For all
the Spring Breakers who still feel they’ve worked much too hard during the last semester to pick up a shovel or do
something charitable over the coming spring break just remember in all your nights sugared with debauchery on tropical,
wet, sandy, Mexican or Caribbean beaches that not all rules were meant to be broken. Community Dispatch dot com has an
excellent piece on International Travel Safety
Information for student travelers and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Being pissy drunk in Cancun and
mooning the restroom attendant might be something you could get away with in the states, but explaining your disorderly
behavior to the poor old attendant not to mention the police could prove quite difficult when your Español is muy
malo.
The article notes more than 2,500 Americans are arrested abroad with about half on narcotics charges.
Aside from illegal substances it’s the abuse of legal substances that can land travelers in foreign jails. In addition
to drugs and alcohol the piece also points out concerns with automobile accidents, water-sport mishaps, and
international security standards. Everything mentioned could very well happen here in the States, but tending to such
nasty matters abroad could be very uncomfortable to say the least. The biggest tip provided is to use common sense and
if you’re still set on blacking out in paradise just remember to bring someone along who’ll keep some level of common
sense for you. For additional pointers continue reading at Community Disptach or check out the State Department’s travel info.
(Photo from Spring Break Travel)