Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Avoid Routine Patterns of Behavior
One of the most common points of attack comes while foreign nationals
are on their way between home and work. This is particularly true rela-
tive to the crime of kidnapping. Most people settle into predictable rou-
tines. They leave the house for work at the same time every morning.
They leave the office and return to their car at the same time each night.
Anyone intent on assaulting you has a relatively easy time in setting up an
ambush because of your unvarying routine. You will need to train yourself
to change your route to work. Settling into a predictable routine makes it
too easy for someone to make you a target. If you use company vehicles
for transportation, it is a good idea to routinely and randomly exchange
vehicles with your coworkers. Doing this will prevent someone who is tar-
geting you from being certain that you will be driving a particular car at
a particular time. You have to conduct yourself in a way that will make the
bad guys move on to someone else. We discuss what you can do to protect
yourself while driving in greater detail in the chapters about countersur-
veillance, vehicle safety procedures, and the principles of route selection.
Moderate Your Behavior
Several other points need to be addressed regarding the things that you,
as a visitor to a foreign country, need to be cognizant of. Certain types of
behavior can draw the wrong type of attention to you. Remember, you are
living in a country where social mores and acceptable conduct may be
quite different from what you are used to. Offense may be given where
none is intended. Certain activities considered acceptable in the United
States may actually be criminal in the country of your residence. Simple
social contacts with politically active individuals may get you marked by a
country's intelligence services. You need to be aware of what type of per-
sonal conduct is both acceptable and safe in the culture of your new coun-
try of residence. What types of activities should you avoid? There is a long
list, but let's look at some of the more important ones.
In the United States, one of our most precious traditions is the right
to be heard in the political process. Many people attend rallies, fundrais-
ers, protests, or demonstrations. Even foreign visitors to the United States
are afforded the privilege of making themselves heard in this manner.
Unfortunately, many countries do not share our appreciation of political
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