Traveling can be a wonderful adventure that allows a person to explore different cultures or even just escape the mundane every day activities. However, traveling can also be dangerous, so people should make sure that they are aware of the realities of the places they travel to.
The United States government posts international travel information, which updates citizens on what places they should avoid visiting at the present time. There are 2 different types of alerts: the travel warning and the travel alert. The travel warning is used for countries that have been deemed to have been long-term unsafe places for tourists to travel. The travel alerts usually include more immediate and usually more specific dates and places that American citizens should avoid traveling. These alerts usually call people’s attentions to natural disasters, anniversaries of terrorist attacks and coups.
The places that are listed on the travel warnings page include the countries that most people would expect to see there, including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chad and Columbia. The more surprising places can be found on the travel alerts page which currently includes Germany and Honduras.
The travel alert in Germany was released November 12 because the Department of State wanted to alert American citizens to the fact that Al Qaeda has been sending videos threatening to conduct terrorist attacks against the country. Considering I am planning to visit Germany this summer, it was good to be alerted that was taking place. I will not be changing my plans, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
In order to help assist American citizens who are traveling out of the country, the government urges people to register with the U.S. Department of State in order to expedite any help they may need from a U.S. embassy or consulate. This is important because situations can come up such as terrorist attacks and natural disasters, during which United States citizens may need special help. It is easy for travelers to register their trips online through the U.S. Department of State website and it is well worth the time.
The most basic way that travelers can remain safe is to pack and act consciously while they are preparing for and while they are on a trip. It is wise to leave expensive jewelry, social security cards and extra credit cards at home. Another thing that people should do is photocopy any important documents such as passports, airline tickets and driver’s licenses and leave a copy of that information with friends or family before they leave on their trip. While people are on their trip it is a good idea not to travel alone at night, beware of pickpockets and scam artists.
Overwhelmingly, the amount of people who leave the United States come home in one piece and have the opportunity to share how wonderful their trip was with their friends and family. However, it is important for people who are leaving the country to be aware of the dangers that could come up.
Friday, December 4, 2009
My Christmas Wish
Christmas is a mix of excitement and stress. Most of the stress comes from finding the perfect present for everyone on my list while at the same time keeping my budget in mind. My only wish this Christmas is that I find something great for all the great people in my life.
I don’t know what it is about men in my life, but they are incredibly hard to shop for.
My dad is one of those guys that always has says that they don’t need or want anything when Christmas or a birthday comes around. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, for him I have never showed up empty handed on Christmas Day. My poor dad has pretended to be excited about gas cards, movie tickets, handmade ornaments and many other things that only a father would appreciate. This year is going to be more of the same stress as Christmas approaches, but hopefully this year I can somehow come up with something wonderful at the last minute.
The other person in my life who is impossible to shop for is my boyfriend. It’s not that he doesn’t want anything, it’s just the fact that he will mention something he likes and I will get it, but eventually have to return it for some reason. For example, this year I have already bought and returned an iPod because his mom bought it for him and I have returned a set of tools because he bought them for himself. I will have to listen carefully to come up with another gift idea soon.
The problem doesn’t go away when it comes to my mom and my friends either. Sure I would love to get my mom that trip to Paris she would love, but the reality is when you are working part time at a craft store there is a budget you have to stick to. I think I have finally settled on a present for my mom, but she has a habit of buying everything she wants.Once again I need to find something that she says she wants,but that she has not bought for herself.
Over the years I have had to pare down the list of friends that I buy presents for because buying something for all of my friends isn’t possible monetarily. I usually buy presents for my close friends and we do a small gift exchange one evening during the week of Christmas. Because I do not get to see my friends as much as I would like to while I’m in school, the evening is usually the time that we all catch up on what has happened during the past 3 months. It is always a fun night and it’s a great way to relax after a long, stressful semester.
I still have a lot of work to do to ensure that everyone in my life gets the presents that they deserve because I they are all important to me. I know that whatever I come up with they will all appreciate, but it would be nice to find a great gift for everyone.
I don’t know what it is about men in my life, but they are incredibly hard to shop for.
My dad is one of those guys that always has says that they don’t need or want anything when Christmas or a birthday comes around. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, for him I have never showed up empty handed on Christmas Day. My poor dad has pretended to be excited about gas cards, movie tickets, handmade ornaments and many other things that only a father would appreciate. This year is going to be more of the same stress as Christmas approaches, but hopefully this year I can somehow come up with something wonderful at the last minute.
The other person in my life who is impossible to shop for is my boyfriend. It’s not that he doesn’t want anything, it’s just the fact that he will mention something he likes and I will get it, but eventually have to return it for some reason. For example, this year I have already bought and returned an iPod because his mom bought it for him and I have returned a set of tools because he bought them for himself. I will have to listen carefully to come up with another gift idea soon.
The problem doesn’t go away when it comes to my mom and my friends either. Sure I would love to get my mom that trip to Paris she would love, but the reality is when you are working part time at a craft store there is a budget you have to stick to. I think I have finally settled on a present for my mom, but she has a habit of buying everything she wants.Once again I need to find something that she says she wants,but that she has not bought for herself.
Over the years I have had to pare down the list of friends that I buy presents for because buying something for all of my friends isn’t possible monetarily. I usually buy presents for my close friends and we do a small gift exchange one evening during the week of Christmas. Because I do not get to see my friends as much as I would like to while I’m in school, the evening is usually the time that we all catch up on what has happened during the past 3 months. It is always a fun night and it’s a great way to relax after a long, stressful semester.
I still have a lot of work to do to ensure that everyone in my life gets the presents that they deserve because I they are all important to me. I know that whatever I come up with they will all appreciate, but it would be nice to find a great gift for everyone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)