I was shopping for cheap airfares to Chicago when my wife piped up, “We should make it a road trip.” “I’ll drive,” she added, preempting any objections that I might have. My wife’s a good driver, albeit a tad lead-footed. She knows I do not enjoy driving. To me, it’s just a means to an end—to get somewhere. Though, I must admit, my Tesla Model 3 drives well. 

A quick check on Google Maps showed that the 810 KM drive would take me around eight hours to cover. Factoring in a few stops for charging and refreshments, I figured I could comfortably get to my cousin’s place in about ten hours. Not too bad, considering it would take us over five hours door-to-door (Uber, check-in, customs, baggage, etc.) if we caught a flight. The idea of a Tesla road trip to the US offered flexibility and the potential to save some money. 

The plan was looking good. Until it wasn’t.

It is hard to pinpoint a single event or cause for my concerns. As paranoid as it may sound, major headlines coming out of the US and Canada seem to directly or indirectly target me. A mental SWOT analysis of my predicament left me with more threats and weaknesses than strengths and opportunities. My apprehensions ranged from personal anxieties to perceived risks. I felt like I was planning a secret foray into hostile territory. Except, I would have to figure out a way to hide in plain sight.

The odds looked stacked against me.  

I am Canadian 

The current political climate has added a layer of complexity to driving while Canadian in the US. Being Canadian may not hold the same sway that it did before the Trump administration assumed office in the US. Mounting accusations of porous borders, lax immigration, and illegal drugs (fentanyl) have been leveled against Canada. The newly issued “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” Executive Order is meant to deter illegal immigration. But it has impacted, at least psychologically, run-of-the-mill travelers from Canada too, like me. 

As I parse the order, I wonder if I am technically an “alien?” Like E.T. There is a sense of perpetual foreignness to that term, alien. On the one hand, I feel I am overreacting, on the other, I feel uneasy reading headlines of Canadian “snowbirds” being taunted with chants of “Go Home, Canadian.” 

Tariff Troubles and Tribulations

The tariff brinkmanship hasn’t helped. The on-again off-again tariffs, counter-tariffs, rhetoric, and posturing, have created a sense of “us vs. them” between the previously friendly nations. While financial experts overwhelmingly denounce the American tariffs as ineffective and damaging to the economy, I wonder if I should downplay my citizenship and remove my maple leaf baggage tag from my backpack. Don’t need the attention. Though, that doesn’t feel right.

I am of Indian Origin (read, brown)

Except for the odd times I have been pulled aside for seemingly “random” screenings at airports, the colour of my skin has never given me cause for concern. Now it does.

My angst is compounded by America’s 35-year-old H-1B visa program. Though industry leaders and entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk, champion this program, skeptics contend that foreign workers displace and undercut talented Americans. The rhetoric around H-1B visas pits those who view them as vital for innovation and economic growth against others who raise concerns about the visa’s impact on American workers.

Indians form the largest chunk of foreign workers under H-1B – this has given rise to anti-Indian sentiment. Negative stereotypes, prejudiced comments, and discriminatory language are being “normalized” in no-holds-barred social media trolling. The fact that I am not that smart, nor looking for an American job seems less relevant when I am clubbed into one of the most financially successful ethnic groups in America.  

I Drive a Tesla

Thanks to Elon Musk’s detractors, I have more than range anxiety to worry about when planning my Tesla road trip to the US. In an already divided country, the large-scale cuts to government jobs and political polarization have drawn the ire of disaffected groups. Sporadic news of Tesla cars and showrooms, and charging stations being vandalized makes me rethink road trips in the US. I don’t need the added aggravation of someone using my car as a canvas for street art. Stickers such as “I bought this car before Elon went crazy” may do me more harm than good.

The availability of superchargers is a crucial component of road trips in a Tesla. If a supercharger becomes unavailable on my planned route, it can disrupt my road trip. While Elon Musk’s actions have alienated many, Tesla owners come from diverse backgrounds and political affiliations. Vandalizing superchargers only hurts other Tesla owners and will likely do little to influence Mr. Musk himself. 

My Tesla has Ontario Plates

The green letters on my Tesla license plate prominently display the words “ONTARIO” and “GREEN VEHICLE,” dead giveaways to my residency. While friendly cross-border sports rivalries have been the norm, the threat of drastic counter-tariffs from the Premier of Ontario has put a spotlight on the province. Ontario’s threats to cut off power to three American states and pull American booze from retail shelves may be good negotiation tactics. But I’m concerned Michigan residents may be feeling less friendly towards an Ontario driver. 

As you can tell from this post, I’m grappling with a new feeling. Perhaps marginalization is too strong a word to use, but I now have a small taste of what many others go through regularly.

The last few lines of Pink Floyd’s “Two Suns in the Sunset” sums it up:

Finally, I understand the feelings of the few.

Ashes and diamonds

Foe and friend

We were all equal in the end.

As for my road trip, I have to decide soon. 

So, what would you do if you were in my shoes, drive with all the uncertainties, or fly? Let me know in the comments below.