Crossing Borders

Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
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Crossing borders is simultaneously one of the most important and one of the most trivial things imaginable. It's trivial because millions of people cross borders every day. In Western Europe it's barely more complicated than driving across a state line. Getting your passport stamped is regarded by many customs officials as a nuisance. But crossing borders is very important because once you cross a border, you become subject to all that country's laws.

As a geologist, you may find yourself well off the beaten path, going to countries not often visited by tourists or going to areas not often seen, maybe even prohibited. You may find yourself in contact with people who have never seen Americans and who have odd ideas about Americans.

Popular American Misconceptions

You have no immunity to some country's laws just because you are a tourist or an American.
The U.S. State Department has no power (and little desire) to get you out of legal troubles in foreign countries. Their job is to advance U.S. interests in that country, not those of individual Americans, and Americans who run afoul of local laws just make their jobs harder. They can assist you in getting legal help and check on your condition. That's about it.
The U.S. State Department will not provide you with financial assistance.
There is no ACLU outside the U.S. (The "A" in ACLU stands for "American") Police methods range from pretty civil in Western Europe to pretty rough in many countries.
The Supreme Court has no authority outside the U.S. There are no Miranda rights in most countries and very little weight given to judicial technicalities. Anything the police find by fair means or foul can be evidence.

Things to Avoid

Never do anything illegal. This is too obvious to need elaboration. Find out what's legal and what's not. Ignorance of the law is no excuse anywhere in the world.
Never joke with border personnel or foreign officials. In many countries these are extremely high-prestige positions and they are very sensitive to any insults to their status. Social mobility is extremely limited in many countries and people why have made it up the ladder are very conscious of their rank.
Never argue with them. If you must resolve a conflict, be extremely courteous and tactful.
Never show disrespect of any kind. These people have almost unlimited power to make your life miserable. You don't get to do anything until they say you can, so don't do anything to jeopardize the process.
Never use the expression "field work" in describing what you do. "Work" connotes employment, and sends up red flags about payment of taxes, special immigration status, and taking jobs away from local personnel.
Never be patronizing.
Avoid the extreme grubby or overly-casual look. "Hippies", real and imagined, are considered pampered Western parasites in some places. Knapsacks and backpacks arouse suspicion in some places.
Know what you can photograph. Even bridges are considered military installations in some countries. If a sign says "no photography," believe it.
Check out The Ugly American from the library and read it. Then avoid acting like that.
Avoid confrontations with local citizens if at all possible. Get away from provocative situations as quickly as possible.
Sex, alcohol and drugs are hot-button issues everywhere. Things that are permissible for locals can mean big trouble for foreigners.

Watch for Surprises

Don't be surprised if unexpected "fees" or "surcharges" suddenly pop up, especially in less-regulated parts of the world.
How you're treated will depend on how you arrive. If you have official sanction of some sort your entry may be smooth, whereas it might be difficult, even impossible, to enter privately. A good example is Saudi Arabia - nobody goes to Saudi Arabia as a tourist - everyone entering the country must have some official purpose. Even Canada can be surprising. Driving into Canada means little more than a quick border inquiry, whereas if you arrive by plane, you are given a visa with a fixed time limit.
If you are part of a multi-national party, be aware of the different requirements for each member. Field trips have run into grief by driving to Canada or Mexico, then having problems returning to the U.S. because some foreign member didn't carry his identification. Elsewhere, people of some nationalities may be refused entry to (or worse, exit from) certain countries.
Treat guidebooks with caution. Advice about local customs may be out of date or not applicable in all areas; phrases that work in some areas might not be acceptable in others, especially if there are ethnic rivalries. When the guidebook says to avoid something, believe it, but don't be surprised if following the guidebook results in strange looks. Find out what went wrong and make a mental note of it.

Don't Get Paranoid

Most people who go abroad have a great time and come back in fine shape. Stay alert to potential problems but don't let fear rule your life.
People around the world are aware that there are other ways of life. Inadvertent violations of some local custom (like showing the sole of your foot to an Arab) will probably not cause offense if it's clearly inadvertent, especially if you act quickly to correct your mistake. These are learned customs; kids in the Third World don't automatically know not to offer things with the left hand.
Apologies work wonders in fixing problems
Embarrassment is not fatal. Get over it and drive on.
A sense of humor at yourself and at mishaps makes life more enjoyable and earns you respect. But be very careful about attempting humor when it concerns local customs or people.

Some Things That Can Help

The more foreign languages you know, the better. The reception becomes warmer the more obscure and difficult the language is. If you're going to be anyplace more than a day or two, at least learn to say "please" and "thank you" in the local language.
If you must speak English, treat it as a courtesy on their part to do so. Don't assume everyone can or wants to speak English. The French have a reputation for being unsympathetic to non-French-speakers, but I spent a delightful day in Paris with a friend who practically had people eating out of his hand. The magic phrase? "Excuse me, do you speak English?" spoken in a respectful tone, as if to acknowledge that it was a courtesy and not a right. The results were incredible.
The more foreign languages you know, the better.
Know what is sacred to people and treat it with respect. For example, Turkey is almost fanatically proud of its progress in the 20th century and the country's founding hero, Ataturk, is highly revered. So, in Turkey, never insult Ataturk or any national symbol. The same is true in various degrees in many other countries. How would you react to a foreigner trampling on the American flag?
The more foreign languages you know, the better.
Respect shows, and genuine interest is always appreciated. These attitudes show through even if you don't share a common language.
Watch people's responses for subtle clues about how they see you.
The more foreign languages you know, the better.
When I first saw this, I was amazed at how well it worked as an ice-breaker. Get a small, pocket-size photo album and fill it with pictures of your home, your family, your pets, your home town, all the commonplace things you normally never think to take pictures of. Add pictures of other interesting places you've visited. Don't show it to everyone, but in a setting where there's real interest, it can be a marvelous communication device.
Did I mention the more foreign languages you know, the better?

Keep a Low Profile

Americans are notorious for being loud and rude around the world (Germans are next on the list). In my experience 90 per cent of the problems Americans encounter in other countries can be traced to body language and tone of voice. So don't act like a stereotypical American.

Dress comfortably but conservatively. Leave the T-shirts home (or bring them for gifts). Avoid loud shirts, extreme shorts, and so on, or at least know where you can and cannot wear them.
Clean-shaven can't hurt, or at least neat facial hair. This is not a place for punk hairdos or extreme styles.
Keep your voice down! This is one of the single biggest sources of problems for Americans. You may be perfectly friendly, but a loud voice is intimidating, offensive, or suggestive of anger. Speak in a moderate, respectful tone of voice.
Be careful about laughing or gesturing in public. A perfectly innocent joke might be taken amiss if the punch line is delivered in front of a statue of a revered national hero or religious shrine.

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Created January 11, 2000, Last Update January 11, 2000

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