How Barack Obama Just Might Improve Your Vacation

Travel Blog  •  Joanna Kakissis  •  01.24.08 | 12:39 PM ET

I’ve lived in Greece since 2004 and have watched foreign contempt for George W. Bush reach epic proportions. As an American (albeit one of Greek descent), I’ve repeatedly faced angry cross-examinations about Bush’s foreign policy and the war in Iraq. But since the 2008 presidential race started making international headlines a couple of months ago, including here in Greece, I’ve noticed those angry interrogations are increasingly being replaced with enthusiastic pronouncements about how much the Greeks I encounter love Barack Obama. It’s a startling shift. Could it be a sign that more American travelers will be greeted with warmer welcomes around the globe in 2008? I sure hope so. 

For as long as I can remember, American travelers have been called upon to explain our government’s policies, especially in places where years of heavy-handed U.S. intervention are still remembered (like Greece). Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, things have gotten worse.

This election year promises at least the veneer of a clean slate, and boy do we need it. Many of us are openly acknowledging that our stature in the world has slipped dramatically.

Before I get all woozy with optimism, however, let me also make a suggestion. Many people in the rest of the world know American politics as well as they know their own. But would most Americans be familiar with, say, Nicolas Sarkozy if he wasn’t snogging a supermodel? Each country has its own fascinating politics, and if you know enough to ask questions about it during your travels—at least in places where they won’t arrest you for such curiosity—you can dive into the most fascinating conversations. Even in a low-radar country like Greece there’s plenty of fodder (dynastic politics, inbred graft, warming relations with historic enemy Turkey, a woeful economy and even, wowee, another sex scandal).

In the last few weeks, my Greek friends and relatives have watched the U.S. candidates debate, read articles about Mormonism and Mitt Romney, talked about Hillary’s political machine, and even checked out candidates’ books (translated copies of Obama’s books seem to be doing particularly well here).

But ask most Americans who the prime minister of Greece is and you’ll get silence. It’s Kostas Karamanlis, in case you’re wondering, and he’s the dour scion of a storied old political family.

To most Americans, Greece is little more than a collection of ancient ruins and party beaches, and Zorba might as well be the prime minister.  But Greeks spend hours at Athenian cafes discussing domestic politics. Ask them about Karamanlis, or anything else related to Greek current events, and you just might discover that curiosity is the best ambassador.

Tags: Barack Obama, Nation Branding, Politics, Europe, Greece, North America, United States, News and Briefs

Joanna Kakissis's writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe and The Washington Post, among other publications. A contributor to the World Hum blog, she's currently a Ted Scripps fellow in environmental journalism at the University of Colorado in Boulder.


8 Comments for How Barack Obama Just Might Improve Your Vacation

Kelsey 01.24.08 | 4:02 PM ET

Greece doesn’t go mucking about in other countries’ business.  Not that a little mucking here and there isn’t warranted, but we (the USA) kind of take it to a whole ‘nother level.

I’ve had Bangladeshi rice farmers without TV’s complain about Bush.

Charles king 01.24.08 | 4:09 PM ET

greek commie bastards can kiss my pro George W American ass . STAY THERE

Tim Patterson 01.24.08 | 9:51 PM ET

“curiosity is the best ambassador”

I really like that line.  Nice post, Joanna.

CAJones 01.25.08 | 2:34 PM ET

I lived in Germany several years, spent time in 10 EU countries (if the EU has it’s way, there will be no ‘countries’, only the EU), a few others in Asia, and 43 states in the US.

When I talk w/people about the strategic ability of the US in the world, vs the world and US media’s perception of the US (and the leadership of the US Democrat Party), a large majority of them adopt a much more ‘friendly’ opinion of US.  At least they are willing to listen and then decide, unlike the liberals in the US.

So the US should degrade itself just so other countries will ‘like’ us? 

Maybe they should upgrade themselves by trying to be like US?!

Barack Obama 05.26.08 | 12:07 AM ET

An intersting thought, never thought of it like that. It is well known that U.S don’t have a very good impression in the outside world because of George Bush. If Obama comes, or even Hillary, it might get a little better. McCain is just another 4 years of Bush

Mary Jane Elmer 06.05.08 | 12:35 PM ET

I’ve only travelled once outside the USA since the 9/11 attacks.  Before - especially when my husband was alive - I’d travelled a bit to “friendly” countries. My late husband had travelled quite a bit due to the nature of his job.  However, my experience has been that most countries are extremely curious about how Americans think.

When I DID travel, I always kept in mind that I was a sort of Goodwill Ambassador for my country, and tried to act accordingly.  I tried never to put down the citizens of the countries that I visited.  Nor did I criticize things like their politicians, their favorite past times, or their favorite foods.  What I would receive was rather interesting.  A lot of people - especially in Australia - always acted like having an American acquaintance gave them status.  I really didn’t mind this that much, but, sometimes it got tiring.  Then there was the curiousity factor.  That was even more tiring.  American celebrities - be it sports, entertainers or politicians - were scrutinized down to that smallest degree.  Then there were the people - usally older - who might’ve had a bad experience with Americans.  Like the attitude of some Brits who lived through World War II.  Most of the time, I could keep my mouth shut, especially in shops and the like.  And, as long as I didn’t bring out my camera.  So many of these same people had to deal with homesick American soldiers, and the experience left them with a bad taste in their mouth.

What I’ve come to learn is that most people in these countries that we have a lasting presence - usually military - actually like the American People.  What they don’t like is American Politics.  The governing officials of these countries have solicited our “help” in dealing with all sorts of problems.  What they don’t take into account is that - when they ask for military help - we can’t just send over weapons.  We must send people who can train them to use the weapons.  Our interference is not appreciated when we tell them that we must teach them in order to help themselves in the future.

These countries really want our money, our weapons, and any supplies we might send in order to blow themselves to smithereens.  I say, let them.  I have the greatest respect for our military (I worked for the Department of the Army for sixteen years).  What these same countries really want us to do is fund their “revolutions” and step back.

I don’t consider myself a prejudiced person.  What I do believe is that these same foreign governments are caught straddling time zones.  I have great respect for the people who worship in the Islamic faith.  I have nothing but contempt for the extreme fanatics who practice genocide.  The so-called leaders of these groups don’t have to worry about day-to-day things like “how do I feed my family”.  They’ve got their own wealth.  But, no where in the Queran does it say “kill Americans”.  Why?  Because it was written in the 8th Century.  Long before the USA even existed.

Since Ancient Times, the Middle-East has had nothing but conflict.  The three major religions of the world - Judaism, Christianity and Muslim - all got their starts there.  The Jews have been around for, oh, about five thousand years.  The Christians have been around for 2,000.  But it is the Muslims who believe they’ve got the market cornered, and, they want to hoard it all, and not let anyone who isn’t of their faith even exist there.  Land is land.  But, it is the attitudes of people everywhere that has to change.

Every religion preaches peace, yet, every major religion has waged Holy Wars since the beginning of time.  The Christian Crusades of the Middle Ages was waged against the Muslime of the time.  Since then, those in power have acted as if they are the Supreme Beings, and, no one should have anything.

During the ‘70s, we suffered through, not one, but, two oil embargos because we - and by that I mean, the USA -  have backed the wrong - at least, in the Eye of Islam - horse.  Since then, many things HAVE changed in that part of the world.  Politics changed.  Land ownership changed (Israel, for example, had to give up much of the land it’d had since the ‘70s).  The way we fight a war has changed.  Status has changed.

In the ‘70s - especially after the embargos were lifted - we saw an influx of Foreign Nationals stream into the USA.  And, we have had to adjust our attitudes towards the new wave of immigrants who started coming into our country since then.  Some came to start a better life.  Others, however, came over to sponge of the good will of others and recruit what’s now called “Home Grown Terrorists” into their “Cause”.  What “Cause”?  At the end of the day, no one has achieved anything except to wide the enimosity gap.  Instead of preaching peace, everyone is preaching war.  When will it end?

We don’t know how World War III will be fought, but, we know how World War IV will be.  With sticks and clubs.

European Cruises 06.25.08 | 10:14 AM ET

I still don’t understand why Greeks love Barack Obama that much! Funny indeed, but I will use this in my European Cruise this holiday! I bet it will work! HA!

goodgawd 09.18.08 | 5:12 PM ET

For feck’s sake, how ignorant are you guys going to get?  Being rude to Americans while they’re in your country says much more about the haters’ country than it does Americans.

You sad saps, picking a president because you want to be loved.  I’ve decided the only thing the hatemongering nonAmericans have right is that Americans are complete idiots, the Democrat Americans.

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