I have to comment on this on this

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." - Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Talked to Nate last night about this posting on his blog and spent some time thinking about it before commenting as follows:

As a Canadian, I can say to all those Canadians who think that a Canadian flag guarantees some kind of superior reception in the world arena, you need to think again. That service-industry sub-25-year-old checking you in at the hostel in some small European country really doesn't know what Canada did for Holland in a war that happened before he was born. All he knows is that you're some asshole who over-reacted when he mistook you for your nearest neighbour, as so many of your kin seem to do. So word begins to spread, and "Canadian" becomes synonymous with "American with a chip on his shoulder."

Everyone who travels needs to do so with an open mind, and about oneself as much as about one's surroundings. If it's just about the postcards, then save some money and buy the book. Travel isn't just about learning about where you've travelled to, it's about interacting with people and understanding yourself in a global context. Only then can Samuel Clemens' promise for travel be fulfilled.

How do I know this? I was once referred to as an American with a chip on his shoulder under exactly the above circumstances, and in a way that made it clear that it was a reference not just to me, but to me and my ilk. It totally made me reconsider the smug superiority felt by Canadians abroad compared to their American travelling companions, and what impact this must have on the world's perception of Canadians.

I would like to know, though, why it seems that Americans abroad are always wearing brand new shoes... ;)