Do I Feel More Or Less American Living Overseas?
I get this question a lot.
I've been living outside the States for 18 years, and, to answer the question I'm so often asked, I've never felt more American than I do today.
Living in the States (I lived in Baltimore, Maryland, for my first 35 years), we Americans take being American for granted. Every year since I left Baltimore, I've been more aware of my American-ness.
Thinking superficially, this is easy to understand. My husband and I, along with our children, lived in Ireland for seven years, long enough to acquire Irish passports even. But we're not Irish ... not really.
We were in Paris for four years, and both our children think of that city as home. It's where our blended family bonded, where my son, Jackson, started school, and from where my daughter, Kaitlin, left our nest to start college. We still have the apartment where we four lived together. In storage there are plastic tubs containing old school report cards and gifts the kids made for me for Mother's Days. We love Paris and look forward to returning, but we're surely not French.
Here in Panama, where we've been living now for eight years, as in Ireland and in Paris, we've put down roots. We have friends, our son is in school, and we're building a house on the beach at Los Islotes that is part of our long-term plan. We're in Panama for the long haul ... but we'll never be Panamanian.
No ... we're American, from our accents to our Levi's.
And in less obvious ways, too.
When I sit down in a business meeting anywhere in the world, I'm the American at the table. I could be negotiating the cost of an apartment for sale in Buenos Aires, Argentina ... considering a new business idea in Panama City, Panama... meeting with a new writer in Paris, France ... or discussing residency visa options with an attorney in Medellin, Colombia. On the other end of the conversation is an Argentine, a Panamanian, a Frenchman, a Colombian ... what have you. I'm the American. And to the table I bring the American perspective.
The longer I'm outside the States, the greater has grown my appreciation for what that means and also for how unique our American perspective is.
The rest of the world doesn't think like we Americans think. That's neither good nor bad. It just is. And it creates an opportunity.
I have the chance, every time I engage with some non-American anywhere in the world, to learn from his non-American ways ... and to put my American ways to good use.
We Americans are the world's optimists. We believe in ourselves and in our collective ability to figure things out ... to make things better ... to make things work. We're dreamers ... and wanderers. We value hard work, we like efficiency, and we pride ourselves on our willingness to act on opportunity when we perceive one.
What's over the next hill? Let's go find out. What could we do tomorrow that we didn't do today? Let's get up early in the morning and figure that out. How can we make this thing, this idea, this effort better? Let's roll up our sleeves and see where a little elbow grease leads us ...
Those are American sentiments. Wherever we travel in the world, whoever we encounter, personally or in business, these are the attitudes that we bring to the table.
So, yes, living overseas I feel more American than ever. In a good way.
Ireland
Giuseppe Milo/500px
"My Grandparents were both born there and I've dreamed about going since I was a kid," said reader Dana Beckman.
Chicago
Getty Images
Wrigley Field is a must-see, according to reader Linda Stark.
Bora Bora
M Swiet Productions
Reader Mona G. Low would love to stay in "one of those thatched huts over the turquoise ocean."
Scotland
Buena Vista Images
Several readers said they would love to visit this northern gem because of their ancestry.
Paris
José Ramirez/500px
The Louvre Museum would be reader Susan Ayers--Taylor's first stop in the city of lights. "I have wanted to go there since I was 12, which was 44 years ago!"
Russia
Alejandro Cupi/500px
Reader Kimberly Minton-Freeman would love to visit Russia because it's her daughter's birthplace.
Hawaii
Alamy
Several of our readers have been to the 50th state and dream of going back again to take in the natural beauty.
Moab, Utah
Shutterstock / Manamana
The Arches National Park is a must-see according to several readers.
Syria
jasminam
Reader Syeda Jafri would love to visit Syria and see its many sacred sites.
Switzerland
Shutterstock / ariadna de raadt
"I would love to go to Switzerland so I can finish my family tree on my father's side. I found my ancestors on my mom's side were royalty in Ireland and lived in Cudzow Castle, but I haven't been able to find anything on dad's side before my great grandfather came through Ellis Island from Switzerland," said reader Linda Wepf Johnstone.
Turkey
Bertl123
The country that's known as the bridge between the east and west is on Syeda Jafri's bucket list because of its beauty.
England
José Ramirez/500px
"The fact I fell in love with the Beatles when I was eight" makes England a top choice for reader Audra Dee.
Las Vegas
Shutterstock / Jorg Hackemann
Reader Tammy Lumsden wants to go back to Sin City because there's always something new to see and never enough time to see it all.
Egypt
Getty Images/Flickr RF
Egypt's rich history and breathtaking monuments make it a top spot on any bucket list.
Alaska
Getty Images/Flickr RF
A few readers mentioned wanting to go to the northernmost state because it was the only one they haven't yet visited.
The Sahara Desert
Guido Todarello/500px
Reader Brenda English would love to take a photography safari in the beautiful desert.
Costa Rica
Franklin Garcia/500px
Reader Franci Zalon wants to visit this Central American country known for its rich wildlife.
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