'I can understand why she'd want to be with Americans'

Chelsea's fears » A student from Washington DC explains why US youngsters in Britain feel 'a little sensitive' these days

As an American studying abroad in London for a term I have a confession to make: Chelsea, I feel your pain.

The media-shy 21-year-old daughter of former president Bill Clinton has finally broken her silence in the December issue of Talk magazine. In a personal account of her response to the 11 September terror attacks, she reveals lingering feelings of fear and isolation showing that, no matter what her political pedigree, Chelsea's just an American at heart: proud of her country and deeply homesick while studying at Oxford.

"It's hard to be abroad right now," she writes. "Every day I encounter some sort of anti-American feeling. Sometimes it's from other students, sometimes it's from a columnist, sometimes it's from 'peace' demonstrators. Maybe it's silly, but I think all of us Americans are a little sensitive right now. Everyone seems to have a relative or a friend of a friend who was lost that day."

Chelsea has sought out American friendships, finding comfort in people who understand what she's going through. Other American students at Oxford were feeling the same way on Friday night. Cate Whetzel, 21, and Kara Wolff, 20, have been surprised by the criticism they've heard directed at the US from our greatest ally. Where is the solidarity, wondered Whetzel, from Kentucky. And said Wolff, from Chicago: "The idea America doesn't care about the Afghan people is ludicrous. Humanity comes before war."

They both say it's been difficult to make friendships with British students and they sympathise with Chelsea. "I can understand why she'd want to be with Americans because it provides support," said Wolff. "I was surprised by the number of British students who inferred that US foreign policy caused what happened."

But there was some encouragement from students relaxing at the King's Arms. They seemed surprised by her comments. "I don't think protesters are anti-American. They're anti-war, and there's a difference," said 20-year-old Ellie Douglas.

Third-year student Tom Taylor, 20, said he didn't imagine the sentiment was aimed directly at the young Clinton: "She must be thinking that people are going to be anti-war and therefore anti-American and therefore anti-Chelsea."

Last year 870 Americans studied at Oxford, and while the US community has always been tight, Julia Buckley, editor of the Oxford Student, said it has grown even closer. "Like all students, if something like that happens and they're away from home they're going to be very upset. No matter how against the war people are I think they understand how scared Americans might be in a strange environment."

Rachel Barth is a journalism graduate on attachment to the 'IoS'