Election Memories: Yes, we can!

(From Lila)

I’m writing this from the Shanghai airport, on the way to Dubai. The US election results were announced earlier today, and I’m inspired to capture the history being made.
While we were growing up, politics replaced religion. International politics were discussed every day in the family, to the point in which we would intentionally pick disagreements with narrow minded history/political science teachers & profs. My junior high yearbook even says something about me being most likely to be in political office. Somewhere in my 20s, I became disenchanted and shut off political discussions. For some reason, this election appealed to that old side & lit a fire in me.
This morning I awoke to reports from the family. My sister, a gov’t employee in DC, said lines are out the door and that transition teams are poised to come into the office tomorrow. My brother, in California, remarked that ~2/3 of the county are permanent absentee voters but that people were still waiting when polls opened at 7am. Mom & Dad, in the battleground state of Indiana, commented on all the right wing conservative commentary heard around town and TV. After voting, mom helped with the Obama campaign. Go Mom!
I arrived at the office today just as the first American polls closed. There were 4 other Americans – all of us keeping each other posted on what was happening. I explained electoral votes to Sheila, my admin. Everytime I’d scream, she’d come in and ask the latest count. Then it happened. The state reports coming in. We stood on our chairs and screamed updates over the cube walls. We high fived and did little dances. Most of the Chinese co-workers laughed and thought we were amusing. Sheila, with great pride, told a few folks how she helped me mail in my absentee ballot. As she said, "In China, we don’t vote, so I want to make sure I do this right." Bless her for the enthusiastic extra care she took – it made me appreciate democracy so much more. On the drive home, I kept talking to myself as I read the news on my blackberry. "Unbelievable." Mr. Shen, the driver, clearly found me amusing and in limited English managed to comprehend my excitement was about our new President.
I got home early due to tonight’s travel. Karl and I watched Obama’s speech. It felt so unreal to be in Shanghai, watching US history being made from afar. As I read through status updates on Facebook, the sentiment of hope from friends around the world is incredibly inspiring. During my travels I’ve been asking people their thoughts on the US elections. Of course, they all think they should have a vote as the US President sets the tone for global environment. With the exception of the northern cone of Latin America (where they like free trade plans of Bush), there has been overwhelming support for Obama – a new face for world leadership.
As I sit around the Shanghai airport, I am listening in on people’s conversations about Obama. It’s everywhere – positive comments about the American people’s decision, the process, and America – the land of opportunity. Today I feel proud to walk through the airport with my American passport. It’s disappointing I do not always feel that way, but today is really special. The reality is things won’t be perfect. But, for at least a few moments, the world celebrates the American process, American people, and our new President elect.