Year Abroad Office
Safety tips for RUSSIA - for men and women!
General safety
Don't talk loudly in English in public - it makes you a target for the police as well as other thieves/muggers. (The police use foreigners to supplement their income.)
Always carry a photocopy of your passport and visa (not the real thing).
It is worth carrying two purses/wallets, one with old/out of date ID and small change. Use this for paying on public transport and it is there should you be mugged, so you can avoid giving up your 'real' purse/wallet.
In residential blocks, be wary of holding the door open to anyone, they may not live in that block. The same with lifts. If there is a code to the block, don't make it general knowledge.
Girls - In contrast to other countries, do dress up. Russian girls are very smart. Wearing baggy jeans/trousers, trainers and carrying rucksacks will make you stand out as foreign. At the same time, stilettos are not ideal for running on ice should you need to.
Girls - Ignore curb crawlers - do not talk to them, it may reveal you are foreign. Walk quickly on or head into a shop for a few minutes. Personal alarms are available cheaply from CUSU.
Girls - Never walk home alone. Always have a friend walk you home.
Sexual harassment is less common than physical assault: it is best just to ignore sexist comments from men in bars. It is unusual for mixed groups to go around together, and it may be presumed that the group is girl - and boyfriends together. It is worth playing this up!
Travelling
On long-distance trains, unless you are occupying the whole of a coupé, choose platzkartni. It is much safer (and also cheaper!).
It is totally legal and normal to flag down passing cars as taxis. Always negotiate the price first, and girls - do not take one of these on your own.
None of this is meant to scare, but it is worth taking precautions. Some situations may arise which you could not have planned for, but you can minimise the risks by following the above. And finally, have a brilliant year abroad!
Contributed by Charlie Masding
