Spring break safety

By Evan Green

If you’re leaving the country this spring break, the United States government has some helpful tips to keep you out of trouble so you don’t end up in jail for the rest of you’re life.

1. Avoid demonstrations and protests against the government of the country you are visiting. It isn’t polite to visit a place and then make their government mad. Just because you have free speech in America doesn’t mean you have free speech in another country. This is one point that many Americans find hard to understand, but when you visit another country, you are subject to their laws no matter how repressive they may be.
2. Check for travel warnings. Some places just aren’t safe to visit at all. Right now Antarctica is the most dangerous place to visit due to extreme weather and melting ice. You should avoid visiting Antarctica if at all possible. Also on the hazardous list are Israel, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.

3. If you’re going to do drugs in a foreign country, make sure it’s legal first. In some foreign countries, it’s legal to do marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. These are mostly European countries. Drugs can be enjoyable but there’s no bigger buzz kill than getting arrested for them. According to the Department of State, 2,500 U.S. citizens are arrested every year for possession of drugs. Make sure it’s legal if you’re going to do it. While some countries are more lenient about drugs than the United States, some countries are more harsh. In Malaysia, Turkey and Pakistan, you can be executed for drug charges. So if you’re looking for some place with more open drug laws, don’t go there.
4. Drink responsibly. Alcohol is legal in most countries, but ages vary drastically from country to country. Make sure you know what the drinking age is and also what the legal limit is for driving. Also, never black out in a foreign country. This can only lead to problems.
5. Make sure that all your papers are in proper order. You must have a valid passport. Keep good track of your passport, if you lose it, you might be taking an extended spring break.
In closing, trusting your common sense just isn’t enough. You need to study the laws of whatever country you’re visiting, because when you step out of this country, the USA, you step into a confusing world of foreigners.