Safety
We are in a very safe area of the world and safe parts of London and Paris. However, just as you have to be aware of your surroundings when you are at Xavier or exploring Cincinnati, you need to pay attention while studying abroad.
Safety in the City
While we encourage you to explore London and Paris, you need to be aware of your surroundings. When you are in public places with lots of other people, such as on public transportation or in a market place, keep your purse zipped with the zipper going to the front and your wallet in a front pocket. In case you are pickpocketed, you will need to have your credit/debit/ATM card number(s), along with the company’s international phone number, so that you can immediately cancel your card. By keeping a minimal amount of cash and only a few cards with you, you can mitigate the impact of being pickpocketed.
London and Paris both have a great nightlife, but it is best to enjoy it with a group of friends to stay safe. If you’re going out, make sure to have your cellphone in case you get separated from your group, and extra money in case you need to take a taxi or Uber back to the hotel. Also make sure to take the same precautions you would if you were going out in the United States: watch your drink and friends’ drinks, don’t walk down deserted streets (especially at night), and think twice before wearing flashy accessories which might make you a bigger target for thieves. REMEMBER: DRINKING TOO MUCH WILL MAKE YOU MORE OF A TARGET AND WILL INCREASE YOUR RISK OF BEING PICKPOCKETED OR GETTING HURT.
If you have an emergency in London, call 999. If you have an emergency in Paris, call 112.
Extreme Emergencies
The odds of a city-wide or national emergency are incredibly small. That being said, there were a group of Xavier students in Japan when the 2011 tsunami hit. If there is a large-scale emergency we will try first to meet at our hotel. If that is not an option, go to the American Embassy.
London
The American Embassy in London is located at 33 Nine Elms Lane, London SW11 7US, which is a 10 minute walk from the Marble Arch Underground Station on the Central Line. If the embassy is not an option, head to Heathrow Airport by getting the Heathrow Express at Paddington Station or by taking the Piccadilly line to the Heathrow Terminals.
Paris
The American Embassy in Paris is located at 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France, a 15 minute walk from the Champs-Élysées. If the embassy is not an option, go to Charles De Gaulle airport via the RER.