Nikki Yeager

When I was on my way home from Spain I wrote about 100 blogs that were never posted. They ranged from irate to depressed to curious and spanned everywhere in between. 

While Spain was beautiful, and my particular hosts were absolutely amazing, I found myself in the same dilemma with the general population time and time again. Turns out it's true: the rest of the world sort of hates America. 

But not in overtly mean ways. In the way a closet racist tries to be accepting by ending every statement with "I'm not racist though". 

The fact is, an insult is an insult and a judgement is a judgment. Which I don't mind in small doses but after 100 different people attack my country's position in the world, it gets a little annoying. 

And after being understanding for the first fifty comments, I found myself wanted to be overly patriotic for the second batch of attacks. However, I was smart enough to keep my wits about me and calmly let the conversation die. Which is extremely hard to do when you want to defend the good parts of the US. And yes, there are many good parts despite all the bad. 

In the end, I found that Americans are expected to be more understanding, more intelligent and more cultured than any other country. Why? To make up for the fact our country is fighting in the Middle East, we have a larger population than any country in Europe and we have way more money than most countries combined. It's as if an American traveler has to be on their best behavior to overcompensate for our country's perceived flaws. Which can get extremely exhausting. Especially when you sort of like living in these American boarders. 

One of my biggest qualms was this- How many people from Europe can place Missouri on a map? Very few. Why? Because it doesn't matter for European life. It's outside the necessary realm of knowledge considering Missouri is a small state in a country that costs at least 700 dollars to get to (if you find a great travel sale) and is at least an ocean away. However, if I can't tell someone exactly where Uruguay is, I'm an ignorant American. More fuel to hate us all. 

And the problem is this. If I don't know where something is I usually admit it, apologize and ask. From that point forward I try my best to remember where that location is, what sets it apart from surrounding countries and what language they speak. Still, I'm judged for not knowing that information in the first place when in Spain (or talking to most Europeans). However, if a Spanish person comes to the US and doesn't know where Missouri is, we usually smile and shrug.. Why would they? 

The fact is, by and large, we don't mind if you don't know a lot about the US. At least not in NYC (in general, but there are exceptions to every rule). All we ask is that you try to speak English when here and stay polite. Other than that, we're happy to tell you where that state is, along with anything else you'd like to know. We don't assume you come with that information and don't bash your country mercilessly when you don't. 

So why is it so awful when I can't recite your country's history... but still try so hard to learn? 

Why is it so awful that I come from a country where I can afford to live alone if I please? Why is that my fault? Why do I have to apologize for the fact my country is at war? Did anyone ever stop to consider the fact that it wasn't my personal choice? Does anyone consider anything good the United States has ever done? Like the fact that we gave 25 billion dollars away in foreign aid in 2008 when the next largest amount given was Germany's 13 billion (Global Issues*). Or the fact that we seriously helped France when we invaded Normandy (and sacrificed a TON of American lives). Oh, and we also gave you Facebook. Which everyone seems to love in Spain, and beyond. 

But then again, no one ever remembers that stuff. So I'll just continue traveling as a silent American, letting all the insults roll off my shoulders. Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you like my country. All that matters is that I get a chance to explore the world and try, always try, to understand what it is that makes people want to stone me (or just argue with me) because of my American passport. And when I'm here I can research, question and study all of your countries whenever I so choose. Because I have the freedom to do that and am thankful to have the means as well.