It is important to note that in many cases, students who study abroad will find themselves at much larger institutions than their home institutions. Large, prestigious universities attract students from around the world; therefore, students will find themselves faced with people from different backgrounds with very different religious, cultural, historical, and political views than their own.

Protests against American foreign policy are on the rise, but protests in and of themselves are not a threat.  If an American student feels uncomfortable during such protests, or any other situation, that student should remove himself to a more neutral environment.