How
“safe” is life overseas for single women or
families?
How safe is
Teaching English Overseas?
Call me naive, but my experience so far has been that
life overseas is in many ways, much safer than back in
my home country.
Crime
Serious crime, in the countries where I have lived,
seems to be much less of a problem than "back home". A
good starter rule is, "If you wouldn't do it back home,
don't do it in your new country." Part of the issue is
that we often don't know the signals of a bad
neighborhood in the new country. I have lived in
neighborhoods in which, back home, I would have been
afraid to go outside after dark, but in the country
where I was living - no problems at all. Very
safe.
BUT, I have to qualify that most of my experience as
been in Asia. South and Central America - and Africa -
are different. Europe - I don't know about. Korea,
Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand - seem to me to be much
safer than my experience back in the States.
Traffic
Traffic accidents, and the lack of First Aid skills by
local populations, probably present a greater threat to
your physical well-being than crime.
Africa
When I lived in Africa, it was clear to me that crime
against people and property was a much greater threat
than back home. Investigate carefully when considering
a job there. I know that is a gross generalization -
but still, I want to say, "Be careful."
Families and Women
Be
as careful as you would back home - at least until you
know the areas where you live and work. But, again, my
opinion would be that in most parts of Asia - you are
safer here than at home.
Most of the violent crime that does exist in Asia seems
to be business/gang related. As long as you stay
out of those circles you will probably be just fine.
