The reality is that we live in a society that focuses so heavily on the negative, so safety is a valid concern when traveling abroad for any length of time. But most places are only as dangerous as the situations you place yourself in. Like many places in the world, as long as you keep your wits about you and make smart, common sense decisions (keep an eye on your stuff, do not wander off down a dark alley alone or go to notoriously bad neighborhoods at night), you are likely going to be just as safe abroad as you are at home.