"Personal Safety and Security Abroad"

Note to Mama- this is a "we would rather you have this information and not need it than a this could seriously happen to you" information.

We recieved a "Personal Safety and Security Overseas" paper/sheets of paper. It had tons of info (read 8 pages) so I will include the main titles only. Well, expand on a few pieces that are intersing to me. Also, it has tons of really good info, and if you are interested me comment, or email and I will send a copy to you. So some of this is info I think others should know.

Pre-Depature
Air Travel
Ground Travel
At the hotel
Awareness
Residential

If you become a Victim.

• remain calm and alert
• if the assailant demand property, give it upAgainst overwhelming odds (weapons, multiple assailants) try reasoning, cajoiling, begging, any psychologial ploy
• If you feel your life in endangered and you decide to physically resist, commit to the decision with every fiber of your being. Turn fear into fury.

Hijacking/Kidnapping

Yes you read that right. We have a section on personal safety overseas on kidnappping. Here it is in its entirity:

As an American/Westerner you may be targeted for kidnapping. Those who  perpetrate these crimes are either promoting a political agenda and//or seeking to gain financial ir political dividend. Travelers are highly advised to be aware whether there is a history or rik (known threats, tareting) of kidnapping in places they attend to travel and take necessary precaitions {note to mama- there isn't}. Because histage situations vary greatly, the following considerations should be applied based on one's best judgement at the time:

-The US government policy not to pay ransom to kidnappers is firm.

-The gratest risk of physical harm exists at the point of capture and during a resue attempt or upon release.

-Remain cal and alert, exert control on emotions and behaviors.

-Be passively cooperative, but maintain your dignity.

-Assume an inconspicious posture, avoid direct eye contact with captors.

-Avoide resistance, belligerence or threatening movements.

Make reasonable, low-key requests for personal compforts (bathroom breaks, a blanket, exercise, books to read, etc.)

- If questoned keep your answers short. Volunteer nothing.

-As a captive situation draws out, try to establish some rapport with your captors.
-Avoid discussing contentious issues (politics, religion, ethnicity, etc)
-Establish a daily regiment to maintain yourself physically and mentally.
-Eat what your captors provide. Consume little food and drink. Avoid alcohol.
-Keep a positive, hopeful attitude.
-Attempt to escape only after weighing the risks and when you are certain to succeed.

 

So here you go- how to avoid a getting kidnapped, but if you do, here you go, directions on what to do.

 

See you around the globe!

"[Anticipation] might be the best part."

In the style of Woody Allen (a refernce which I do not understand, but am includeing for you in case you do get it), the first speaker said that the preperation to leave could be the best part, because reality rarely lives up to expectation.

Along with that advice, we should "use this experience as a launching pad."

We had a general overivew of the Balkans (well part of them, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, and Macedonia at least). This was to give us a worst case senario of what could happen and to give us some of the history of the area.

The history part was interesting for the rest of the Balkans, but he didn't really mention anything that I didn't arealdy know about Macedonia. BUT, he did for some of the people who had never thought of going to Macedonia until the Fulbright offer.

The worst case scenario in Macedonia/this area of the Balkans is if the Albanians rise up together to form a "Greater Albania."

Which is not plausable , by the way.

After a delicious lunch, we went to our country sessions.

These were run by a full time staff member of either IIE (student) or CIES (scholar) but mostly the returning students/scholar talked.

We answered all of our questions in the first two sessions and didn't really need a third session, but had one any way.

We learned some important cultural things:

-If you are invited out for "drinks" in Macedonia, do not order food. This is seen as rude to eat when someone else is not eating. On the flip side, if you are invited for "food" order something becasue if you are not eating when someone else is, it is also rude.

-You can buy good summer clothes there, so pack mostly for winter. And pack dark clothing.

-most people have 2 phones, because they do not want to have to call people on their non Tmobile/ VIP pohone becasue that costs more. So we might need to get two phones. (I am not sure about this one yet, but we will see)

-You can call a taxi company and order a taxi with food, and they will charge you for the delivery, and the food, but no real upcharge. (good thing if you happen to get sick apparently)

-Arrive 10-15 minutes late. If you are on time, they will not be expecting you. And will not be ready for whatever you are early for.

Also, we found out that we will get some money for language training, through reimbusrment, to start or continue language training in our host countries.

That is most of the info. Stay tuned for an interesting inclusion in our packet as well as an introduction to my fellow Fulbrighters (will be later when I recieve the picture from Jen.

See you around the globe!

PDO!

As part of the Fulbright, my travel to the PDO, my hotel while in DC, food while at the PDO, and $100 for food not covered while at the official PDO (they cover breakfast and lunch). So as a note that is $100 for three days. July 20-23, 2012 is the PDO at the Renaissance Hotel near the convention center in Downtown DC (Mt.Vernon St/Convention Center stop).

Since I will be in Bloomington at Indiana University studying Macedonian at the time of the PDO I will be flying from Indianapolis to DC. I'll leave at 7:25am and arrive at DC Reagan at 8:59 AM. Check in at the hotel is on average at 3pm, but check-in for the PDO is from 12:00pm-5:30pm. So hopefully, I will be able to check in early/ at least get luggage storage at the Renaissance. Then maybe I will go explore (maybe. might be a nred and study over the materials that I should be doing at IU.

The Program:

Wednesday July 20
6 - 7:30 pm          Opening Reception
7:30 pm               Evening Free

Thursday July 21
8-9 am            Continental breakfast
9-4:15 pm       Sessions (including lunch break)
4:15 pm          Evening Free

Friday July 23
7:30-8:30 am    Continental Breakfast
8:30-2:15pm     Sessions (including lunch break)
2-2:15 pm         Evaluation and Closing

Then I have until 6:30pm at which time I will be on a flight back to Indianapolis. Then drive back down to Bloomington.

Sounds like fun! Who knows what other info will be coming in soon!

See you around the globe!

Your tax dollars at work!

So, I have got loads of information for y’all!

We (Fulbright Scholars that is) received info on our pre departure orientation (PDO). Then a few days later (ie today 6/8) they uploaded the Virtual Orientation Packet. It has answers to most (almost all-
woohoo for the government!) of my questions.

The first nugget of information that I received was about our PDO. We had to book our travel to DC and confirm our place at the PDO. If we did not go to the PDO, we forfeit our Fulbrights. So a little bit of a scare tactic, but hey, I registered that same day. And booked travel. I could really get used to the whole go online, pick a flight, click confirm and have tickets without paying a dime (thus the title). {For more about the PDO, see later posts}

With the Virtual Orientation Packet, it provided information about:

• the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (which included info on our medical coverage while abroad and prescriptions while abroad)
• Fulbright Program Background
• Fulbright Alumni
• Tax Information (our awards are taxable)
• Social Media Information/Guidance (about info like this blog, which I guess I should read before post, huh? oh well)
• Regional Info (with a note- more info to come soon!)

The website also gave info for tourists- like they know how we think: hey, I'll be in DC, might as well visit some cool places! Maybe I'll go visit a Smithsonian or two after we get out? We'll see...

We ALSO got an email with more info on Macedonia, but since this post is already pretty long, I'll save that for a later post.

I'll see you around the globe!