Is there any way of securing valuable things?
Yes, you can give your passport, plane ticket and other important documents (that you want to secure) to a staff member at the office. Generally, your room at your placement will have a lock on the door or a locked compartment, and you should use it because the kids and your host family are really curious about you and they will rifle through your stuff. It is harmless but can get annoying and can account for the occasional misplacement of items.
