Jessica Nabongo, first Black lady to go to each nation, shares suggestions

No must pack a bag for this journey all over the world.

Jessica Nabongo, the primary Black lady documented to have visited each nation on the earth, has written a memoir to information you throughout the globe with a flip of the web page. The brand new e book, “The Catch Me if You Can” (Nationwide Geographic), shares the identical title because the journey weblog the place Nabongo first shared her adventures.

Whereas the photo-filled tome might seem like a wonderful espresso desk e book at first look, look past the photographs – the pages are full of detailed accounts of Nabongo’s journeys, reflections on life and suggestions and checklists to your personal voyages.

The photographer and world traveler spoke with USA TODAY about her memoir, travels and recommendation for when issues do not go as anticipated.

Solutions have been edited for size and readability.

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Query: When do you know you wished to journey to each nation on the earth?

Jessica Nabongo: From my early 20s, I wished to go to each nation on the earth, however I wasn’t actually like, “Yeah, I am going to do that.” Yearly, I used to be maintaining monitor of what number of new nations I used to be going to, and I had maps – you’ll be able to nonetheless discover them on my weblog. However in 2017, after I was in Bali, I made a decision I wished to attempt to be the primary Black lady to go to each nation on the earth, and I gave myself a transparent deadline of my thirty fifth birthday (Might 2019). I overshot it by 5 months, however I used to be nonetheless 35 after I completed.

Q: For nations with which you are not acquainted, how did you prep to your journeys?

Nabongo: I often lean on folks. As my following grew, I might ask, “Who ought to I meet up with?” Additionally, I went to grad college on the London College of Economics and I used to work for the U.N., so I had an unimaginable community. The largest factor for me was I wished to attempt to be with native folks. However I did not prep a lot. I simply purchased airplane tickets, booked a lodge and often booked a driver as a result of whenever you land someplace – particularly if it is lengthy transit – I simply wish to know that I’ve a journey from the airport to my lodge, versus attempting to determine taxis, overseas languages. After which I can determine, “What am I gonna do on this nation?”

Q: You talked in your e book about your street journeys by the U.S. in 2020 towards the start of the pandemic when worldwide flights have been grounded. You additionally supply steerage about having a free itinerary. How do you form your plans? And the way do you deal with it when issues do not go as anticipated?

Nabongo: My itineraries come about from my experiences. I bear in mind when an Australian good friend of mine and I did this street journey across the western U.S. for 3 weeks. I had by no means actually gone to many nationwide parks, so I received to see all of those fantastic locations. I fell in love with Montana and Wyoming. I have been into the outside, however now I am type of obsessive about going to each nationwide park. When the pandemic occurred that summer season, my good friend and I drove all the way in which as much as the northern a part of Maine to Acadia Nationwide Park, which was so unimaginable.

And when stuff goes unsuitable, to me, it is truly simpler whenever you’re in a automotive as a result of so long as I’ve GPS and gasoline, I may do something. I like street journeys as a result of you’ll be able to simply let it unfold. I believe it is simpler to pivot, and it permits for far more versatile journey.

Q: What’s in your street journey playlist?

Nabongo: Ooh, numerous old-school music. And Adele, for positive. I really like ballads after I’m driving. Res, I really like her album, “How I Do.” What else is on my playlist? Most likely Puff Daddy and the Household, that unique album (“No Means Out”). I hearken to numerous music from the late ’90s, early 2000s like No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom,” got here out. The Fugees’ “The Rating” got here out. That is my music candy spot.

Q: Is there any nation that stunned you essentially the most (in one of the simplest ways)?

Nabongo: I might say South Sudan. I bear in mind a good friend of mine put me in contact with a man from the U.S. embassy there. The man was like, “You should not come right here” and “You are attempting to return to your little web factor,” and “It is harmful right here. You do not perceive.” He was actually attempting to persuade me to not come. I went, and I had such an incredible time as a result of I linked with native folks. We went to a cattle camp. We went to the market. We went to a village off the Nile. After all, there are issues taking place which can be violent outdoors of Juba – and it is horrible – however there are additionally folks residing very common lives. I am so glad I went. I had an incredible time in South Sudan, a rustic folks consider as harmful, nevertheless it was such a wonderful time.

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Q: You have spoken earlier than about points you’ve got confronted as a Black lady in your travels and in addition about among the problems within the U.S. Are you able to speak extra about your expertise? Have you ever seen any adjustments in the way you’re handled in your travels? And the way do you navigate difficulties?

Nabongo: I would not say I’ve had a ton of challenges as a Black lady touring. I believe there’s this overriding assumption that “It should be a lot more durable for you since you’re a Black lady,” and I do not truly really feel that approach. I imply, clearly, I’ve solely ever been a Black lady, so these are the one experiences that I’ve had, so perhaps it’s more durable? However the challenges I’ve are particularly as a result of I am visibly African. In order that’s not a mirrored image of the expertise that every one Black girls can have. It is necessary to recollect it is not a monolithic expertise. The challenges that I’ve had are with immigration, with them considering my American passport is faux or, if I am utilizing my Ugandan passport, they assume I will overstay my visa. However outdoors of that, my journey was made stunning by the kindness of strangers.

And I believe one of many greatest issues I realized in visiting each nation on the earth is most individuals are good. Most individuals aren’t racist or misogynist or homophobic. Typically you go to nations the place they do not have numerous Black vacationers, in order that they’re very curious. They wish to take footage; they wish to speak to you. However I believe folks have to recollect each acknowledgment of your race just isn’t racism.

Positive, some racist issues have occurred, however nothing that deterred me from touring. You’ll be able to’t let the opportunity of one thing racist taking place have an effect on the way you journey, particularly since you paid your cash to be there. Take pleasure in it. If individuals are mad as a result of they’ve to take a look at you laying on the pool, allow them to look.

Q: What are a few of your journey must-haves?

Nabongo: One is my Lo and Sons bag, the OG. I like it as a result of it hooks onto my baggage and that I’ve the laptop computer sleeve. It holds every thing I would like for the flight. On my flight, I all the time have slippers, particularly for long-haul flights. I hold slippers in my bag since you do not wish to take your sneakers on and off. They usually’re my airplane slippers, in order that they’re solely used on the airplane. Additionally, my noise-canceling headphones – Bose is my most well-liked model. I take a glass, so I haven’t got to make use of plastic cups on the airplane, and I all the time have my water bottle. I additionally convey my skincare routine. If I am happening a flight to Europe, for instance, earlier than I take off, I do my complete skincare routine, placed on an evening masks after which, earlier than I land, I wash off my masks, put a pop of shade on my lips and I am good to go.

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Q: What’s subsequent?

Nabongo: I undoubtedly wish to end visiting all the states. I’ve six left. After which, I do not actually have any plans apart from that. There are such a lot of locations that I wish to return to. However no extra loopy journey objectives. I am simply having fun with the journey.

Q: What are a few the locations you wish to return to?

Nabongo: So many! I have not been to Zanzibar in without end. I wish to return to Tanzania. I wish to go to the seashores in Madagascar. I went to the rainforest and the coast, the place there have been the baobab (timber). I might love to return to Jordan. I wish to return to Saudi Arabia as a result of after I went in 2018, we have been the primary vacationers to go, and now it is modified a lot. I wish to return to Japan. I lived there for a yr. I miss it. There is a actually lengthy record.