Thanks for this timely post! My mother is going to Paris next week and asked me the very same question.
I concur with Rick. In my experience travelling and living in Europe, Americans are well liked despite whatever politics the country as a whole may take on. As he says, it's extremely important for us to be good ambassadors -- deferential, open, and keeping it light.
I think most of Europe understands that half of you did not vote for the orange man.
And in particular if you are well educated or work at a university looking for new opportunities you will be more than welcome.
If you misbehave though you will probably be frowned upon as a MAGA. But not much more than a frown. No reason to invent any risk, most of Europe is still an open society and have not changed.
If you plan to go to Hungary or places like Serbia, I am guessing that you will more greeted.
And soon enough I guess you will be able to travel to Russia and Belarus (also Europe), but I would not recommend it.
The important thing for her will be the weather. This week was great, next week may be less great.
Another imprint thing is that this is vacation time for children in the Paris area. This is rather a good thing.
Besides that they're is nothing to worry about. Seriously. We discuss like crazy what is happening in the US but this is like a tv series. When we meet real Americans we don't care (well, someone may tease her a bit :))
Tell her to be polite, learn the most basic French sentences and say bonjour/bonsoir to bus drivers, shopkeepers and hotel staff, and she'll be more than fine.
I told Mom that, too. By putting yourself on a plane and spending money there, you are sending the message that you like France and that's the message they receive. They know that makes you different from Americans who don't come.
Honestly, I don't think most french she will talk to will care who your mother voted for.
She will probably find us 'rude', but we really aren't, we have different social software than people from the US, and some of us will probably find your mom 'too nice'. I hope she enjoys her trip here anyway.
I'm much more interested in someone who says they voted for Trump. What makes em tick?
Then again, I find people with mental health issues interesting - some of my good friends are literally crazy.
There are Trump supporters that are New Zealanders too - although they are often quiet about it (due to pushback from more socialist types).
The memetic infection of American partisanship and bullshit is strong here. Talk with people and hear clichéd US words and statements (left & right) regurgitated.
If this is her first time in France, please tell her that the remove indifference she will be faced with has nothing to do with her being American.
We are much less "surface friendly" then in the US - this is particularly visible in shops and restaurants. Nobody will greet her as if she was a long time friend.
I would say this is probably the only thing that she will notice.
Ah yes, and kilograms, meters and celsius. And people crossing the street on red light. And people saying fuck rather than f**k.
I concur with Rick. In my experience travelling and living in Europe, Americans are well liked despite whatever politics the country as a whole may take on. As he says, it's extremely important for us to be good ambassadors -- deferential, open, and keeping it light.