Anyway You Cut It You Are Boarding a Plane to Some Simulated America

Standing in line waiting to board the plane I overhear a young Iceland air worker extolling his bountiful knowledge of Iceland on passengers boarding the plane “it’s expensive.” The rather large man in front starts asking questions. “Have you been to Iceland?” The worker answers: “No, but I know it’s expensive.”

Man: “I heard about this place called the American Café, it’s supposed to have really good hamburgers.”

Worker: “It’s expensive too.”

Me under my breath: “And ridiculous.”

Why do people go to other counties to look for an authentic version of their own? And, of course, are invariably either disappointed or amused by the fact that the foreign versions of America just don’t get it quite right.