Evie and I at the Cao Dai Temple in Saigon.

I've traveled to 60 countries so of course I expected to be the “teacher” in this situation, not the “student.” However, it's a great reminder that you can always learn – even from your niece. If you want to know how to be a great first-time international traveler, just ask my 17-year-old niece Evie. She surprised me on so many different levels on our trip that she left me bursting with pride and reminded me of how important it is to see the world with fresh eyes. This young woman who had never left the country before chose to go halfway around the world to a completely different culture. Most 17-year-olds would have missed their family, friends, phone, and comforts of home, but those things never came up. Instead, she lived in the moment, went along with every crazy thing I wanted to do, and she led me into crazy things with her!

This was a trip of firsts for Evie:

First time abroad
First passport stamp
First time in salt water
First massage
First rambutan
First time kayaking
First ride on a motorbike
First time away from her family for this length of time
First time to experience jet lag

I observed Evie and picked out a few traits that in my opinion made her an excellent first-time traveler. Everyone with an empty passport should strive for these things.

1. Try The Food Put in Front of You



Evie ordering food at street vendors.

Evie excelled at trying new things, especially when it came to food. I’d drag her to little dodgy pho stands, give her a bite of something that she didn’t know what it was, hand her strange looking fruit to taste, and bring her food back from the market and say, “Here, try this.” And she did. The more she did, the more I wanted to feed her more stuff! She even bolstered my confidence in many situations, too, especially when it came to us eating hot vit lon (duck embryo). Some of the things she liked, some she loved, and some she tried but wasn’t going to have another bite. The point is – she tried. Everyone in other cultures appreciates it when you at least try the local food – you don’t have to like it all.

2. Embrace Local



Riding motorbikes in Hue.

Forget shopping and regular sightseeing. Try to really get to see a country through the locals doing everyday things. Our best experiences were the more local experiences we did with our Intrepid tour as well as the things we found ourselves. Evie actually wanted to go to Catholic Mass in Vietnam, so she convinced me to go to a local experience that I never would have considered before. If you want to see how a culture worships, then why not go to mass and see how it’s conducted there? We both found it fascinating. We also went to a local water park in Saigon and both found it incredible to watch the family culture and compare/contrast to what we’d find in the US. We ate at local street vendors, rode motorbikes, and went to dinner at local homes. When we came home, it was these everyday local experiences that she gushed about to her friends, not the shopping or the sites.

3. Don’t Judge



Visiting a temple in Hue.

Even though Evie witnessed many different things in Vietnam in relation to our own culture, she never once said that something was stupid or wrong. Babies on motorbikes, different religions and methods of worship, different ways of living and living conditions, cleanliness of restaurants, and questionable safety conditions all were hot topics we discussed. They were all great discussions – the type that I had hoped to get into when I travel with my nieces. She accepted that people do things differently in different parts of the world. She was curious and asked “Why?” a lot – but that’s what you need to do in new cultures – try to understand, not judge.

4. Be Open to Possibilities



Singing Adele songs with the band in Saigon.



The python incident – a bit terrified.

In the same vein as trying the food put in front of you, say “Yes” to a lot of experiences. Evie and I had an expression: “You Only are in Vietnam Once” – YOVO – and it seemed to be what drove Evie to saying “Yes” to everything. Evie ended up singing Adele songs with a Filipino cover band late one night in a Saigon bar; she went on motorbikes, bicycles, boats, and did anything else she was asked to do. Only once did I see her lose her composure – when she said “Yes” to having a python wrapped around her body. She was nervous to begin with, but she did it. However this was the first time I thought she might cry!

5. Laugh and Smile Often



Having a BBQ in Hoi An.



Fun with fruit.

The best way to communicate with others in foreign countries is to smile, and she did plenty of that. I’m pretty sure that out of all the people I’ve traveled with in seven years, she made me laugh the most. And she quickly won the hearts of the local people around her. She also made an effort to learn a few words and numbers in Vietnamese, which is always a great thing to make the most of your interactions.



Always full of fun.

Evie actually wrote a story about her first experience traveling outside of the US for the Intrepid Travel website. I am a seriously proud, proud aunt!

Read Evie’s story here.

What other advice do you have for first-time international travelers?

Sherry Ott is a refugee from corporate IT who is now a long-term traveler, blogger, and photographer. She just completed the 450 mile Camino De Santiago journey herself this spring and covered the experience on her around the world travel blog Ottsworld. She’s also a co-founder of Meet, Plan, Go!, a website and national event offering career break or sabbatical travel inspiration and advice. In the past, she has written a guest post for Savvy Auntie on The Niece Project.

Photos: Courtesy of Sherry Ott
Published: December 10, 2013