• When my mom suggested sending me to overnight camp, I was hesitant, as I had never been away from my parents.
• I was hesitant about going, but once there, I loved every minute.
• Now I'm a mom of four and feel guilty I can't give my kids the same experience.

I spent several summers lazing at home, watching movies with my family, and swinging with abandon at the playground with my friends.

Eventually, my mother suggested sending me to an overnight camp. I had never been away from my parents for more than a night, and the camp, about a four-hour ride from home, seemed impossibly far away. Even going for just one session meant a very long month away from home, which seemed like an eternity to me at age 11.

Yet, I was flattered that my parents considered me old enough and mature enough to have lived away from them for so long. If they thought I was up for the challenge, I was determined to prove them right.

Now I'm a mom of four, and my kids don't have the same experience, even though I loved it.

I was hesitant about going to sleepaway camp

As I counted the days until my departure, I started to worry. I am shy by nature and worried about making friends. I worried about how I would sleep in a room full of girls and whether I would like the food.

I thought a bad counselor could ruin my summer and hoped for someone more like a cool older sister to hang out with rather than a teacher hell-bent on keeping campers in line. Desperate to fit in, I hoped I had packed the right kinds of clothes and a swimsuit. Although I wouldn't have admitted it then, I was worried about missing my family and being homesick.

I loved every minute

After an uncertain first few days, I settled into overnight camp. I swam with friends, played volleyball with my counselor, and got a lead role in the end-of-camp show. We ran feral through the mountains and woods, playing capture the flag and enjoying being surrounded by the majesty of tall trees and chirping birds - a far cry from the endless concrete and loud sounds of the city where most of us lived.

Nights were magical. After the sun went down, we huddled around a campfire, singing camp songs and telling ghost stories that got progressively scarier until one of the girls asked us to stop. We made s'mores and roasted hot dogs under the stars, whose sparkle was overpowered by streetlamps at home. These nights sparked a fascination with the sky and space that lingers today. After we returned to our beds, my bunkmates and I stayed up talking and laughing. Our counselor shushed us, who told us she needed her beauty sleep.

After my first year of camp, I wanted to return for the full eight weeks camp was open. The school year became a countdown to the day I returned to the mountains and saw my camp family again. For the next few years, until I aged out, I went to an overnight camp for the entire summer and loved it.

I learned lifelong skills

At camp, I learned skills I've carried throughout my life. Living with a dozen girls in a cramped bunk was great preparation for living in a dorm at college. Camp was the first place I was responsible for keeping my clothes folded and organized. I had to learn how to get along with all kinds of personalities, and there was no escape. I learned the value of unstructured time and how much I enjoyed being in nature.

These experiences helped me immensely as I transitioned to adulthood.

Sometimes I feel guilty that my kids aren't getting the same experience

As much as I loved spending the entire summer at overnight camp, with one exception during the pandemic, my kids don't go to traditional camps.

Sometimes, I feel selfish making this decision, but I love the unscheduled, unhurried summer days. Plus, I prefer to spend our summer budget on travel, which I enjoy too.

My kids' summers are action-packed and fun. They get experiences I couldn't have dreamed of as a child, like zipping around Rome on a Vespa and traveling to Warsaw to see Taylor Swift's Eras tour. Still, I sometimes wonder if I am doing the right thing.

It didn't occur to me that my parents wanted a break

It wasn't until I became a parent myself that I realized my parents may have sent me to overnight camp to get a break.

With a deep understanding that can only come from experience, I understood that the motivation to send me to camp all summer may have been because of the exhaustion many parents feel trying to parent, work, and run a home, often without a meaningful break.

At first, I was mildly hurt by this realization. But then I smiled and silently congratulated my parents for coming up with a solution that gave all of us summers we loved.

• I've visited over 90 countries, so I've heard (and asked) my fair share of tourist questions.
• There are eight awkward questions that I always found myself asking, no matter where I went.
• Now, I never plan a trip without looking up whether I can drink tap water or how I'll pay for goods.

There are few things more stressful than landing on the tarmac in a new country, realizing you're unprepared, and also feeling too embarrassed to ask for help.

I've seen fellow tourists struggle to ask the same questions again and again, like how to charge their phones or whether they can use public toilets.

As someone who's been to over 90 countries, I've also encountered many of these awkward situations firsthand — and learned a lot of answers the hard way.

Now, I make sure never to travel abroad without knowing the answers to these eight questions.

What are the public toilets like?

When I first started traveling, I quickly learned that there is no one right way to use the toilet.

Many Americans take the "porcelain throne" for granted, but in some parts of the world, it's common to squat over a hole in the ground.

I've also visited countries where it's customary to pay an attendant a nominal amount for a square or two of toilet paper. In some countries' restrooms, you won't find toilet paper at all — but instead, a bidet or bucket of water to wipe yourself clean.

To prepare for any and all bathroom situations, I try to bring a roll of toilet paper and plenty of hand sanitizer on every international trip.

Can I brush my teeth with tap water?

Many Americans, myself included, are used to turning on the tap and having fresh, clean water to drink and brush their teeth. However, this isn't the case everywhere.

My travel experiences have taught me that nothing will ruin a trip faster than gastrointestinal distress from unsafe drinking water. Now, before I travel, I always check the US Department of State website to see if I'll need to stick to bottled water.

If the country's tap water isn't safe to drink, I'll attach my toothbrush to a bottle with a rubber band. This helps me remember not to rinse my toothbrush under the tap — a mistake that's easy to make in the early morning.

Do I need to apply for a visa ahead of time?

If you have an American passport (like I do), you can visit some countries worldwide without being granted permission.

However, there are many exceptions. Countries like India, Cambodia, and China require Americans to apply for a visa before visiting; and as of this year, Americans and Canadians need an Electronic Travel Authorization to enter the UK.

To visit some countries, you'll have to go to a consulate and apply in person. For others, you can apply virtually.

If you don't have the right type of visa, you might not be allowed to board your plane — or you might even be turned away at the border.

As a frequent traveler, I always check whether I need a visa to travel as soon as I book a trip. Most countries' embassies will have this information on their websites.

How can I get cell service without paying a fortune?

When I'm traveling, I'm always terrified of being left without cellular service — but I also want to avoid pricy roaming fees and daily charges.

To save money, I usually use a service like Airalo or Holafly to purchase an eSIM card when I travel out of the country. That way, I can access a local carrier and control costs.

This method has worked for me all around the world. With an eSIM, I can still access my primary number's voicemail and text messages as long as I'm connected to WiFi.

How will I charge my devices?

Speaking of phones, you'll want to make sure you can actually charge your devices.

Outlets are different all around the world, and I've learned the hard way that even adapters labeled as "universal" usually aren't.

A quick online search will tell you which kind of adapter you need to stay powered up. Preparing ahead is important here — although airports usually sell adapters, they tend to be more expensive than ones you can order online.

Do I need to get any vaccines, or prepare for any potential illnesses?

I am up-to-date on all of the standard vaccines in the United States. However, several diseases that are largely under control in the US pose a significant threat abroad.

My years of travel have taught me to always check and see if I need any additional vaccines before a trip. In preparation for trips abroad, I've taken live typhoid pills and been vaccinated against yellow fever. For other trips, I've taken pills to prevent malaria.

At my doctor's recommendation, I've even packed antibiotics to bring to countries where they might not be readily available.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website to see which vaccines and medications are recommended for your destination. Once you know what you need, your local pharmacy may be able to order the recommended vaccines for you, or your primary care physician might be able to call in a prescription.

Will my credit cards work?

Many Americans are used to paying for just about anything they need with the swipe of a card — or even a phone if they use Apple Pay.

However, some countries are still largely cash-based societies. If that's the case where you are traveling, always come prepared with an ATM card — and make sure your bank account has enough cash.

Finally, keep your budget in mind. If you don't have a credit card specifically designed for travel, remember you may be hit with expensive foreign transaction fees for every purchase.

Are there any unusual laws I need to know about?

Through my travels, I've come across a lot of unexpected laws. For example, some countries in the Caribbean ban civilians from wearing camouflage. In France, you're not allowed to buy or even wear counterfeit clothing, including purses.

Moreover, some countries have restrictions on the type of medications you can bring in, even if they were legally prescribed in your home country.

It's important to me to respect local customs and stay on the right side of the law — so I always do a quick online search to see if there are any rules I need to know about before I travel.