Coming to America
How do we look to visitors from abroad? Some collected views from the nineteenth century, two from the twentieth century including one from an American expat who returned after 20 years away. 1. I'm A Stranger Here Myself, Bill Bryson (1999). An American, Bryson lived the expat life in England for 20 years and returned to this country with the sensibility of an outsider. Some of of it dated, most all of it funny. The good natured criticism is easier to take coming from a "member of the family" so to speak (my name for criticism that can be made only by a family member but by someone outside the family). Bought in a bookstore of unknown origin. 2. Ciao America! An Italian Discovers America, Beppe Severgnini (1995). Lived for one year in a townhouse in Georgetown and develops a happy but perplexed interest in American culture. (As an Italian, even he admits he is impressed by Americans coffee intake)...