21 “Tips” from Safe Traveler

By peter | Permalink | No Comments | September 25th, 2007 | Trackback

The folks over at Safe Traveler today provide us today with 21 ways to make our volunteer travel experiences safer.

After sorting through the generic travel advice and the tips designed to scare us into buying a spy report on the area, the list turns into more like six pieces of advice that apply to us as volunteers and travelers.

• Try to learn a few common phrases (greetings, etc.)

• Participate with established groups and do your background checking before departure.

• Dress inconspicuously. Avoid shows of affluence.

• Avoid the temptation to buy gifts or items for locals when in country. Follow established donation channels when you return.

• Be aware and respectful of local social mores’ and norms.

• Learn about local conditions, culture, attitudes towards visitors (especially Americans), political stability, etc.

Although Safe Traveler’s tips had me on my guard at first, what they really say is that a little awareness and education goes a long way toward your safety.

In addition to taking precautions against fraud and scams, you should make an effort to learn about the culture of your destination and respect the local traditions and customs. Drawing from my own experiences, I’ve observed that most locals want to feel like they are contributing in some way and teaching volunteers about their home is a way to feel personal worth and value.

Contrary to what you might think, arriving as a blank slate, or a sponge waiting to soak up that first bit of information, is not a good way to spur cultural exchange. Learning a few greetings or phrases will give your communication a starting point and if nothing else, will allow your host or acquaintance to regain some of the pride they might have lost through accepting charity by laughing at your mispronunciations.

Avoiding shows of affluence is more easily said than done. Depending again on your destination, your group will likely represent a large portion of wealth in the area and a gesture as well-intentioned as buying someone lunch or purchasing a watch from a vendor on the street may make you a target for petty theft or extremely bothersome solicitation.

The gesture may be appreciated initially, but buying gifts for locals may foster resentment or jealousy among those you are trying to work with. However tempting, when in doubt, give to an organization that benefits the entire community like a school or recreation center instead of an individual. It is more often acceptable to give your host a gift if they have opened their home to you, although this is not true everywhere.

Whether your effort to learn about the culture of your next destination and identify any possible problems takes the form of buying one of Safe Traveler’s Intelligence Reports ($7.50) or reading an independent travel guide (free) by people who have been to the area, your safety during your volun-tour is largely your own responsibility. With a little precaution, education, and awareness, however, the dangers inherent in volunteer travel are easily reduced and you can instead worry about how to say “Hello” without everyone laughing at you.

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