With three months of summer freedom on the horizon, someUniversity of Memphis students may find themselves with too muchfree time on their hands.
"I am glad school is finally over, but I think I am going to beso bored. I have no idea what I will do with all of my time. MaybeI will sleep. I just don't know," said Francis Smith, sophomoreeducation major.
For students who plan to travel abroad during summer vacation,there are some things they need to watch for. The most importantthing students need to be aware of is their surroundings, accordingto the U. S. Department of State.
Many American students have been sexually assaulted, robbed orkilled in foreign countries due in part to their wandering intounfamiliar territories. Students should be familiar with the laws,regulations and policies of the countries they visit.
"When you are talking about traveling to another country orunfamiliar place, you must pay attention to suspicious behavior,"said Nikki Accera, the Crime Prevention Coordinator for U of MPolice Services. "Ask the people at the hotel about places toavoid. They are usually helpful with things like that."
When sightseeing, go with a group, be leery of people who comeup and ask questions and carry as little personal information aspossible, are among the other tips given by Accera. Carry limitedID on your person, never let your car's gas needle go belowone-fourth a tank, lock all windows and doors and look into yourcar before you get in, Accera said.
Not only should students be on guard to the criminals and unsafesurroundings of foreign countries, they should also be on theirbest behavior in these countries. American citizens, includingstudents, have been accused and sometimes prosecuted for variouscrimes including possession of illegal drugs, public intoxication,underage drinking and drunk driving in foreign countries, accordingto the U.S Department of State.
"Limit the intake of alcohol and don't do drugs. We know theyare out there and that some people do them, but try to avoid them,"Accera said. "If you are going to drink, be around people you trustand have confidence in."
Accera also said that when people are intoxicated they have atendency to give away extra personal information, so studentsshould limit the information they share with someone, no matter howmuch they think they know that person.
"We want you all to come back next fall, so be careful and besafe," said Jacqueline De Fouw, student health centercoordinator.
