Travel essay: Disgruntled with the presidential election?

By Derek Denton
Special to The Seattle Times

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In the two years I've lived abroad, I've enjoyed many laughs and groans at the expense of my stateside brethren.

But after reading the current whining from folks looking to "escape" from a president they can't stand, I'm shaking my head in disgust. I left Seattle in 2002 for South Korea; partly for a job, but mostly for something different. I'm quite happy with my life, and I'd recommend the experience to anybody; but I can't help but wonder just what manner of greener pastures these disgruntled liberals are expecting to find.

Do they expect, for instance, to find politicians abroad any more upstanding than those at home? I live in a country whose president was impeached last spring, for taking sides during a general election campaign. (Think you felt sorry for Clinton?)

Do they expect their destination to be free of American problems? People everywhere have to make a living, and in many cases they're on the other end of issues that upset us — like imports, outsourcing and military alliances. I've traveled to perhaps 20 countries, and none of them has been free of racism, crime, drugs, taxes, corruption, poverty or pollution. If you find such a place without having to die first, let me know.

And do they really think their self-proclaimed refugee status will gain them any sympathy overseas? I doubt it. Korea, for one, is full of fiercely proud folk who are as patriotic (and sometimes jingoistic) as anyone anywhere. Being so quick to disavow your own country would more likely win you contempt in the long run.

Let's be realistic: You're still American, and will be seen as such anywhere you go. Anytime America comes up in conversation, you will find yourself looked to as, not "an" American, but America in person; as David Sedaris put it, "all 50 states and Puerto Rico at the table with gravy dripping down my chin." But don't worry — they'll be nice about it. No Korean has ever been mean to me because of my nationality.

(Canadians are another story.)

One disgruntled Kerry supporter commented in an interview that "Life is too short to spend with people whose values you don't like or agree with." Oh, ecch — grow up already. If so, then moving abroad is the LAST thing you should do. Personally, I can't imagine a more boring and stultifying existence than being agreed with nonstop; you may as well book your lobotomy in advance.

The best thing about living abroad is that it helps guard you against that sort of complacency and self-pity. Learning a new language, new customs, alien values and thoughts — you learn something new just by waking up every morning. This is not a lifestyle for people who can't stand not having their way.

Living abroad is certainly worth doing; I wish more of our people would try it at least once. But it ought to be motivated by curiosity, guts and a love of challenges. If you're looking for an escape from your own current reality, stay home and take drugs. Disagreements are no problem to the open-minded and mature person — after all, that's what makes a horse race.
 
And if you do come, prepare to find out just how American you really are, like it or not. If anything, living abroad makes you more American than you were before; and that's no bad thing. Really.

Derek Denton lives in Guri, Gyonggi Province, South Korea and is a Seattle native.

The Travel Essay runs each Sunday in The Seattle Times and also online at seattletimes.com. To submit an essay for consideration, make sure it's typed and no longer than 700 words. Essays, which are unpaid, may be edited for content and length. E-mail to travel@seattletimes.com or send to Travel, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. Because of the volume of submissions, individual replies are not always possible.