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Visitors to Scotland are often tempted to try a Scottish national dish called haggis. Haggis is a boiled sheep’s stomach that is stuffed with a sheep’s lungs, liver, and heart. Although it is thought of as a delicacy by the locals, some visitors are not so sure about this. If you go to Scotland, will you dare to eat this dish?

Food is an important part of any travel experience, and nothing helps develop friendships or business relationships like sharing a meal. As a matter of fact, if you are not willing to try the local food when you travel, you will miss the opportunity to know more about the culture there. Most people who travel frequently realize that trying the local food is not only a great way to show respect for the host, but also an essential part of experiencing a different culture.

You may have difficulty eating exotic cuisine, but it is diplomatic to take a bite of everything that is being served to you in order not to offend the locals. As a frequent traveler, I never turn down any chance to experience a foreign culture through its food. During my travels, I have eaten a lot of weird food. In Saudi Arabia, I have tasted sheep’s eyeballs, which are served to the guest of honor. In Africa, I have tried caterpillars, which are important sources of protein for millions of people there. In Indonesia, I have eaten fried frog legs, which are not as tasty as chicken, but otherwise pretty similar. In China, I have tried a kind of boiled fish. It was so spicy that I felt like it could burn a hole in my tongue. In South Korea, I have eaten live octopus—the octopus almost stuck to my throat when I swallowed it. Eating these dishes has not always been easy for me, but it has contributed greatly to my travels and given me terrific stories to tell back home!

As for my advice for travelers who are unsure about eating strange food, the most important thing to remember is never to offend the hosts. Here are a few tips for making it easier to try foreign food. First of all, don’t ask what the food is before you try it. Very often, the food you consider weird is probably delicious—it is the thought rather than the taste that spoils your appetite. Second, take small bites, or if you are serving yourself, just take a small helping. Trying a small amount of everything first is wiser than filling your plate with a lot of food. Finally, if you have trouble swallowing something, just take a sip of your drink. This can help disguise the unfamiliar taste.

When you travel overseas, remember that you are representing your country. If you try some of the local food, you’ll probably make friends for both yourself and your country.