Is anyone else experiencing severe writer’s block whenever you try to write about the election? I realize that my blogging hit a major wall last week on precisely November 5th – it felt wrong to post anything without mentioning the election, but whenever I try to write about that night, words just fail me, time and again. I wish I were a good enough writer to capture and share the energy of that night, the echoing cries of celebrating Ugandans upon the early morning announcement of Obama’s victory, the bittersweet tears upon listening to our new president’s victory speech as he acknowledged the importance of his election to those abroad, “huddled around radios,” just as we were. The world has never felt so small, so connected, so good. So maybe I don’t need to describe that night – I know I will always remember it. I can already picture telling my children about the night Barack Obama became our president, and how proud I was to be an American. And so I choose to just submit to the experience, allowing myself to enjoy these days, and appreciating the irreplaceable experience of being in Africa the day that America elected a black man as our new president.
I know this seems crazy, but ever since last Tuesday, I feel markedly safer here. This is largely ridiculous – first of all, for some still-unexplained reason, most Ugandans assume I’m Finnish (insert confused look here), or British, but rarely American. Yet I’ve noticed that many more people now ask me where I’m from, and upon hearing my response, promptly break into huge smiles, and quickly respond with one clear loving word – “Obama….” I meet eyes with people on the bus, and they smile, holding up newspapers with Obama headlines. I also have changed my own reply when asked where I’m from – long ago, I learned to answer “California”, which previously received a warmer reaction than “USA”. But now I’m eager for someone to ask me, as I respond with a proud smile, “I’m American.” Damn skippy.
I know this seems crazy, but ever since last Tuesday, I feel markedly safer here. This is largely ridiculous – first of all, for some still-unexplained reason, most Ugandans assume I’m Finnish (insert confused look here), or British, but rarely American. Yet I’ve noticed that many more people now ask me where I’m from, and upon hearing my response, promptly break into huge smiles, and quickly respond with one clear loving word – “Obama….” I meet eyes with people on the bus, and they smile, holding up newspapers with Obama headlines. I also have changed my own reply when asked where I’m from – long ago, I learned to answer “California”, which previously received a warmer reaction than “USA”. But now I’m eager for someone to ask me, as I respond with a proud smile, “I’m American.” Damn skippy.
(photo of me and Dana from post-election celebration party at local bar)
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