

IME the best way to avoid this experience is to just soften your language slightly and be willing to take the extra ten minutes to provide resources to people. “Switch to Linux” is a command, and people generally don’t like being told what to do. “Have you considered switching to Linux? It doesn’t have as many problems with [whatever] as Windows” with a link to a “Linux for noobs” type guide doesn’t get the same response. And be willing to take “no” for an answer!
A lot of people have given good advice here, so I’ll just add that if you want to leave the country, even just for a bit to throw off the trail, you might have more options than you think. You’re under 25 and there’s a decent number of programs out there that will give young people a chance to “see the world” in exchange for cheap labor. The JET program, the Peace Corps, or even the French Foreign Legion if you’re OK with military service. Something to look into, possibly?