Do Europeans Hate Us Now?

by Marcia Simon

​I've spent decades of my life visiting family and friends in Europe. During all these visits it's clear to me that Europeans, stereotypically speaking, respect privacy more than Americans, especially when it comes to strangers and personal space.

Europeans don't make eye contact with people walking on the sidewalk; they don't feel compelled to say hello to every stranger they meet on the street or in a coffee shop. No small talk about mundane things when waiting in line.
I love Europe – the history, the landscapes, the architecture, the foods and the people.

It's April 2025 – three months into a government administration led by a convicted felon who misled a flock of sheep, allowing him to attempt ruling with the cruelest, most uncompassionate if not inhumane, backward-thinking, racist, fascist and uneducated agenda imaginable for a global society in the 21st century. Our allies are being bullied and it seems to be that, for greed and ego, freedoms and structure in America are being unraveled. It's a tough period as Americans mobilize to regain power so that positivity again begins to flourish.

Because I'm a travel advisor now, people are asking me if they should cancel their trips to Europe because, "They hate us." I say, "No. they don't. They may hate what is happening with the US government, but they do not hate the people."

I recently returned from a solo trip to Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Iceland. Not a single person treated me unkindly. Only twice did politics come up at all. Once was when I had dinner in a restaurant and coincidentally was seated at a table next to another female traveler dining alone. (Solo travel is quite common these days and that's another story for another time.) As I looked at the menu she glanced and recommended the signature salad, which filled a large bowl and came with a basket of fresh breads. She spoke English without a European accent. I asked if she was from the US and she said she's from Canada. I felt compelled to apologize for America's bad behavior. She sort of dismissed it with an air of "Yeah, it sucks but it's not your fault and this, too, shall pass." She smiled. I smiled. End of discussion.

It was in usually neutral Zurich, Switzerland where I routinely presented my passport to the young desk clerk upon check-in at a small hotel. He scanned my ID and asked, "Are you a Democrat or Republican?" He was making friendly conversation and had a genuine curiosity. I looked at him surprised and said, "Me? I live in a blue state. Do you know blue states and red states?"
"Yes," he replied. "I guessed you were a Democrat because your passport says you were born in New York." He wryly smiled as if he were giving me a secret wink of approval. He said was aware and has been watching the global news. He cared. He said he was glad to see that Americans are not idly accepting all that's being shoved at us. But, I could read the confusion on his face, begging for an answer to, "Why did Americans vote for this guy?"

I'm leaving shortly for Portugal and Spain with a group of travelers, a couple of whom have expressed concern about their safety. There's a feeling that we, because we're Americans, will not be welcome. "That's not true, I explained. The best thing we can do now is to support tourism in allied countries. Tourism creates income for local communities abroad." It's pretty easy to spot an American tourist in Europe.

If this is your year to visit abroad, why not make it a true immersive experience? Read up on the culture; be part of it, make an effort to understand it. As always, be kind. Be gentle. When you are a gracious guest, you will always be welcome.
 
Marcia Simon writes about travel, health, wellness and climate action. Connect on Facebook and Instagram @friendlygrouptravel, linkedin.com/in/marciasimon