January 20 has Special Meaning...Even in Rome

An annual Christmas-time trip overseas has become a tradition for this single mom and her now 16 year old daughter, Hannah. In years past, we've traveled to Quebec, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna and Istanbul to experience the holidays and traditions of others. When Hannah was younger, the lessons were pretty basic: People in other countries live their lives differently from ours but no less happily. Some traditions such as Christmas Markets and Boxing Day are fun and would fare well in the U.S. Some countries that are not predominantly Christian barely take notice of Christmas Day.

Perhaps the biggest lesson over the past eight years has been the negative attitudes toward Americans that we've experienced during our travels. It's rarely been personal. Most of the criticism has been aimed at our government -- as though we are emissaries deputized to carry back to the Bush administration the deep-seated distrust and anger toward its foreign policies. Once we admit we are from the Washington area, we have been met with increasingly strident requests to tell President Bush that his hawkish views are unwelcome in most parts of the world.

In Istanbul last year, my daughter and I decided to pass as Canadians because it seemed easier. It was sad, though, to "represent" a war I didn't understand nor support and a president I never voted for. Being an American abroad has not been easy in the past few years.

So I am delighted to report that we've just returned home from a week in Rome where there is a fresh, positive take on American politics. Buying a bottle of water near the Pantheon one crisp December day, I used some of my few Italian words to request "acqua naturelle." The vendor responded with a thumbs-up and one of his few words of English -- "Obama!" Upon discovering I was American, several other Italians said joyfully, "January 20!" They may not have mastered the word "inauguration," but they know the significance of the date.

Who knows where our travels will take us next year? But I am so grateful for what we learned in Italy this year. In a country which once seemed to rule the world and was brought low by corruption, hubris and greed, I learned that the US's recent presidential election has provided hope to so many. Not a bad way to spend a Christmas vacation, right?

Comments

[chuleta13]

It is great to again feel a sense of pride in being an American. I'm sure there will be many fewer Americans abroad hiding behind Canadian flag pins after January 20th.

[jmgfete]

Yes, I agree. This blog entry was refreshing to read, and it's so exciting to think that at last world opinion of American may be changing for the better. Go Obama!

[Grate]

Thank you such a beautiful sentiment and message of gratitude. Your reconnaisance literally brings tears of joy to my eyes. Happy January 20 & Happy New Year.

[kbella]

I am an American living in Rome (married to a fantastic Italian man), and I completely agree. People every once in a while notice my accent when I speak Italian and ask me where I am from. When I used to say "America" I would sometimes get a negative response about George Bush (never about me personally, Italians are too nice for that). Now I get positive responses about Obama. It is wonderful to be proud of my country again!

[bhaklava]

Even here in Istanbul, the prevailing attitude is that now there is hope for the US and the world. We all await the 20th.

[Gweezie]

I am glad you went to Rome in 2008, amid the resurgence of goodwill created by Barak Obama's election. But I think you will have gotten a nice reception even in 2007. We Italians are for the most part very nice to foreigners, especially Americans. Now, let's hope that Obama's foreign policy initiatives not only foster American interests, but also cultivate the friendship of America's allies: the ones go hand in hand with the other.