Traveling to foreign ports of call can provide some of the most enriching and memorable experiences of a lifetime. But one can forget, however, that travel also bears a responsibility. Most foreigners look upon travelers not just as individuals, but also as the representatives of the country they call home. Excuse the pun, but it comes with the territory.

The good news is that of all western travelers, Americans are, overall, the most welcome. The bad news is that while one seldom witnesses a flagrant disregard for social customs or mores among Americans abroad, subtle yet demeaning comments or activities continue to surface.

China is a prime example of a place where many of the sights and fragrances can be jarring to American senses. On more occasions than I wish to recall, I’ve listened to travelers speak at length about the odor from a bathroom, the mispronunciation of English words by local staff or the "horrors" of what might be found within the local marketplace. Or, as one lady exclaimed while being assisted at check-in by her local guide, “How lucky I am to be an American!” Never mind that many guides speak impeccable English and, despite their accents, understand the language perfectly.

Comments like that about the local economy, living conditions or cultural ethos may not only be degrading but extremely upsetting to persons attempting to present the best of what their country has to offer. At the very least, if you must comment on what appears strange and out of the ordinary, cheer for what has been accomplished.

As a corollary, although many travelers and reference books suggest it, do not bring along candies, balloons, pens, etc., to personally hand out to children. If you must bring something along, ask your local guide to help you find a teacher or an elder to assist in the distribution.

Be assured that parents seldom appreciate tourists who provide handouts to their children. So often I’ve seen children leave the arms of their loved ones and rush to receive a handout. I don’t watch the child when this happens, rather I look at the sorrowful eyes of the elder who now has to take second place to a foreigner who is giving something away that they cannot themselves provide for the child. In addition, there’s rarely a sufficient supply, which means leaving out several children who then must experience a tourist’s visit as a loss to them.

The worst-case scenario comes when balloons break. Often the pieces are ingested by some of the local livestock, a food mainstay within most of the Third World. The animals then either take ill or die. Although the balloons are given as a gesture from the heart, they often leave heartbreaking results!

On your next holiday, plan to avoid making never-ending suggestions for change or improvement. Allow your host country and its populace to make a change in you. Centuries-old traditions have preceded you. Come to listen, not to preach. Come to witness, not to judge. Find value in their society and you will easily win friends and readily gain their respect. After all, it is their country, and they love their motherland as dearly as you love your own.

Robert Kenyon is the President and owner of First Cabin Travel offering
deluxe tours world wide since 1989.