Travel with class; you represent U.S.

It's important that, as students and citizens, we realize the rights and responsibilities we have when traveling outside of the U.S.

Whenever American citizens are arrested in foreign countries, it can elicit fears of traveling outside of our home country.

The recent sentencing of U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee for 12 years of labor in North Korea only adds to these fears.

Although the Ling and Lee situation is unique and may never be experienced by students, it still brings about questions of what rights and freedoms students have available to them when visiting other countries.

One of the strong attributes of study abroad programs is that they provide information for students to access prior to traveling.

It's important to have some understanding of cultural differences and the rules that exist in the host country before traveling.

UCF's study abroad Web site provides an informative student handbook that addresses problems that may arise while overseas.  The handbook even provides contacts to the U.S. embassy and consulate in the countries where students plan to visit.

There is also a government link that allows U.S. citizens to register their traveling information and plans for free so that the Department of State can assist in the event of an emergency.

The U.S. Department of State Web site also provides country specific information such as the safety rating and criminal penalties for those who are visiting the foreign area.

When U.S. citizens visit another country, they are representing the U.S. If students are visiting foreign countries for programs such as study abroad, they represent their academic institutions.

These responsibilities are present whether we want them to exist or not.

No matter what or who we are representing while on foreign lands, it is important to be knowledgeable and informed in case emergencies do arise when we are far from home.