The world is a great place! I know because I'm out in it travelling around everyday. I can't claim to have been everywhere but by the end of this trip I hope to say I've seen quite a few places, lived in quite a few hostels, and eaten a world of different foods! I love it! How else can you find out so much about yourself and the world at the same time? And there are other things I've discovered along the way I never expected, like how being an American abroad is at times completely embarrassing. And dangerous. Why?

Let me first preface this discussion by letting all my readers know how much I appreciate the liberties and opportunity I have by just being born in the US! I'll never forget the folks who died to give me these liberties. I love my country. Please don't do the American thing and forget that by the end of this entry.

The problem I face, however, deals not with being tucked away safe in my bed at home in the states but with the problems I face being abroad. I began my travels April 7th, 2004,almost two and a half years since 9/11 and the Bush administration taking office. In that time I saw my personal opinion of a Bush led goverment decline to be followed by atrocities such as The Patriot Act among other violations of our civil liberties. Blind patriotism allowed this and has run rampant ever since. And Bush continues to be the cowboy from Texas that we supposedly elected and make decisions that affect the world with only America in mind. Is this right? More importantly, how has the world viewed this?

In New Zealand I met several Americans who would not openly admit they belonged to one of the greatest nationalities in the world. In Australia I met a few who hid their identity with little cloth flags of Canada sewn to their bags. As I approach a trip to Indonesia I am warned to be careful when I leave the hotel. Before I left the US even, my own family pleaded daily with me to stay at home, travel the states like my friends. Why must we hide in a world we help to make free?! The truth lays in the fact that at home in the US we can never fully grasp how universally each decision we make affects the world. People the world over are influenced by our culture on a daily, even hourly basis. Where do most movies come from? Hollywood. Who makes "kiwi style" kethup? Heinz Co. What is discussed on Australian, New Zealand, and European (among many others) radio talk shows? They discuss "Should Bush be re-elected? Is the war in Iraq fair and just? Should we send our boys to help the American coalition?" Right now I feel like we have to hide because we do not make enough peace to justify our wars...or hidden agendas. It seems to me that America is practicing what I call geocentric Americanism where the world revolves around America.

Some claim that we have to behave like we are because of terrorism. "Remember 9/11!!" I remember. I understand terrorism and feel its effects. I cancelled going to the Olympics and Israel because of it. Does this justify a costly in both money and lives "War on Terror" or "liberating" Iraq to install our own American friendly democracy? Is installing a democracy even possible?! I heard that THE PEOPLE must WANT democracy for it to succeed. Better yet, is it UN-American to be asking these questions? Some at home would say yes.

Today on a 100 person group tour in Australia our leader started asking where everyone was from. "Japan?" Hands went straight up. "Britain?" Straight up. "France?" Up. "Israel?" Up. "Canda?" Up. "USA?" ... Heads turn to look for each other. A few slowly raised their hands about shoulder level. An elderly woman from Chicago whispered in my ear "It embarassing these days huh? Lets pray for a change in November." Certainly the feeling of discontent isn't limited to the young or to southerners or Californians or any other traveler for that matter. I shouldn't have to feel embarassed to be from the US. Should I?

So I'm curious to hear about your experiences on the road. Have you had any similar situations like mine? How does it feel to you to be an American on the road? If you're from another country, how do you view Americans on the road? And what should we do?

Let me know.

-Josh