Leslie Clark (senior-architecture) remembers the exact moment she was embarrassed to be an American.

She was vacationing in London with some friends at a time when tension surrounding the war in Iraq was high.

A stranger approached them and started a conversation, eventually asking where they were from.

Nervous about the "shady" man, Clark wanted to tell him she was from Canada.

Eventually, they admitted to being American.

Their fears came from past experiences they had, due to the war, while studying in Italy and traveling in Europe throughout the spring semester.

"I was ashamed at that exact moment of the freedom and life I was fortunate enough to claim as my own. It was a terrible thing," Clark said in an e-mail.

Some of Clark's experiences included being refused service at coffee bars in Italy.

"We are politely ignored until the demanding American in us gets mad and eventually leaves," Clark said.

Clark wasn't the only student studying abroad with a different perspective about the war. Bryn Jackson (junior-anthropology) is currently studying in South Africa.

Jackson said people there are generally anti-war. Even former South African President Nelson Mandela has publicly bashed President Bush and the U.S. government.

"It just so happens that the first day of bombing coincided with Human Rights Day here. Many South Africans don't realize that we don't celebrate this holiday and mistook it as a sick joke," Jackson said.

But not all students abroad have seen this kind of opposition.

Thomas Bowler (junior-English and statistics) is studying in New Zealand and hasn't had any negative experiences due to the war.

He said overall, people are against the war but the government there still does not oppose Bush.

Bowler also said everyone he has met is friendly and open.

"Refugees from the Middle East, including Iraq, comprise a sizeable part of the population, so there is a great tolerance for nationality," Bowler said.

"Additionally, outside of the opinion pages, debate about the war seems to be friendly and non-confrontational."

He did say some New Zealanders have a jaded view of the Unites States.

"They think that [the United States'] power in the global community has gone to the [Bush] administration's head. Small nations put great faith in the United Nations because only in a global forum like that can small nations -- who can't use economic or military might to force their demand -- can have their voices heard," Bowler said.

Overall, all three students said the majority of people they met are curious about the American way of life.

Jackson said South Africans often approach her because they want to ask her questions.

"The conversation usually starts with, 'So how do you feel about George Bush?' " she said.

"The only real way to dispel the stereotypes they have of us is to sit down and talk about it. Once you do that, they realize even though we are American, we have the same concerns as every other human does."

Clark holds the same impression.

"I feel that most Europeans are intrigued by Americans. They ask you where you are from ... and why are you here and make small talk," Clark said of those she met.