Tourists can often be a tantalizing target for pick-pockets. As visitors in an area, you’re unlikely to know the safe areas from the not quite so safe areas. You’re going to be carrying a lot of valuable stuff about your person. You’re going to be relaxing and taking it easy, and so you won’t be concentrating quite so much. Also, if you’re in a different country, you may not be accustomed to the customs regarding personal space and contact, and so you might be less able to spot and avoid a potential pick-pocket.

So here are a few bits of advice to bear in mind, so that you won’t be running any unnecessary risks.

1) You could get a bum-bag, so as to keep all your valuables in a place where you’d definitely notice if someone tried to get at them. Alternatively, make sure that you never ever keep anything valuable in your back-pocket.

2) Try not to stand out conspicuously as a tourist. Avoid wearing a camera around your neck, holding a large map, wearing clothes that sharply stand out against the local attire. If you’re standing in a crowded area, speaking in English, then try to keep the volume down.

3) Buy yourself a phrase-book a good few weeks before you take your trip, and during this time try to learn some of the phrases that you will need, and - critically - their responses. You don’t need to be fluent, but you will blend in a lot better and won’t provoke any hostility if you at least make an effort to ask in shops and restuarants for what you want in the national language.

4) Before going on your exchange, make sure to ask your exchange partner for a list of the local emergency service numbers, and a list of the nearest hospital, dentist, police station, doctors etc.

5) If you’re planning to eat at a restaurant, ask your exchange partner for some recommendations. This will save you from accidentally landing upon a typically touristic restaurants that will over charge and exploit you.

By all means, if you want the best advice from someone who knows the area impeccably well, then there will be no one better to advise you than your exchange partner. Sometime tourists can be exploited, so it’s a good idea to get the low-down before you embark upon your trip.

People! Are we even speaking the same language?

YES WE ARE! Anglo-American links have always been strong. And with the dawn of the new historical era we are seeing materialise right before our 21st century eyes, we should make them even stronger. So, I propose to you, o great land of the free, that you pay us a visit! Let´s bond!

Here is a handful of things that might entice you into a visit.

1. Jay-walking. Not illegal here! You can go crazy.
2. Everything is little in comparison, and therefore cute. Endlessly cute. Our roads are cute. Our shopping centres are cute. We´re just small, little people. Love us!
3. We have an archaic, ridiculous accent. It makes for easy listening. Everyone sounds POSH. Even when they´re not.
4. Our television news system is really rather different. Try it. You might even like it.
5. We´re bridging the gap between continental Europe and the USA in terms of customer service. Unlike in the states, we haven´t quite mastered the culture of making the customer the most sacred thing that there is. But equally, it´s not like in other European countries, when you ask for a different size and the people look at you as if they hate you. So if you want to see very the strange looking British people dance around the counter, not really sure who is in charge - you or them - making the whole thing a little bit hysterical and sensationally awkward…. Then BUY YOUR FLIGHTS NOW!! It´s like LIVE COMEDY. In the store! People pay to see this kind of stuff.
6. Stephen Fry is really a lot like Oscar Wilde
7. The teeth thing. Is it a myth or is it an ugly truth? You´ll have to see for yourselves.
8. We use irony to the MAX. It´s true. There´s always a chance with a Brit that what they´re saying should not be taken at face value. This has gotten me into all sorts of trouble in the past.
9. Socks with sandals is always a good ´un
10. A group of people who are very very punctual.
11. An English breakfast. Mouth-watering rashers of bacon, grilled sausages, high quality scrambled eggs, crispy toast, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, with a lovely cup of tea to wash it all down.

Did you notice that was more than ten? That´s because the last thing is, that British people can´t count. Well, maybe we can count, but we certainly made a hash of things with the empirical system!