While I intended to teach you to renew your passport more than six months before it expires, perhaps the better lesson to be learned from my old and new passport photos is to take care of yourself during your twenties. Either that, or make sure that your hair is strong enough to withstand the ceaseless pull of gravity.

Problems that you encounter when traveling often seem more daunting than they actually are. Just because you are out of your element doesn’t mean that you can’t find a solution to most travel conundrums. Unless you were foolish enough to get yourself on an episode of Locked Up Abroad, odds are you can get yourself out of virtually any predicament in which you might find yourself. Keep a level head, take a deep breath and stay calm.

Of course, some advanced planning helps too.

Show me your papers – Pack a photocopy of your passport in a separate pack from your actual passport. Keep a copy with a friend or family member back home who can fax it to an embassy in a pinch.

Phone (or email) home – Speaking of the folks back home, make sure a couple of people have a copy of your itinerary (if one exists). Always have contact names and numbers on you in case you (or a hospital employee) need them. Check in from time-to-time to let someone know where you’re heading next. Or, go that extra mile and register with the State Department.

Safety first – Find room in your pack for a first aid kit. And no, those three Care Bears Band-Aids that have been in your bag since you were 11 don’t count. Some stomach medication and an antibiotic should be included with the other basics.

Strength in numbers – Solo travel is delightful. But, if you plan to explore some shady neighborhoods (or countries), it’s best to have some backup. Who else is going to identify your body?

Know where you’re staying – Off to wander (and/or get drunk) in a foreign land in which you don’t speak the language? Make sure you can find your way back to your accommodations later. In Japan, my apartment building provided cards with the address written in Japanese. Drunk and a tad lost one evening, I simply handed the card to a cabbie and was homeward bound.

Clean underwear – Do it for your mother.

Eventually, everyone finds themselves in a travel pickle. Remain calm, use some common sense and try not to wet yourself. And, if you do have to pose for a proof of life photo, try not to smile. Smiling tends to piss off  kidnappers.

Have any tips for how to prepare for travel pitfalls so that you can keep panic at bay? Had to remain calm during an unexpected hiccup on a trip? Share in the comments.