Tell me about it. I know you will.
I posted earlier today about a lovely evening we had yesterday with our current and former housemates. Upon reflection later today however, a couple of points in the conversation have raised my dander. Two different people we met for the very first time last night learned we are Americans and immediately commented on international political topics.
Situation number one:
Oh, you’re from America? That’s nice. I was just in the U.S. for the first time earlier this year. Can you believe I had to go through immigration and reclaim my luggage and re-check in to my flight to continue on my itinerary to Panama? It was a major pain!
Situation number two:
Do I detect a bit of an accent? American perhaps? Yes, I thought so. You know they killed those German hostages in Afghanistan. It’s been confirmed.
For reference, Mr. #2 was talking about this story. I had only a vague recollection of the issue; I’m not sure how well informed I am compared to other Americans living overseas. Has this story made news in the USA at all?
Fortunately after the awkwardness that initially followed both situations, I didn’t feel attacked or otherwise singled out, and the rest of the evening was quite enjoyable (to give you an idea, I slept in until almost 10 a.m., and I’m always out of bed by 7:30 — even on Sundays!). I just wish that when we identify our nationality, the first association people make would change from war and terrorism and President Bush and energy consumption to something
- I’d rather talk about, and
- that doesn’t make me feel like I’m supposed to offer an explanation or apology.
Sometimes I want to turn around and ask them if they knew anyone who’d ever been trapped aboard a hijacked plane or right in the middle of enjoying a nice morning cup of coffee (admittedly, the coffee’s better here) when one of said planes makes an unscheduled stop. Or if they could imagine what it’s like to represent a country whose leader was not their choice and whose actions had a deep and lasting impact on their national reputation. How about it, deutsche Freunde? Wouldn’t that be a bitter pill to swallow?
hey cliff,
i had a very similar experience when i was in france in ’98/’99. the major difference of course was that i wasn’t confronted about a military debacle – it was about monica lewinsky, and how silly they all thought it was. the french friends i’d made, whose past president martinand’s funeral was attended by his wife, his mistress, and the kids he had with each, thought this was ridiculous.
and so did i, but that took some explaining.
in one case there was a map of france on the wall and i took advantage of that. one student was (implicitly, i guess) asking me to answer for the US’s follies. i pointed at the map and asked if everybody in france had identical opinions. of course not. ok, then. and byt the way the US has 5 times the population.
but then i guess we end up being representatives just because we’re from the US, and while they’re inundated (too strong a word?) with news from this side of the pond, they don’t ever get to talk back to it. until you show up. a credit to your race kind of thing.
“Mais non, amis americaines — vous non agrée pas Le Big Willy Style? Apropos de rien, merci beau coup pour la aide avec les allemagnes.”
I get hit with the Big Willy Style issue occasionally too — Germans like to refer to Bill Clinton as Billy Boy, since it’s also the name of a prevalent brand of condom.
I can usually laugh it off with “hey, that’s why we moved here” (even though it isn’t) and that tends to kill the conversation. Clearly, I personally agree more with them on most of these issues, so as soon as I remind them of this, the conversation thankfully shifts away to something else.
Confrontation:
Americans use more resources than all the rest of the world combined!
Cliff & Sarah’s Response:
Confrontation:
You make such a big deal about Bill Clinton’s marital problems.
Cliff & Sarah’s Response:
Confrontation:
The United States get us sucked into wars all over the place.
Cliff & Sarah’s Response:
Confrontation:
Your President visited a town more than two hours away from here by car, and still caused massive traffic jams!
Cliff & Sarah’s Response:
*nodding*
from memory, i feel your pain.
by the way, i sometimes refresh the blog a few times in a row just to see what the next “cliff and sarah” sentence will be…
Cliff, when I’m tired, I tell people I’m Canadian. Can’t get away with it in the village, though. A couple of weeks ago, when the physiotherapist had me down on the table for a massage, he started asking, “Why?” Like I can explain Bush or American attitudes to morality or energy consumption. In my role of expat snob, I think it takes living outside the U.S. to see what’s going on in the world.
My response to situation #2:
“…You know those 6 million Jews that died during the second world war? They were killed by Germans. It’s been confirmed…”
This would do one of two things: 1. Quiet ’em down quickly once they realize that a few hostages is, well, a lot less than 6 million, or 2. Start a huge argument.
Oddly, when I was in Amsterdam in May, a German mistook me for being British. I can’t figure that one out I should look more Italian than anything else.