Author: Lily Smith

Streetwise

Streetwise, defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “having the knowledge and experience that is needed to deal with the difficulties and dangers of life in a big city”  Well mindhamok are here to equip you with that knowledge folks!

Whether you’re studying abroad in a city, working in the big smoke, or perhaps you live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, knowing how to be streetwise is important for all of us. Many of us live in cities, work in them, or visit them with a paintbrush and a pot of red paint, so we want to make sure you feel safe in them! Look, we can’t promise you that there aren’t ill intended people about, but we want to give you some confidence when frequenting the big ol’ cities in the world. So listen up…

Cities are vibrant, diverse and representative of food, drink, identities and culture from all over the world. How lucky are we that we get to spend time in places like this? Each city is completely unique (kind of like people) and there are people from all walks of life… foods to quench every craving and fun at every turn. But, cities also come with their own set of dangers. Now we aren’t trying to scare you but it is important to #BeStreetwise. There are things we can do, night and day, to give ourselves that extra bit of confidence to ensure we are safe, and in the case that we aren’t, well, we will know how to respond.

Let’s talk about culture…

Whether it’s called a culture war, or identity politics or wokeness gone mad, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to navigate our identities against a backdrop of extremes. Firstly,

mindhamok want you to know that whoever you are is ok. But, we know that it doesn’t always feel ok to be ourselves in certain cities around the world, and it’s important to acknowledge this too. Whether it’s racism, sexism, transphobia or another type of prejudice, each culture has a different relationship with certain identities, and it’s always a stark reminder that in some places we aren’t as far forward as we’d like to be. In many cities across Europe, hate crimes have risen a little, and this isn’t to scare you or tell you to tone it down in terms of how you express yourself (we believe in full and complete self-expression!) but we want to give you the facts.

In many cases, hate crimes happen because people… suck. Sometimes just being a woman is enough to rile someone up and put your safety at risk, and there’s not much we can do about who we are to our core! Existing in itself can sometimes be enough to make people angry, whether it’s racism or transphobia, the rich tapestries of our identities can be confusing to other people. We don’t mean to be doom and gloom, but we’re here to tell you we get it. mindhamok are here to help you navigate the complex experience of being away from home and not always being accepted for who you are.

In terms of identities, we’ve got a range of resources to help you navigate this while abroad.

Being safe at night is crucial, and sadly, this is more poignant if you’re a woman, a person of colour or from the LGBTQ+ community. Check out our blog on safety at night to learn how to keep yourself safe. We’ve got a podcast on sexual harassment and safety as a student and gender-based violence.

We know that being part of the LGBTQ+ community can come with its own set of challenges, particularly in today’s political climate. Queerness is different for everybody so check out some inspirational stories to give you a boost.

If you’re struggling with your identity, or perhaps you’ve had an experience while abroad that has left you wanting to talk, then remember mindhamok members can access counselling wherever you are in the world. You can request a therapist from the LGBTQ+ community, or a therapist of colour, and any other specific experiences you’d like to discuss. We’re all unique, as are the cities we visit and the people we encounter and the cultures we become a part of (if only for a semester). mindhamok are here for you.