I came across a statistic the other day that surprised me: Only about 10% of American citizens have a passport. While I know that Americans are often criticized for ignoring the rest of the world, I didn’t realize how little we got out!

I know of very few things that can provide the genuine education and adventure that accompany international travel: the fascinating sights, unfamiliar smells, indecipherable languages, unidentifiable foods, interesting people. It’s almost a cliche to say that traveling broadens the horizons, but sometimes the cliches are as true as they are literal. The myopic, insular and narrow views cannot help but be destroyed by the wide views of the rest of the world “out there”.

However, I will not try to convince you to dust off your bags and buy a ticket somewhere. Instead, I’d like to introduce you to my random list of things to know to make your international travel the best it can be. It is my hope that in doing so I will break down any walls of fear or inertia that have kept you from experiencing more of the world.

1. Don’t travel like everyone else, follow your own style. What this means is that there are many different ways to travel. There are prepackaged trips, organized tours, main routes, structured adventures, luxurious or rustic, city or country, etc. The first rule of thumb for traveling is to be honest with yourself. Don’t take someone else’s trip; take yours. Know yourself, what you like, what you must have in terms of accommodations, and make it fit YOU. A trip is like an extension of your personality; make sure it’s authentic.

2. Prepare without stiffening or closing in. It’s the little coincidences that make traveling so rewarding. Make sure you allow enough flexibility in your schedule and your attitude for the unexpected to happen. Remember: you cannot plan the wonder, you can only discover it. Your journey must be one of discovery if it is to be anything at all.

3. Pre-learning: read about the areas you will be targeting. Study maps for geographic reference and understanding. Put a bit of history in your head so that you have context when you get there. Also, it NEVER hurts to learn as many bits of the language as you can; The locals will always appreciate your efforts to speak to them in their language. This also applies to customs. Learn how they bow, shake hands, and any other big little rules that can make or break your ability to connect.

4. Get off the beaten track – At least once on your trip, get away. Go somewhere you haven’t planned. Take a walk or rent some kind of native transport so you can get away from the worn ruts that tourists have made along the exact same routes. In essence, you want to make your way through the lives of the locals.

5. Make meaningful contact with some local people. Try to start conversations and make friends. Keeping in touch with the Internet is easier than ever. This prolongs your “journey” and continues the learning experience. It is also very enriching and provides continuous insight.

6. Travel light. Let me say this again: TRAVEL LIGHT !!!!! You really don’t need to carry as much as you might think. There is no sin in wearing a set of clothing more than once, or carrying the smallest size toiletries you can buy. Believe me, the more you have to carry that luggage into taxis, through train turnstiles, around airports and upstairs, the more you come to hate your material attachment (this becomes a great metaphor for life, for certain).

7. Take lots of pictures. When you return, especially with today’s technology, there are endless ways to continue enjoying your experiences. Digital photos are almost free and can be displayed, enjoyed and shared endlessly. Don’t hang around in this department, you really can’t overdo it.

8. Keep a journal. This is a great way to make the most of your experiences, stimulate deeper thinking and introspection, promote learning, and provide a record of dates, times, names, and events that can be helpful later on.

9. Seek first to understand. You don’t know what you don’t know, so act accordingly. Be inquisitive, curious, and open to learning new points of view. Travel as a student and not as a critic, be a participant and not a judge.

10. Stay flexible. Diversions, changes of route, inconveniences and small frictions of all kinds will confront you as you make your way through unknown lands. Be tolerant and understanding. Don’t demand your rights or put your own personal comfort at the top of your priority list. No matter what happens, it can be helpful to realize that even if what you’re experiencing is awkward, unfair, or a little scary, you’re getting a great story. As the saying goes, “No guts, no story.”

11. Always have money. One of the best insulators against travel problems is money. It allows you to travel lighter, knowing that you can buy what you need when you need it. You can fix problems or get accommodations when plans fail, and you can even grease the palms of your hands when and where you need to. A little tip here and there can work wonders in many parts of the world. I would also recommend having at least part of a country’s denomination on hand before you get there (otherwise you might end up in France without even enough euros to pay for the public toilet for your young children – it’s a true story! details). Also, have different types of credit cards. However, credit cards are not as popular or widely accepted in most parts of the world as they are in the US In many, many places, cash is the best option. It is also strongly recommended to pay with the correct change, otherwise you will end up with huge pockets of heavy coins (according to a teller I met in Japan, it is a strictly American trait to pay in rounded cash sums rather than with the correct change).

12. Carry your passport with you at all times.

13. Take time to notice things, to reflect, to think.

14. Find a way to contribute. Find a way to become a blessing to the people or places you go. Are there any ongoing charities in that area? Is there an aid organization that can use donations? Is there a young man who could use an international pen pal? In other words, take photos but leave a part of yourself.

15. Buy gifts. Don’t forget to expand the impact of your trip by including other people at home. This can be as inexpensive as an email or it can take the form of trinkets and souvenirs. However, make sure the gifts purchased are small and durable for travel. It is the intention that counts.

I hope this list is helpful. However, it will be much more fun for you to build your own list based on your own experiences. Let me know if I have missed something!

And don’t forget, it’s 3 euros for the public toilet in Nice, France on the Riviera.