ArcaMax

A. It was great. I was living by myself. No one tried to steal from me. (Laughs) In Vienna, I got a front-page review in the Kurier that revealed that I was only 14. I needed to be 16 to have a work permit, so I had to leave, so I went to Paris to work at the Moulin Rouge. From there, I went with my show to Sun City, South Africa, when I was 17, and spent three months there.

Q. Have you ever traveled to a place where you didn't want to leave?

A. Yes, many times. Five years ago, I went to Kiev in Ukraine for a two-week trip. I came back seven months later. I loved it there. I traveled and went between Kiev, Odessa, Moscow, St. Petersburg and saw the art, "The Threepenny Opera," Ibsen plays. ... Even though I didn't understand the language, I was fascinated with their stage. Very few people spoke English in Kiev. What was interesting was that Ukraine is considered a third-world country, but they have an epicenter much like Paris and Buenos Aires. All the money gets poured there, because it's the destination part of the country.

Q. What have you learned from your travels?

A. That it helps you open your eyes to the world. For a country that's so involved in world affairs, the U.S. has such a low percentage of people who travel outside of their country.

Q. How much research do you do?

A. I like to learn about a place once I get there. When I told a friend I was going to go to Buenos Aires, he said, "Let me show you a virtual tour of it," but I said no. I wanted to see it in real time. Just let me enjoy the experience myself, without thinking, "Oh, it doesn't look as nice as the pictures."

Q. Are you an adventurous eater?

A. I totally try to immerse myself and make myself as local as I possibly can. I never want to be perceived as an American tourist. We're hated everywhere. People love the American green, but not us so much, because too many of us want to do things our way even when on foreign soil. I really loved the street food in Thailand. It was the best.

Q. Do you enjoy cold- or warm-weather destinations?

A. I love it all! I love Chicago. I know it's cold, but when you live in the land of oranges and avocados, it's so refreshing to come to cities that actually get seasons. I enjoy the different temperatures.

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Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With..." on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.

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