How do you approach it?

Studying abroad had always been something I was fascinated with, so the fact that I was actually able to do it is still so amazing to me! I started doing research right away during my freshman year of college at Florida State University (FSU). I quickly discovered that FSU had study centers around the globe (London; Valencia, Spain; Florence, Italy; and Panama City, Republic of Panama). I already knew that leaving the country would be a big deal (I had never done it before) in itself, so I didn’t want the added pressure of a language barrier as well. This narrowed my choices down to London right away. From there, I researched what classes/major programs the FSU London program offered and started planning out what classes I would take while I was over there. Since FSU London did not have classes for my major, I saved some required broad curriculum classes for my semester abroad. This included a speech class where we had to give speeches at places like Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, the National Portrait Gallery, and even the London Underground (also known as the Tube), a Shakespeare class where we got to tour the Globe Theatre and see a few Shakespeare plays, and a British Life and Culture class where I got to learn about all the things I was experiencing first-hand while living in London.

How it worked

Since I studied abroad at a FSU Study Center, I lived in a flat and took classes with other students from the United States. This made the whole experience more comfortable for me. All the friends I was making were in the exact same boat as me, and we were figuring things out together. The FSU Study Center happens tube in the most prime location in London, in Camden – literally around the corner from the British Museum. This meant that anything you could possibly want to see or do in London was a brisk walk or quick Tube ride away (the Tottenham Court stop is a three-minute walk from the study center). Almost all of our days were spent exploring. Our professors would take us out on walking tours, our program assistants would show us fun things to do in our free time, and we even went on multiple weekend getaways with the school – Stonehenge, Scotland, Belgium, Switzerland, and France (all included in the program fee).

Things I wish I’d known before

Culture shock is very real. The obvious differences between England and America, like the fact that the Brits drive on the opposite side of the road and call pants trousers, were easier to get over, weirdly enough. The things that I wasn’t so prepared for were much harder to get past, like how their grocery stores don’t refrigerate eggs and how everyone in London will look at you weird if you wear a sweatshirt and leggings out in public. The point is, I was SUPER homesick right away because I felt like I had entered an alternate universe. But I got over it quickly, and after a week I was already feeling less overwhelmed and more adventurous.

The ‘pushing yourself out of your comfort zone’ doesn’t end the entire time you are abroad. You have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

My favorite parts

Traveling with newly made friends was such a weird experience, but looking back, I realize that was one of my favorite parts of my entire time abroad. Nothing breaks down walls like squeezing into a tiny hostel room with five other girls.

Last but not least, I got all that time to explore. I got to call London home for a semester, and now I know that whenever I go back, it will feel like I never left!

Neapolitan Family intern Ginny Lundstrom is a 2015 Barron Collier High School graduate. She is a senior at Florida State University majoring in Editing, Writing, and Media.

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Pat Crave, the director of the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, answered some questions for Neapolitan Family about internet safety while traveling.

What are your top tips for Internet safety while traveling?

• Don’t post pictures on social media of your vacation while you are still on the trip. This could alert thieves that your home is unattended. (You don’t stop the mail and newspaper for the same reason.)

• Don’t connect to unsecure wi-fi at your hotel or during your travel. If you don’t have to enter a password, or the password is generic and the same for everyone, it isn’t secure. If you do have to connect, don’t do any sensitive transactions like check bank accounts, etc.

• Bring your own phone chargers and cords. Don’t use those free stations (with their cords) that you find in public places. You don’t know what that cord is really connected to behind the kiosk. Plug into a wall plug like you would normally do.

Turn off Bluetooth and wi-fi connections on your devices when you are not using them. This will limit hackers’ ability to connect to your device without you even knowing it (good advice all the time, not just traveling.)

How can we make parents more aware of the dangers?

Most parents are intimidated by technology today. It is all new to us and we can’t keep up with the constant changes. Instead of embarrassing ourselves with “stupid” questions to our children, we go along with what they are doing and saying without doing any homework on our own. What parent hasn’t asked their child for help with a phone or computer? We live with the belief that our child won’t do anything dangerous or stupid online. But their definition of dangerous is different than ours. They grew up chatting with strangers online, giving out personal information to online friends and downloading the latest apps. All things we were raised to never do. Their trust level is high and suspicions are low.

Parents need to be involved in what their child is doing on- line. They need to have conversations and ask questions. I’m not saying you have to interrogate them but be involved. Help them understand the dangers that exist online and help them learn how to make good decision. On our website www.SafeAndSecureOn- line.org/parents you will find videos and tip sheets to help parents with these exact issues.

With many apps, like SnapChat, locations services are turned on, and most people don’t even realize it. Why is this dangerous? This is an issue with most apps and with phones themselves. We all need to go through our devices on a regular basis and turn off the unnecessary tracking and notification settings on our phones and apps. Did you know there is a tracking device or geo-tagging on your phone’s camera? It not only takes a picture but marks exactly where it was taken. So, when you post it online someone can figure out where you are or where you live, all hidden in a photo. The danger of tracking is just that – you are giving away personal information that isn’t necessary. There is no need for strangers to have all that information. It can lead to stalking, harassment, bullying, or worse.

What should people know before using public wi-fi?

You should avoid using public wi-fi if possible. That includes ones at your hotel and local coffee shop unless you know it is se- cure. If you don’t have to put in a password or it asks for a generic password like “hotelguest,” then it is not secure. If you are given a unique password when checking into the hotel, you are more likely to be on a secure network. Often that password will be your last name and room number that no one else would know. Don’t hesitate to ask at the desk about their security.

Don’t be fooled by the name that comes up on the wi-fi. When setting up a wi-fi connection you can name it anything you want. So just because it says your hotel name, your favorite coffee shop or call “Secure Wi-fi”, doesn’t mean that it is their trusted site.

Pat Crave’s best (and most effective tip) is also the most simple, yet hardest for many of us, to carry out.

Remember you are on vacation…UNPLUG! Get off the grid for a few days and enjoy your time together. Make memories that you can post about later when you get home. Your friends (and work) will all still be there when you get home.

The post How to Stay Safe Online While Traveling (and at Home) appeared first on SWFL Family.