the 2005 bombings in London.

"It's important to realize that … you're dealing with the world, all aspects of it," Resource coordinator for Penn Abroad Jonathan Hakim added. "It is hard to prepare for all the variables which will come up."

For some students, nationality and gender pose mild threats. But, when approached with common-sense precautions, they find these more annoying than truly dangerous.

This is particularly true for women, many of whom have experienced excessive catcalling or unwanted attention.

"There is an issue with harassment of women," wrote Wharton junior Jessica Stewart of her experiences in Cairo, Egypt. She was once propositioned by a man on the street and when she walked past without a verbal response, he threw a rock at her.

Berger characterized interactions between men and women as the greatest adjustment factor so far. "[It] was definitely a good lesson on how to say no, because the guys accept nothing but explicit rejection [in the form of] an 'I'm not interested,'" she wrote.

***

There are many instances of people in different countries being enthusiastic and welcoming to American students.

Obama-inspired frenzy rates high on many students' list of anecdotes, along with general curiosity about Americans and our way of life.

"They're eager to check their stereotypes with reality by asking a number of questions," said College junior Clarence Moore, who is studying in Jordan, "I've had people ask about everything from money in America to American sexual behavior."

However, American students can also occasionally warrant negative reactions. For instance, Stewart and a group of friends had "Go home!" screamed at them in Arabic.

Still, many students expressed that the only discrimination they experience is being overcharged in markets and taxis.

And in spite of sometimes-extreme cultural differences, Penn students feel comfortable from Buenos Aires to Israel to China, and many places in between.

"If anything the local Chinese people treat Americans more like movie stars than people to discriminate against," wrote Buie. "They love to take our picture."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.