Misanthropic Expat Syndrome
"Americans should never come to Europe,' she said, and tried to laugh and began to cry, 'it means they never can be happy again. What's the good of an American who isn't happy?" — James Baldwin, Giovanni's Room * "I think that something's happened to me," I said. Olivier looked over at me & creased his eyebrows. "Like what? Are you sick? Did you eat too much fiber again?" "No... I'm not feeling shitsy. It's more permanent than that, I think... & it seems to be getting worse. I think I must be developing some sort of misanthropic expat syndrome." "I think you've had that for a while." "It's getting worse," I said. "Yeah. I've noticed. It's probably not so bad," he said. "Eating too much fiber feels worse, I bet." He's right. That does feel pretty bad. Unfortunately, my misanthropic expat syndrome seems to be permanent & intensifying. Something happens after a few years of living outside...
