I know nothing about Pelton but the introduction that he wrote, and it was full of tired lines like “To be blunt, we don't like foreign stuff”. Hmm, aren't we a nation of immigrants? Didn't we elect the son of a Kenyan? Doesn't he live in San Diego, a border town that is practically bilingual?

And “We don't like danger here”. Well, who does like danger where they live? Oh, I know, those crazy exotic foreigners – the love danger! That's why there are no Serbians in the U.S. – Serbia is way cooler!

And “Oh, and did I mention that we don't like to read? We think bookstores are places to buy coffee and pick up smart chicks.” Um, yeah, well, then, I guess I'm not a real American because I do like to read, I think that bookstores are places to buy books, I don't drink coffee, and I'm not interested in picking up chicks. Gosh.

And, hey, that's just the first paragraph!

I have no doubt that Pelton's experience overseas exceeds my own. But I'm not really sure he understands America as well as he likes to think – or else, he just likes to cop that tired “my country is sooooo lame, let me tell you about these Swedish girls I met in Indonesia” pose. It annoyed me.

And – yes, I mispelled Khao San Road, and I am so terribly sorry for that error, and I guess that my husband lied to me when he told me that he got high with some Canadians at hostel there. But that would have happened 20 years ago, before it was popular. Isn't that the line?

What other facts did I miss?

And, ultimately, my point stands: Pelton's rant to the readers put me off. Mueller, on the other hand, was respectful of both his subjects and his readers.

I know nothing about Pelton but the introduction that he wrote, and it was full of tired lines like “To be blunt, we don't like foreign stuff”. Hmm, aren't we a nation of immigrants? Didn't we elect the son of a Kenyan? Doesn't he live in San Diego, a border town that is practically bilingual?

And “We don't like danger here”. Well, who does like danger where they live? Oh, I know, those crazy exotic foreigners – the love danger! That's why there are no Serbians in the U.S. – Serbia is way cooler!

And “Oh, and did I mention that we don't like to read? We think bookstores are places to buy coffee and pick up smart chicks.” Um, yeah, well, then, I guess I'm not a real American because I do like to read, I think that bookstores are places to buy books, I don't drink coffee, and I'm not interested in picking up chicks. Gosh.

And, hey, that's just the first paragraph!

I have no doubt that Pelton's experience overseas exceeds my own. But I'm not really sure he understands America as well as he likes to think – or else, he just likes to cop that tired “my country is sooooo lame, let me tell you about these Swedish girls I met in Indonesia” pose. It annoyed me.

And – yes, I mispelled Khao San Road, and I am so terribly sorry for that error, and I guess that my husband lied to me when he told me that he got high with some Canadians at hostel there. But that would have happened 20 years ago, before it was popular. Isn't that the line?

What other facts did I miss?

And, ultimately, my point stands: Pelton's rant to the readers put me off. Mueller, on the other hand, was respectful of both his subjects and his readers.

I know nothing about Pelton but the introduction that he wrote, and it was full of tired lines like “To be blunt, we don't like foreign stuff”. Hmm, aren't we a nation of immigrants? Didn't we elect the son of a Kenyan? Doesn't he live in San Diego, a border town that is practically bilingual?

And “We don't like danger here”. Well, who does like danger where they live? Oh, I know, those crazy exotic foreigners – the love danger! That's why there are no Serbians in the U.S. – Serbia is way cooler!

And “Oh, and did I mention that we don't like to read? We think bookstores are places to buy coffee and pick up smart chicks.” Um, yeah, well, then, I guess I'm not a real American because I do like to read, I think that bookstores are places to buy books, I don't drink coffee, and I'm not interested in picking up chicks. Gosh.

And, hey, that's just the first paragraph!

I have no doubt that Pelton's experience overseas exceeds my own. But I'm not really sure he understands America as well as he likes to think – or else, he just likes to cop that tired “my country is sooooo lame, let me tell you about these Swedish girls I met in Indonesia” pose. It annoyed me.

And – yes, I mispelled Khao San Road, and I am so terribly sorry for that error, and I guess that my husband lied to me when he told me that he got high with some Canadians at hostel there. But that would have happened 20 years ago, before it was popular. Isn't that the line?

What other facts did I miss?