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New York, 7:26 AM
Thu Dec 17
60 posts in the last 24 hours
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12/08/09
"Do Not Use Drugs" -- Because it's legally okay to use drugs in the US? No, because you don't know how to use drugs and not to get caught in another country and you have less resources to get out of trouble there, even if it's Canada.
"Know that Pranks Are Always Lost in Translation" -- Yeah, like if you string a line across the road and trip a lady and she gets hurt, you won't be in a load of shit if you're in the US. Don't do stupid pranks regardless of where you're.
"Never Underestimate How Prude the Rest of the World Is" -- Countries that don't have strong Judeo-Christian/ Islam ethical background are actually a hell lot more open-minded about sex than the US is. Like, say, Japan and Thailand.
"Learn This Sentence in the Native Dialect" -- Good suggestion, though I don't think it's likely that most have enough language talent to speak it intelligibly in a language they don't know, especially when they're in trouble and in shock. Carry a card with that sentence printed in both the native language and English instead.
"Don't Start Shit" -- True. Though it has to be said that even if you're Japanese, you'd still get the same treatment in Japan.
"Don't Go Places You're Not Allowed" -- True again, though I have no idea how that incites xenophobia or takes fun out of traveling abroad. Beside, isn't that part of the last point?
12/07/09
Yeah, it was scary.
12/07/09
I've heard that's the best kind.
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Knox and Sollecito were caught on video around town and near the crime scene that night, contradicting their claim that they were at his apartment all night. In the morning they were on video shopping for cleaning supplies.
7. Either always keep your cell phone on or turn it off every night. For some reason, the only time Knox and Sollecito ever turned off their phones happened to be during the time Kercher was murdered.
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12/07/09
Or, for safety's sake, always travel in groups of three. That way you can frame your unknowing third wheel for your own mischievous, homicidal highjinks.
12/07/09
2. The most important thing to remember *anywhere* if you're accused of a crime or even think that the cops consider you a suspect is DON'T TALK TO THE COPS. Wait for a lawyer who speaks your language even if it means pissing everyone around you off for weeks. The cops are not your friends in this situation. They will tell you "we just want to help you" but what they really want is a confession so the prosecutor can get a quick conviction and they can move on to the next case. It's amazing how many people end up confessing to crimes they did not commit (or fingering someone else) after just a few hours of interrogation. Most of us wold consider the mere possibility of doing something like that absurd, but it happens all the time. And it's VERY difficult to get a false confession thrown out in a court unless there is video evidence of physical abuse--which there almost never is. A great book to read as a primer on this is Lush Life by Richard Price, which is also a fabulous novel in and of itself.
3. Don't expect much help from the American embassy or consulate. The truth is, they don't want a diplomatic mess either and more likely than not will view you as a headache that they want to get rid of as quickly as possible. If you're lucky they'll give you the phone number of a lawyer who may speak English, but don't expect them to take a personal interest in your case. They probably think of you as a fuckup who just made their job more difficult.
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12/07/09
"Do not be a terrible person whilst traveling or working abroad" might be excellent advice as well in either case, I suppose.
12/07/09
Fay was dealt with in Singapore, where they don't screw around with people. I remember the Singapore embassy in SF being overrun with phone calls from people offering to cane Fay.
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[en.wikipedia.org]
12/07/09
On another note, just why was it the Iraquis didn't greet Our Boys with roses and sunshine?
12/07/09
In most of my travels, nobody seems to give a shit that I'm an American. However, I also do my best to speak the native language and not start talking jingoistic shit every twenty minutes. You're right about the sense of entitlement, though. It's the assholes who think that they are superior to other people simply by virtue of where they were born that make us look like ass.
12/07/09
12/07/09
No, the Iroquois, actually, as Elton John invites us to sing with him about that great ravaged race to the north ...
Oh, great father of the Iroquois
Come put on your breeches, bois ...
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12/07/09
I'm wondeirng the same thing about the three Americans that crossed into Iran...they probably wanted the thrill of reporting they'd been in Iran. Now they need Betty Mahmoodi to get them out!!
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Unfortunately there are a few Iranian Americans with duo citizenship who were in Iran legally who have been arrested and charged with spying. Some of them were just there to pick up wives to bring back to the States. Which would totally suck. Kind of like visiting your inlaws in West Virginia and never coming home.
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