I don't have much to say about protecting yourself, maybe someone else would, except the suggestion to carry a cell phone(even without service they work for 911, if you don't have one someone you know probably has an old one sitting around), and mace.
As for naivety, don't feel alone! I wouldn't have recognized the name, either, and still have no idea what it could mean despite your description. And I went to a public high school! The most I know I learned working with youth, and that's still not much more than basics. I don't think it's too necessary, and figure it can wait for newlywed books should that event ever happen.