Studying in St. Petersburg for the first time? The first thing you must do is build a vanguard of safety. Otherwise, you’ll fall into casual mischiefs that can endanger your life.
Before the panic settles in, remember that St. Petersburg is a safe city with fairly tight surveillance. But like any other major city in the world, it’s also open to common threats.
These threats in St. Petersburg can range from petty crimes to extreme weather. But regardless of which one you face, you must be prepared to take the right course of action.
Here are some common threats you must look out for in St. Petersburg:
Pickpocketing in Public Spaces
Everyone in a crowded, unmanaged public space is vulnerable to pickpocketing. The target areas are usually tourist destinations and urban squares within the city center.
Thieves may also target public transportation such as the metro, buses, minibuses, and trams. But you still need to be cautious even in large indoor areas such as malls just to be safe.
Extreme Cold During Winter
We’re not just talking about the bone-chilling climate from December to February, we’re also talking about infrastructure. During this period, sidewalks are super slippery, and icicles crack from eavestroughs.
Most of the time, the temperature will reach zero °C which is something that you might not be used to. Due to this, you’re more vulnerable to cold and bodily pains from the freezing chill.
Try to stay indoors as much as possible during winter months unless for important errands. Of course, you shouldn’t forget to bring appropriate winter clothes too so you’ll have armor against the cold.
Riding Unlicensed Taxis
Booking in advance is the best way to get a taxi because you get to pay the exact amount. If you happen to ride a licensed and authorized taxi, there’s still a risk that the driver may charge you more.
The threat goes higher if you ride unlicensed taxis. Drivers of these usually have the intention of robbing the passenger and leaving them penniless on the other side of town.
Intense and Aggressive Traffic
Don’t be surprised to see hundreds of cars beating the red light every day. Road laws don’t seem to exist here, especially with aggressive drives overcrowding the streets.
The streets of city centers are always overflowing with cars with irate drives eager to surpass each other. So obviously, there’s a tendency for reckless over-speeding that you must look out for.
Student Scams
Student scams can be anything from scholarship scams to student visa scams. You may even be vulnerable to mobile banking scams regardless of where you are in the world.
In St. Petersburg, take extra caution before securing accommodation. Scammers often take your initial deposit, with you thinking that you secure a spot. At some point, they’ll stop answering your calls and it will turn out that you’ve just been robbed.
St. Petersburg is generally a safe study for international students, tourists, and residents alike. But it wouldn’t hurt to take extra steps to protect yourself. If you want to see more content like this, see our other articles about Russia as a study destination here at MSM Unify.
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