Jerika is a PhD student from San Fransisco, living in Nijmegen. Her life as an expat has changed a lot in the months leading up to tomorrow's American election. 'To call it embarrassing would be the understatement of the year.'

Living in the Netherlands as an expat is a pleasant experience, as Dutch people always go out of their way to make foreigners feel welcome. Once the conversation takes off, the normal flow of friendly inquiries usually proceeds: ‘What are you doing in the Netherlands?’ ‘How long have you been in town?’ ‘Do you like it here?’. However, in my last three months in Nijmegen I have experienced a radical change from the usual string of light chit chat. In fact, my life as an American expat has thus far been dominated by one single question: ‘What do you think of Donald Trump?’

It is the equivalent of having your terribly awkward 4th grade school photo being pulled out in public at every turn. No matter how much you try to escape it, still it returns to haunt you. It seems to be the wringer on everyone’s minds, and understandably so. The American elections have far reaching ramifications that impact many foreign affairs and national policy. Yet, the experience of being an American abroad during the most controversial election season to boot is worthy of a moments exploration. In meeting Dutch people both staunchly pro and against the infamous Donald Trump, the most bizarre experience is the utter lack of escape that one hopes for when moving abroad. While a Turkmenistan traveler might have the privilege of evading anyone abreast of the national politics of their country, being an American abroad can at times be a constant reminder of that which you sought to flee from in the first place.

Blissfully ignorant
Of course, you can’t blame people for asking. The terrifying prospect of having a filter-less orange hotel tycoon running one of the most influential countries in the world is enough to keep anyone up at night. However, the subtle conversational dance of political probing that is so common in American culture becomes suspended once you cross the pond, taking a backseat only to world renown Dutch directness. That is, whereas two Americans might fish around for clues at one’s presidential leanings without ever actually asking given the polemic and at times hostile divide between the American left and right wing (usually achieved by a quick glancing at the person in questions’ bumper stickers or any other visual indicators of partisanship), people in international settings have no reservations in coming right out and asking point blank who you intend to vote for. Regularly, this wouldn’t be such a jarring question, however this election is unique in that the entire world wants to know how it has come down to this. I’m sorry to say but we don’t have any answers. I myself am one of those dumbfounded people- incredulously pondering how we’ve arrived at the current predicament. (Like… really, America? These are the best two candidates we’ve got???). To call it embarrassing would be the understatement of the year. That is why this election season has been demarcated by so many American expats who have chosen to remain blissfully ignorant for the sake of their sanity. Yet, as the world tries to grasp just how this election has come to unfold, we find ourselves constantly having to explain that which is completely beyond our own logical comprehension.

You see, America is a place where anything can happen as long as you’ve got money in the bank. Yes, that’s right- you can even become the President of the United States if you’ve generated enough capitol (case and point: the California gubernatorial reign of Arnold Schwarzenegger). So, on the eve of the elections, I know I am not alone when I say that American expats everywhere will be celebrating the end of the menacing question: ‘What do you think of Donald Trump?’. We are ready to put it to bed; maybe even be able to laugh about it someday in the distant future.

‘Remember that time when that crazy rich man with no political background ran for President?’…
‘Yes, I do… what was his name again?’.
‘I can’t remember’

It is a dream we are awaiting with bated breath. Thus, come November 9th, I will be among a sea of other Americans living abroad who will so happily welcome the return of the old banal questions. ‘What are you doing in the Netherlands?’ ‘How long have you been in town?’ ‘Do you like it here?’. In fact, I think the whole world will be content when it no longer has to utter the name Donald Trump again. Call it a return to the real issues at hand, or simply a restoration of the feeling of being truly foreign again. So next time you meet an American, resist the temptation to invoke the topic of ‘he who shall not be named’ and explore some of the other great conversation pieces that lay before you. Trust me, ‘Some weather we’re having, huh?’ will be as sweet to the ears of an American expat as apple pie.