{"id":5702,"date":"2013-09-27T04:00:47","date_gmt":"2013-09-27T08:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=5702"},"modified":"2013-09-28T14:24:48","modified_gmt":"2013-09-28T18:24:48","slug":"italian-connections-influencing-my-worldview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=5702","title":{"rendered":"Italian Connections Influencing My Worldview"},"content":{"rendered":"

I posted on this blog yesterday that a reader from Europe asked two questions. I answered one of them here<\/a>. The second question was,<\/p>\n

Does [your connection with Europe\/Italy] make you look different to things happening in the States or the world? Or doesn’t it make that big a difference?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That is a great question! And yes, my European connections have influenced how I look at things that happen in the USA.
\n
\nThe answer is complex. First of all, I am an American. I was born, raised, and educated in the United States. Most of how I look at things in the country of my birth are filtered in a simple way through my life experiences as a citizen of the USA.<\/p>\n

However, my connections to Europe do cause me to think through a different lens about the shenanigans that happen in my home country. I lived in Italy for a year during college and I visited most Western and Eastern countries of Europe over the years. I worked on several mission assignments in war-torn or deposed-dictator countries and had the chance to talk with a lot of regular people about their lives and perspectives.<\/p>\n

Further, my twin brother lived in many European countries during his 35-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Our frequent dialogue and exchange made my perspective more broad and open. After my brother retired from U.S. Government service, he and his wife bought a villa in Italy where they have made their home. (His wife’s family are “old family” and have lived in Italy for many generations.) Currently, my brother is on assignment in another European country carrying out voluntary duties. (More information here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

What I learned from my experiences with Europe and Italy, in particular, includes:<\/p>\n