The gloomy winter months are a great time to vicariously globetrot through a travel memoir. Meet Jessica Nabongo, the first Black woman to visit all 195 countries and 10 territories recognized by the UN. Nabongo highlights 100 of these memorable countries in her 2022 book, The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World.
Born in Detroit to Ugandan immigrant parents, Nabongo’s childhood was filled with the rich cultural experiences that come with living in a vibrant multi-cultural city. Life in Detroit was in some ways a microcosm of the world she would travel through. Family friends had roots in many countries across the globe, and she enjoyed the diverse culinary scene, reflecting Detroit’s immigrant communities. Nabongo’s life initially took a traditional trajectory. She graduated from college and settled into a lucrative job in pharmaceutical sales. In 2008, she decided to make a major life change, and took a job teaching in Japan. This was just the beginning of a new way of life, traveling and working abroad. Nabongo worked for a nonprofit in Benin, and with the United Nations in Italy. She traveled whenever she could, going where the best travel deal took her. She also started a boutique luxury travel company, Jet Black, fostering Black tourism and promoting travel in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. By 2017 she wanted a new challenge, and set the ambitious goal to travel to every country in the world by 2019.
“One of the reasons I wrote this book is to challenge people’s assumptions about countries that are not the darlings of the travel industry, and to showcase the beauty and joy that exists in every corner of the world. The forgotten places, the destinations other declare scary. . .”
Nabongo’s adventures included surfing in Peru, salsa dancing in Cuba (one of her top ten favorite countries), raising a yurt in Kirgizstan, and visiting textile markets in Uzbekistan. For Nabongo, it was more than just completing a checklist of must-see sites or activities. She really wanted to get to know the people and culture of each country, approaching with curiosity, and the desire to learn.
“As travelers we have a duty to tell the stories of the places we visit with dignity and respect. To share our adventures without patronizing places or people.”
I highly recommend a physical copy of the book, as the more than 400 pages are chock full of Nabongo’s beautiful photography. You can see why her blog and Instagram account became so popular.
Nabongo has an eye for colorful textiles, architecture, and food. The photography and colorful layout of the book are sure to brighten your day. If you prefer the audio version, narrated by Nabongo, I also recommend the physical book as a companion.
The Catch Me IF You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World, by Jessica Nabongo, 2022, National Geographic.
