When You Travel, Your Sense of Right and Wrong Can’t Travel With You

This week’s video was filmed while standing near the border between British Columbia, Canada and Washington State, USA. Just a few steps behind me was another country.

Cross that line, and several things immediately change.

Different laws.
Different culture.
Different expectations about how people behave.

Most people understand that in theory. But when people travel, they often forget something important:

Your sense of right and wrong doesn’t always travel well.

The assumptions you live by at home may not apply where you are going.

A Lesson I Learned Early in My Career

Early in my career, I travelled overseas to a region that today is listed as “not recommended to visit.”

At the time, I was new to the field and relied heavily on more senior members of the team to understand the local environment. I hadn’t independently verified the cultural norms, recent events, or social dynamics in the area.

While moving through a crowded public space, one of the principals we were responsible for—let’s call him Jim—began handing out American dollars to women and children. He was chatting with them, playing with the kids, and trying to be generous.

Where Jim came from, that behaviour would be seen as an act of kindness.

But within moments, the situation began to change.

Crowds started forming quickly around us. People pushed closer, trying to get Jim’s attention and receive the money he was handing out. Then arguments broke out among the locals as they began establishing who had the right to approach him.

What started as generosity quickly became chaos.

Our team moved quickly to extract ourselves from the situation. As tensions escalated around us, we pushed through the crowd and made our way back to our vehicles. For a brief moment, it looked like we might need to physically defend ourselves just to leave safely.

Fortunately, we were able to evacuate without anyone being injured.

But it was a powerful lesson.

Jim didn’t understand the local social order he had just disrupted—and our entire group nearly paid the price for it.

The Reality of Travel

Just like stepping across an international border changes the laws that apply to you, travelling anywhere means stepping into a place where the rules may be different from what you are used to.

Every place has:

• Its own culture

• Its own legal system

• Its own expectations about behaviour

• Its own ways of resolving conflict

Things that seem normal where you live might be considered rude, illegal, or even dangerous somewhere else.

That doesn’t mean you stop caring about people.

It simply means you recognize something important:

When you travel, you are the guest.

The Six P’s of Travel Preparation

Whenever people ask me about travel safety, I always remind them of something simple:

The Six P’s

Proper Previous Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Before visiting a new place—whether it’s across the border or across the world—take the time to learn about the environment you’re stepping into.

Here are a few things worth researching before you go.

1. Understand Local Laws

What are the laws around self-defence?
How are you allowed to intervene in disputes?
How are conflicts typically handled by authorities?

Legal expectations vary widely from country to country, and even within different parts of the same country.

2. Know How to Interact with Police or Security

In some places, approaching police casually can be normal, but that’s not always the case. Some places have issues with fake police or security forces. Would you know how to spot the difference?

Knowing something of the culture and expected behaviour ahead of time can prevent misunderstandings and unfortunate situations.

3. Identify Areas to Avoid

Most cities have neighbourhoods that are safe during the day but risky at night.

Local knowledge matters.

4. Learn Cultural Norms

Simple interactions—such as speaking to strangers, making eye contact, or offering gifts—can carry very different meanings in different cultures.

In some places, even the gesture Jim made—giving money to women and children—may disrupt local hierarchies and lead to danger.

5. Prepare for Language Barriers

Learn a few key words or phrases before travelling.

Knowing how to say things like:

• “Help”

• “Police”

• “Where is the hospital?”

• “I need assistance.”

can make a significant difference in an emergency.

On the other side, what words should you know to mean you are about to, or are in danger?

6. Always Know Your Exit

One of the simplest safety principles is also one of the most overlooked:

Know how to leave.

If a situation starts to feel wrong, the smartest move is often to disengage and remove yourself from the environment, but leaving isn’t enough on its own if you leave the pan and jump into the fire.

Where is a safe place to go around you? Is there a community that would be more helpful than others? Can you access an embassy or other assistance from your home country?

Travel Is Still One of Life’s Great Experiences

Travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have.

New cultures.
New perspectives.
New relationships.

But the safest travellers understand something simple:

You can bring your curiosity.

You can bring your kindness.

But when you travel, it’s wise to leave your assumptions at home.

And remember the Six P’s:

Proper Previous Planning Prevents Poor Performance.