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No my blog isn’t becoming political all of a sudden.  But this article struck a chord.

“I talk a bit too much about politics, right?” – No, of course not. But it’s a bit unusual, on the occasion of an operetta premier interview, more than half of the time to talk about politics. “Yeah I am perhaps a bit political for an opera singer,” said Rebecca Nelson.
Like many Americans in the last eight years inexpressibly afflicted and ashamed by their country’s politics, the Texas soprano is no exception. “Most of the time I’m bothered by what my country doesn’t do. What it does do is bad enough, but what it allows to happen is terrible – take Darfur for example. It could easily be the richest land in the world.”

Source:  http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1219938748899

She goes on to talk about her Fulbright stipend that brought her to Vienna in 2004, her involvement in the opening season production for the Vienna Volksoper (“Vetter aus Dingsda”), operetta as an art form, and naturally her Obama mania.

Americans living and working abroad have become ambassadors for their country whether they like it or not. Being questioned on Bush politics is the norm here in Europe. Talk about breaking the ice! What this article does not explain is why hired Americans in Europe feel it necessary to give disclaimers in the first place.

Being born and raised by my European parents in the States, I traveled many summers to Europe. I remember the most annoying questions I was often asked were:

Do you like Coca-Cola or Pepsi more?
Do you like McDonald’s or Burger king?
What’s your favorite band?

Looking back, those were good times! Never would I have expected regularly crafting answers to common questions to be a rehearsal to what I’m asked these days.

I can only hope that we ex-pats do not need to provide disclaimers indefinitely.