“You’re American”
Risan, Montenegro - April 2024
When first talking with people in Europe I've found that half the time I'm asked where I'm from and the other half people immediately say, "You're American". The accent is a dead giveaway. They all know I'm American. I think being outgoing is also a giveaway. Europeans are more reserved when meeting a new person. (Or maybe just an American.) Once you've said hello most will respond in a friendly manner, many will engage in conversation. Rarely do they instigate one. Many then go on to ask where in America, and when they hear Florida, they basically have three replies. 1) Miami? 2) Tampa? 3) Hurricanes. That often is the end of the American conversation. But not always.
The first time I heard someone say, "Oh, it's very dangerous there" I was quite surprised. Obviously, I know it has become a dangerous place, but I was unaware how the rest of the world looked at us. When my sister heard I was planning to visit to Turkey she told me it was a level 2 security. You know who else is? America. The first conversation I had about the dangers of living in America, just a week into my travels, was with a woman whose daughter is thinking of accepting a job in the states. She seemed beside herself with fear that her daughter would be gunned down. And as much as I wished I could assuage her of those fears, the truth is, I couldn't. It seems the whole world knows that in America you can't send your children off to school, go to the grocery store, a movie, concert or church without the very real possibility of someone opening fire and wounding and killing innocent people who are just going about their days. When this topic arises, I am truly embarrassed and ashamed. Though not my doing, I feel like I'm carrying the whole burden of our absurd, disgusting gun issues on my back, and I have no means to defend myself because the issue is indefensible. And so I acknowledge the problems and say that there are people who are really trying to stop the senseless gun violence.
But guns aren't the only stain on Americans in the eyes of these Europeans. I've heard many eagerly comment about the pathetic state of our leadership, particularly the presidency. And once again, I am left embarrassed with little defense. Often, it's about Trump, that he's a tv personality, a joke, a criminal. But there are also comments about Biden, his age, his forgetfulness, that they think he's a puppet with no brain of his own. One of the hardest things for Europeans to understand is why we elect people who are elderly. And let's face it, both Trump and Biden are. We lack true representation by doing so. In June 2023 the median age for an American was 38.3 years old. At 77 and 81, why are we - on either side of the aisle - championing these men for the highest, most important job in our country? They are both passed retirement age, and frankly, should be retired, not running for president. Look around the world, most other countries have leaders who are in their prime. You know who doesn't? Autocracies. According to the Pew Research Center, countries who are "less free" tend to have older leadership. Hmmm.
And I won't even get started on their comments about women's rights, racial or sexual discrimination.
Since I can't do a decent accent of any kind to throw off my obvious American nationality, when any of these topics arise in conversation, I tend to end it abruptly by saying "that's why I'm here". And that's not far from the truth.