The United States remains the world's No. 1 international travel destination with 56 million visitors a year, but Spain, Germany, France and Italy rank No. 2, 3, 4 and 5, according to the 2012-13 ITB World Travel Trends Report.

Americans are helping drive those numbers. In a December USA Today/Gallup Poll, nearly a third said that if money were no object, they'd be off to Europe this year.

"There is so much to see and experience in Europe! If you've never been, or you've only visited once or twice, you really should put it on your wish list," says Ruth Yunker, an intrepid traveler and author of "Paris, I've Grown Accustomed to Your Ways," (www.ruthyunker.com), a humorous recounting of her extended stays in Paris as part-time resident, part-time tourist.

"When I travel to a foreign country I automatically strive to be the best American I can be, an American who is willing to learn to do things the locals' way. This will always make for a more rewarding experience. You'll find the people are friendlier. The vibe is positive. You are trying to live the culture instead of simply viewing it as a spectator."

Standing out in a European country - or any country you're visiting - could make for  unnecessarily uncomfortable situations. It can get in the way of enjoying a city the way the natives do. It can mark you as easy prey for pickpockets (hold your purses tight)and cabbies with whose rates might go up (use the metro!).

"Learn what you can about a country's habits, pet peeves, ingrained ways of being, before you go. Travel books can be helpful, but the following are a few tips not often mentioned," Ruth Yunker says.

• Fanny packs are disgusting little monsters which look ridiculous. Leave them at home, unless you want to scream 'oblivious tourist'! If you're going that route because you think it's safer than carrying a purse or wallet, then there are other ways to go. I always carry a large shoulder purse because it fits everything I'll need during the day, including whatever valuables I want to keep close. I carry it clutched tightly to my body. I observe the local women, and carry my purse like they carry theirs.

• Leave the garish running shoes behind, as well. Bright athletic shoes say "Tourist!" -like nothing else. Europeans simply do not wear these shoes going about their daily business. If you must wear sneakers, wear dark ones that will attempt to masquerade as regular closed-toed shoes. In fact you will be given an A for effort. Try to find comfortable walking shoes with a little bit of style and your feet will announce you as the polite, indeed savvy, visitor. It's good to be considered a savvy visitor, n'est pas?!

• Keep your voice down in restaurants and other public places. As a group, especially in a group, Americans tend to be louder than they think they are.And particularly in Paris, people keep their voices down. Consider how annoying it is when you're seated next to a raucous group in a restaurant here in the United States. Youcan get a sense of how annoying loud voices are to people accustomed to quieter tones.

Other things to consider:

"Look up the customs on tipping in the country you're visiting. For instance, tips are not expected in Parisian restaurants. In fact tipping a waiter there simply brands the unaware tourist as a stupid one. Not for me to be considered the oblivious tourist!" says Ruth Yunker.

"Try to learn what you can about manners where you'll be visiting," she says. "When I was in Paris, I learned making direct eye contact out on the sidewalk with a stranger was a flagrant disregard of manners - even on that day I most needed a hug!"

About Ruth Yunker

Ruth Yunker is an author, humorist, columnist, blogger and enthusiastic traveler. Her peripatetic childhood led to a life always on the move; she has lived all over the United States, from Boston to Los Angeles, Brussels, Belgium and, for a short time, Paris. Her first book, "Me, Myself & Paris," recounts her first experiences as a single woman living alone in Paris for three six-week stints. Her newest book, "Paris, I've Grown Accustomed to Your Ways," continues the saga from a more City of Light-experienced perspective.

DES MOINES, IA (06/12/2013)(readMedia)-- It's sure to be the "Grandest Show Around," as the Blue Ribbon Foundation plays host to the seventeenth annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party on Saturday, July 13 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Doors to the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building will open at 6:30 p.m. for a night filled with exciting auction packages, entertainment and all of your favorite Fair foods; all while helping raise funds to restore the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds!

Nearly 200 enticing auction packages fill the live and silent auctions. See the finest in sprint car racing with four passes to the Knoxville Nationals, August 7-10. Experience a private tour for eight of the Quilted Gardens, an elaborate nursery filled with unique plantings, while sampling a selection of craft beers and hors d'oeuvres. Or, take home a beautiful heirloom quality grandfather's clock handmade from native Iowa red oak.

The Corndog Kickoff has been a pre-fair tradition since it began in 1997. First held in Pioneer Hall, 480 people were in attendance. Since then, the event has grown to raise more than $2.7 million for the restoration and preservation of the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The 2012 event brought in a crowd of 1,400 and raised a record high of $350,000!

"We are excited to grow our event each year and get more people involved in our pre-Fair tradition," said John Putney, executive director of the Blue Ribbon Foundation. "The Kickoff is the Foundation's largest annual fundraising event and we are grateful for the support to continue our mission of restoring and preserving our historic Fairgrounds."

Take advantage of the advance ticket price by ordering now. All inclusive Corndog Kickoff tickets are $75 each until June 30. After that date, tickets will be $100. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732, online at www.blueribbonfoundation.org or at the door the night of the event.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $95 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information on the Corndog Kickoff, please contact the Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or bluerf@blueribbonfoundation.org.

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(Des Moines) - Thirty-four business, workforce, education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) leaders from nine Midwest states joined representatives from the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council in Des Moines yesterday to exchange best practices and collaborative opportunities regarding state and regional STEM education.

"It was inspiring to see a group of engaged and active representatives from all across the Midwest who are excited about STEM education," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. "We must raise the skill level in today's workforce in order to remain competitive in this knowledge-based, global economy. All of the Midwestern states are in this together - and together we can make greater progress in STEM sooner for the benefit of the thousands of Midwestern students."

In addition to intensive brainstorming, forum guests ACT, Inc., STEMconnector and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy briefed the group on STEM learner workforce data and trends.

"The collective wisdom in the room has accelerated each of our state's STEM programs," said Jeff Weld, executive director of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. "From here we have committed to sustaining our collective community and continuing to grow and strengthen our common interest in first-rate STEM education from toddler to tassel."

Representatives from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin joined business leaders from DuPont-Pioneer, IBM, John Deere, Rockwell Collins , Vermeer and Boston Scientific to discuss funding models, STEM schools and career academies, and other ways STEM education can be moved to the forefront  of community discussions. Establishing regional networks and engaging rural communities were also topics of discussion.

To learn about STEM in Iowa, go to www.IowaSTEM.gov.

About the Governor's STEM Advisory Council: Formed in 2011, the Council is a 40-member, public-private partnership dedicated to building a strong STEM education foundation for all Iowans.  

DECATUR, IL (06/12/2013)(readMedia)-- Capt. Aaron Tvrdy of Chicago recently received the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award for the state of Illinois, an award bestowed upon the top leaders in the country.

The award recognizes company grade officers who demonstrate the ideals for which MacArthur stood for- duty, honor, and country.

"I am proud to be selected by state leadership to represent the many terrific company grade officers within the state of Illinois," said Tvrdy, the assistant engineer officer from the Illinois Army National Guard's 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Chicago. "The Douglas MacArthur award is more than just military achievements; it incorporates community involvement and military values. I am very pleased that the effort I put into these areas of my life is appreciated by those around me."

His award justification states: "Capt. Tvrdy has separated himself as the top company commander in the 766th Engineer Battalion (Eng. Bn.) in Decatur and the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade through his leadership proficiency and various remarkable accomplishments. Tvrdy is a creative, out-of-the-box thinker who introduced several unique operations into the Battalion's training schedule. The combination of excellent leadership, drive and success, along with a genuine care for others are all contributing factors which lead to Tvrdy being recommended for this prestigious award."

Those who served with and commanded Tvrdy could not agree more.

"As long as I have known Captain Tvrdy, he has striven to improve himself and those around him by hard work and determination," said Lt. Col. Craig Holan, Battalion Commander of the 766th Eng. Bn., in Decatur, Ill., a Flora, Ill., native and Tvrdy's former commander. "He has a full plate between his military and civilian careers and family, yet has always tried to be a leader in all aspects of his life. He is a natural born leader, a doer who is never satisfied with the status quo."

The MacArthur Award aims to promote and sustain effective junior officer leadership in the

Army, by recognizing those who go above and beyond. Tvrdy, served as the company commander for the Field Support Company (FSC) of the 766th, led his Soldiers to win the title of the National Guard's Top Small Modification Table of Organization and Equipment Maintenance Company. The FSC also swept the state, regional and national boards of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence, earning the right to compete at the Department of the Army level against the Active and Reserve component winners.

Tvrdy has proven himself to be well beyond effective, according to Maj. Tim Newman, the Operations Officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company with the 766th and a resident of Mahomet, Ill. At one time, Tvrdy served as Newman's executive officer.

"He has the ability to instill responsibility and a sense of unit pride amongst his subordinates that helps focus everyone on mission accomplishment," said Newman. "This was seen with his company winning the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence. Additionally, he gave the FSC an identitiy which the company quickly embraced. This allowed every Soldier to identify their roles and and responsibilities, thus turning the company into a well-oiled machine."

Tvrdy works as an architect and recently began establishing his own company building sustainable furntiture. He attributes much of his military success to his work on the civlian side and vice versa.

"I feel that military training greatly prepares you for being an entrepreneur; much like wanting to create the best Field Support Company, I also want to create the best sustainable furniture company," he said. "I believe my civilian skillset has greatly contributed to the success I have had in the military. In architechture, you often create something out of nothing, you are required to be creative yet organized and efficient. You need to clearly communicate a design to the team before anything is ever built."

Tvrdy does not take all the credit for the things he has accomplished. There have been many people helping him along the way, he said.

"I am very grateful to have a supportive battalion and brigade commander who trusted me enough to employ my vision of command," he said. "I believe a big part of the success I had as a company commander is that I wasn't afraid to take on challenges and I wasn't afraid to fail because I knew I had great support around me. I feel very fortunate to have commanded the best Soldiers in the state of Illinois."

Tvrdy said his family was supportive as well.

"My civilian life revolves around my family and my beautiful wife," he said. "I greatly appreciate their patience with my military commitments and they truly share in the stress of the job."

All of these accomplishments might be a highlight in the young offier's career, but he is far from finished doing great things.

"Capt. Tvrdy is well deserving of this award and honor," said Holan. "I fully expect his career to be long and can see him in any position of authority the Illinois Guard has to offer. He is a true asset to the Illinois National Guard, the 404th and the engineer corps."

Tvrdy himself doesn't know where life will take him from here, but he is excited and ready to face the challenge, he said.

"I hope to gain experience with brigade and battalion operations and would eventually love another shot at a command position," he said. "New doors seem to open at the least likely opportunities and I am excited to see where the next one takes me."