I've traveled to 110 countries. There's one thing I make sure to do in every place I visit.

A visit to an art studio in Gyumri, Armenia, changed how the writer chooses souvenirs. A roughly $10 painting session produced an imperfect magnet that remains at home.

After years of returning from trips with items such as shot glasses and keychains, the writer now looks for a small class in each destination. The aim is to learn from local people and make something personal.

In Sri Lanka, the writer took a cooking lesson with family. The sons initially hesitated, but joined in preparing curries, and one later used the class recipes to cook a full meal at home.

The writer’s most ambitious project was making sneakers at a school near Fort Collins, Colorado. The shoes used soles pressed from old tennis balls and orange-and-blue canvas.

Though new to sewing and unable to keep the stitching straight, the writer finished the shoes. The article presents classes as a more lasting travel keepsake than store-bought souvenirs.