In preparing to study abroad in Ethiopia, University of Georgia junior Tia Ayele has made sure she knows how to stay safe in an unfamiliar country.
"There's a mandatory evacuation if anything does happen," said Ayele, whose study abroad opportunity is funded by the Boren Scholarship, which provides $20,000 to undergraduates. "If there's any type of political turmoil, I have to leave."
One of the first things she's going to do, she said, is register with International SOS, a company that offers students safety advice and emergency assistance in more than 70 countries.
Practices like these are common for students studying abroad amidst periods of turmoil.
For instance, countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa, such as Egypt and Sudan, have recently experienced turmoil including violent protests against an anti-Islam film created in the United States, USA TODAY reported.
These recent conflicts overseas beg the question: What measures do students and their respective programs take to ensure safety while abroad?
Remembering not to draw attention to oneself is a common piece of advice for students studying amid turbulence. Harvard University's Global Support Services (GSS) office told students currently studying in the Middle East and Northern Africa in an email this week to "maintain a low profile, avoid sensitive topics of discussion and avoid overt displays of nationality," the Harvard Crimson reported.
Emory University senior Ariane Noar, who studied in Egypt in summer 2011 soon after the Egyptian revolution, echoed this idea. To ensure her safety, she said, she "avoided engaging with people on the streets when you know it can turn ugly."
During a "million man march" in Egypt last summer, the American University of Cairo informed students to remain indoors on campus.
"We had to get special permission if we did have to leave at any point," Noar said. "They basically shut us in the dorms."
To stay updated in these types of situations, students who register with International SOS receive updates and safety advice via email. Emory senior Jimmy Sunshine, who studied at Tel Aviv University in the spring, said that during one general strike, International SOS provided information about the strike, areas to avoid and updates on public transportation.
Many schools require students to register for International SOS insurance before they leave to study overseas to ensure medical and security assistance. But in the case of extreme violence, schools sometimes close programs all together.
Emory University, for instance, has suspended its Egypt program for all of 2012 due to ongoing protests in the region, The Emory Wheel reported.
Still, Sunshine said staying safe mostly boiled down to using common sense. Emory gave him a list of countries outside Israel to avoid and required him to inform the school when he was traveling outside the country, but he knew that he also had to make smart decisions for himself.
"Just be mindful of your surroundings and don't do anything you wouldn't do in the U.S.," Sunshine said.