The first black woman to visit every country in the world has revealed some of the things she has learned on her extensive travels, including the importance of tipping and seeing the good in others.
Jessica NabongoThe 40-year-old Detroit native embarked on a mission to visit all 195 countries recognized by the United Nations in 2017, and completed the challenge two and a half years later, with her final destination being the Seychelles.
Visiting Peru for the second time with adventure tour operator G adventures Speaking at a global summit on community-based tourism, the globetrotter said the biggest lesson she has learned is that “most people are good.”
Referring to the theme of human kindness, the Ugandan-American said: ‘There is an assumption that a stranger can be dangerous instead of thinking of a stranger as a friend you haven’t met yet.
“The sad thing is that we have started to be afraid of others, we are always on the alert. I am not like that. I have never used a hotel safe, for example. Travelling to all countries has confirmed to me that most people are good.”
Jessica Nabongo, 40, of Detroit, embarked on a mission to visit all 195 countries recognized by the United Nations in 2017, and completed the challenge two and a half years later.
During her trip, Jessica visited 89 countries alone, including Iraq, Sudan and Iran. Above, in Antarctica
During her trip, Jessica visited 89 countries alone, including Iraq, Sudan and Iran.
Although she said many people advised her not to travel to these places alone, she went anyway and ended up having some of the “most incredible experiences.”
For example, when she was in Iraq she felt “exhausted” at one point and asked the driver she had hired to take her back to her hotel.
However, she was surprised when he invited her to his house for a lunch prepared by his wife.
“We sat on the floor and ate… it was an amazing experience. That would never happen in New York,” Jessica reflected.
Another encounter that taught him to recognize the good in people occurred in Lagos.
The explorer said: ‘In Lagos, I somehow got into the car and dropped my cell phone.
‘I opened the Find My iPhone feature on my laptop and searched for my phone – losing your phone while travelling abroad is the worst!
As for her tips for smart travel, Jessica has a collection up her sleeve. Pictured here, she’s enjoying a cruise through the blue waters of Haiti.
The globetrotter has built a loyal following on social media and has over 253,000 followers on Instagram. Photographed in Horseshoe Canyon, Utah.
‘At first the phone was off, but two hours later I checked it again and it was on and this guy answered. We agreed to meet him.
“When we met him, It was clear he had not eaten or showered and he said he found the phone in a parking lot on the way to church.
“It was a reminder not to assume the worst. He could have sold the phone and made money. As a thank you, I gave him food and some money.”
The second most important lesson Jessica said she learned is that “we are more similar than we are different.”
She explained: ‘We live in strange times, with great wars and political fractures, but we are all simply human.
“All we want is food, clothes, shelter and love. We are moving too far away from that.
“We are all human and we need to return to human kindness.”
As for her tips for traveling smart, Jessica, who started traveling internationally at age four, has a collection up her sleeve.
Jessica began traveling internationally at the age of four.
First of all, he recommends travelling to places “further away than usual” and to countries “where tourism will have a much greater impact.”
He also encourages people to “seek out authentic experiences” rather than mass-marketed tourist traps.
When traveling, the content creator asks locals at her hotel where they eat or asks for recommendations on activities.
“Embracing empathy” is another thing Jessica stands for, and one of the things she “can’t stand” is travelers photographing locals without their permission.
In this regard, he says: ‘Imagine that a complete stranger comes to your country and takes a photo of you and your child.
“Don’t do this to other people. It’s very weird… taking out a camera and taking a picture of a woman breastfeeding in a market and stuff like that.”
Finally, Jessica stresses the importance of tipping abroad, even if it is a small amount.
The self-proclaimed ‘hyper-proposer’ concludes: ‘Think about it, $5 can mean a lot to someone in another country.
‘For example, I was in Venezuela in 2019 and I had an agent. At the end of the trip, I gave him a $5 tip and, after talking, I found out that it was actually the equivalent of a monthly salary.
“When I left, I gave him another $20 and we were both at the airport crying. That $25 could have changed his life.”
Despite completing her global challenge, Jessica hasn’t slowed down when it comes to travel and this year alone has taken over 24 flights, finished visiting all 50 US states, and reached her final continent in the form of a cruise to Antarctica.
The next G Adventures Community Tourism Summit It will be held in India this September with more guest speakers following in Jessica’s footsteps.