As I’ve had more and more opportunities to travel, I have become increasingly aware of the stereotypes and connotations that accompany my American heritage. When considering recent political events, it is unsurprising that many members of the global population think the United States is intrinsically linked with our newly elected president: Donald Trump. Indeed, he seems an impossible man to outrun, for even on the Camino his reputation follows us American citizens as relentlessly as our shadow.

The author interviewing along the Camino in Galicia.

Of course, the cursory introductions that are almost obligatory on the Camino include the inevitable “So, where are you from?” On many occasions, in response to my cheerful “the United States,” the first words that crossed my interviewer’s lips were “ah, Trump,” frequently accompanied by an understanding little smile. Truly, the subject is almost entirely unavoidable. Even those of us who do not wish to discuss politics with strangers have suffered through at least a few uncomfortable conversations of this nature.

While I don’t pretend that the relatively diverse population present on the Camino represents a statistically random sample, I believe that my recent conversations regarding President Trump demonstrate the mistrust and uncertainty felt by many of our global allies. Indeed, not a single person I spoke to expressed any kind of support for Trump or his policies; their sentiments ranged anywhere from general indifference to vehement loathing.

I think a conversation I had with an older French woman to be particularly pertinent to this discussion. What was memorable about this interview was not what was said, but what was meant. This woman spoke perhaps ten words of English, and I speak even less French. For this reason, our conversation predominately consisted of smiles and wild hand gestures. Of course, at some point within the duration of the interaction she said the magic word––Trump––accompanied by fervent head shaking and mock gagging noises. Even without words, I was at no loss to how she felt about the new American president.

Some Camino-goers expressed their feelings more concisely. A particularly colorful Irish couple spoke of their avid dislike of Trump for over an hour, at one point calling him “a bit cracked.” Indeed, the husband went on to describe a study done by some psychologist who apparently claims that Trump exhibits behavior characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. While I personally suspect that insatiable narcissism is a more likely cause of the President’s erratic decisions than  a degenerative cognitive condition, such a comment goes to show the extent to which many of our international fellows resent Trump. This fact aside, I feel––and I’m sure my classmates would agree––that despite the less than favorable political conditions of the US, we have been treated with friendly respect by practically everyone on the Camino. For me, such a discovery only accentuates the fact that Donald Trump fails to understand a fundamental lesson that is continually reenforced by communal places like the Camino: American citizenship does not guarantee superiority. Individual worth is not dependent upon nationality, race, gender, or religion. As human beings who each possess unique hopes, memories, and beliefs, we must treat each other with the according love and respect. We owe the world that much.