The one year anniversary of the election of the United States’ 45th president has come and gone, I’m sure you clicked on this article thinking I was going to go on a political rant, right? Well, not quite, because there is so much to America beyond politics.
What I "hate" about traveling as an American
All the questions about politics.
I was studying abroad last year with CISabroad in Scotland while the election was in full swing, and when the final ballots came in, I was on a weekend trip in Faro, Portugal. Every place I would go to, whenever I opened my mouth and people found out I was American, political talk was brought up. Every. Single. Time.
Don’t get me wrong, I love that so many people, especially from my generation, from around the world are becoming more knowledgeable and involved in world affairs, but sometimes we Americans need a break from all that political chit-chat. We are so much more than people wrapped up in political discussions!
American stereotypes aren't great.
As an American, I know there are preconceived notions that I will automatically be subjected to if I am openly American. Yes, there are Americans tourists that travel the globe wearing Hawaiian shirts and cameras hanging around their necks, that speak far too loud, make obnoxious requests at traditional restaurants expecting the waiter to understand English, and commit a whole host of other cultural faux pas. However, there are also a large number of other nationalities doing the same thing, just in a different outfit and language—not to justify our behavior, but it's worth acknowledging that we're not the only ones who get overly excited or sometimes act like bad tourists.
To give you an example of these American stereotypes, let me share an experience from my travels. Once I was asked, “Are you Canadian?” Not thinking anything of the question, I smiled and answered back proudly with “No, I'm American!” The individual then proceeded to say “Oh, I knew that, I just didn’t want to offend you.” LINE CROSSED. Why does knowing my nationality just by looking at me have to be potentially offensive?
People assume I don't like living in the US.
For about the last two years, I have been traveling in and out of the United States, being home for no longer than five months at a time. More recently, I have started getting questions like, “Why do you hate America?”, “Do you even like living in the United States?”, “Can you just not stand this country anymore?”, and the list goes on. Why does choosing to go abroad have to mean that I'm unhappy with life in America?
After a few of these questions (repeatedly annoying me when I was still jet-lagged and tackling reverse culture shock), I finally had enough. I decided to set the truth free about why I really kept leaving the “land of the free, and home of the brave.” So here goes nothin' and everything all at once.
What I "Hate" about the US itself
We don't explore.
I loved growing up in a small town tucked away in upstate New York, but SHEESH, there is a whole world out there beyond it. There are approximately 510.1 million square kilometers of surface area to explore on this planet! You heard right, THAT MUCH SPACE! I’ve spent around 22 years living in one State, so why not get out and shake things up a bit? There are too many people to meet, cultures to experience, languages to learn, dances to dance, and there is no way I’ll be getting all that in the tiny cornfield I call home (Shout out to Avon, NY though, you’re awesome, don’t change!).
[Read: Why Small Town America Should Study Abroad]
America is a nation of nations—that they know nothing about.
While on holiday with my friend, I was lounging around with the sniffles on our last night in Cebu City, Philippines. The TV was on and while I was hacking up a lung I quickly stopped him from changing the channel because the title that popped up on the screen sparked my interest (it really doesn’t take much with me). *Warning: history lesson about to commence.* The show was called "Human Journey: The Way The World Made America"—I was hooked at then and there! The show explained how Ukrainians migrated to Kansas to grow Turkey Red Wheat, Scandinavians made their way to Oregon for logging, and Italians moved and created the buildings, bridges, and subways in the place we all know and love today as New York City. We could all benefit from a history lesson like this, because it helps us understand the truth.
Do you get it yet? America is literally a nation made up of many different nations. It’s an amazing, beautiful, and inspiring country full of opportunity. However, what traveling does is take all the nationalities that have integrated to create life in the United States, and simply focuses on a single one at a time, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to learn about our fellow Americans.
Americans should spend more time actively learning about our—and our neighbors'—origins through the vehicle of travel. It's fun, the food is usually great, and you come home a more compassionate and empathetic community member. Win-win-win.
Americans don't appreciate their multicultural background.
You can’t deny that when that Ancestory.com commercial comes on you automatically want to go pluck your hair, spit in a cup, or swab something to “see what you are.” Americans get pleasure out of saying what our lineage is, admit it! "Yeah NBD, I’m 57% Irish, 32% English, 7% Mongolian, 2% Peruvian, 1.7% Nigerian, 0.3% Russian. Oh yeah and my Great Great Great Grandfather 29 times removed was an Egyptian God, but like it’s NBD.”
In all seriousness though, it really is amazing to see where we come from—it gives us a feeling of importance. So instead of just taking a DNA test, staring at statistics, then putting the file away with old Verizon Wireless bills, let this be a starting point. Get out in the world and see the cultures that made America the way it is today. Heck, I mean Irving Berlin, a Russian Immigrant, wrote the little ditty we all jam out to on 4th of July called “God Bless America!”
You can see our multicultural ways manifest around the corner, around the county, around the country. Just think about it—even our dinner plates speak to our many identities (have you ever eaten multiple ethnic cuisines in a single week—or day?). This is a country built of rich cultures; we had better do our best to consciously recognize and enjoy them.
Americans under-appreciate the convenience of our culture.
I have learned many things during my travel endeavors so far, but by far I feel like my sense of nationalism has definitely been heightened. Does that mean I go around bragging about the good ol’ stars and stripes 24/7? No, but I have realized how much we take for granted, that we (myself included) don’t realize. I have fallen in love with every country I have been to thus far, each unique in their own way. But, living in the USA for the majority of my life, I realize we truly do have just about everything right at our fingertips. Even if it is something as simple as using the “comfort room” (bathroom) and flushing our toilet paper. Huh? Don't worry , I'll explain...
Currently, I am living in the Philippines, where when you go to the bathroom, you not only have to bring your own toilet paper, but you also must throw the paper in the trash (not the toilet) due to limited water treatment systems. In the beginning, this was such a strange concept to me, since (obviously!) I’ve always flushed everything. Except for that one time in Portugal, but that’s another story. Fast forward to now when I'm two months down the road to living life like a Filipino, and it has just become an everyday habit in my life that no longer seems abnormal (Sorry mom, when I come home I may be fighting this force of habit for a little while).
You want Thai? Order it quickly from your phone and you'll be slurping noodles in 30 minutes. Dying to have that latest album? Buy now and listen instantly. Our culture is obsessed with convenience and accessibility—and we don't realize how fortunate we are to have access to so many things so quickly.
[READ: Best Overseas Jobs for Americans]
Americans are obsessed with freedom—and independence dominates society.
As Americans, we often don’t see how much independence and freedom we have, and how much we value it. Some places I've traveled to, men and women blatantly do not have equal rights. I have been places where there truly is a hierarchy entirely based on gender, and yet it never ceases to surprise me. However, that’s just the way things are in other cultures, even if the majority of Americans have no idea.
We often look at the culture from the surface level and begin to create stereotypes based on our observations, rather than our experiences. We can never have the chance to really dive into the deep cultural aspects of a society or understand why things run a certain way if we don't travel there, live there, and immerse ourselves in the culture. The whole fight for freedom of speech, freedom of press, etc. doesn't seem so annoying anymore does it?
Why I decided I actually love America (and all of the above)
To all the people who have questioned my love for the U.S., and wonder why I “hate” America, I would like everyone to know that I love America with all my heart, and I am proud to be American. And you should be proud of where you come from too, no matter where that is.
America is far from perfect, and it's faults may seem more salient at times than others. But it's incredibly innovative. It's a curious nation. It's a nation committed to hard work. And for all our weaknesses, we are just a bunch of people trying to do our best.
I travel to learn more about my home. I travel to learn more about who I am. I travel to broaden my mind, as well as the minds of others. When we (humanity) travel, we learn more about what is around us and how we impact one another, even from oceans away. And this may just be the most important outcome of traveling: understanding.
On that note, happy holidays y’all, and don’t forget to give thanks for who you are, where you're from, and everything that makes you, you!
Need more reasons to travel? We've got plenty.
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