In response to a number of posts that I've read in the forum section, I wanted to relate an experience that I had in November of 2005. I happened to be traveling down the Tenn Tom Bigby waterway, heading from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico. Since my boat needed work, I hauled her out of the water in Demopolis Alabama, and planned to spend Thanksgiving "living on the hard" (the boat out of the water on dry land). Since friends on another boat were doing the same thing, we decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner together.

A French couple were working on their boat nearby, so in the spirit of international relations, we invited them to join us. After a few glasses of wine, I asked them why they were visiting the US? I related that the press suggested that the French hated Americans, and we figured most Americans would return the favor. They were shocked by this idea.

They immediately explained that the French don't hate Americans. The French GOVERNMENT hates Americans. Most French people were enamored of American culture, and loved visiting the US. They further explained that every American that they met so far had extended an incredible level of hospitality, and that they were having a wonderful time touring our country. They told me that this was their third visit to the US, and they hoped they'd be back in the future. Thinking about it, I certainly didn't hate the French, and experienced one of the better Thanksgiving celebrations with these people.

Other friends who shipped their boat to Italy from the US were concerned about flying the American flag while sailing that section of the Med. Upon arriving in Italy and Greece, they discovered that the people of these two countries loved seeing Americans visiting, and often gave thumbs up signals when my friends displayed their flag.

I'd display the flag, and act in such a fashion that you give everyone a good impression of this neck of the woods.

Chris