The day after: verkiezingen in de VS (election in the US)

I haven't been able to write for awhile, due to an exhaustive schedule. Many things have happened in the last month. But the most important news in years and years, the presidential election, I cannot pass this historic day by without writing something!

In the last few weeks, I have gotten asked several times by people if I can vote. And I replied, yes of course! i already did! I sent my absentee ballot in about 3 weeks ago. I have to explain how that works of course. My only trouble with that was the fact that I needed an American citizen to sign the ballot as a witness. WI is the only state that requires a US citizen as a witness. Now, when you live in a foreign country, as is part of the point of an absentee ballot---where do you think I will come across an American? I was really worried I wouldn't get my vote in on time due to this little problem. But I asked the HR dept at my work if there were any other americans here. Luckily for me there was ONE other american, and I got her to sign it for me! problem solved.

I sent in my vote for Mr Obama with two stamps, just to make sure it got back to WI on time.

The coverage in the US is unrelenting, I'm sure. I know how it works there. The ads on tv, the phone calls, the flyers in your mailbox, the non-stop 24 hour coverage on cable news channels. But here, that kind of campagning and news coverage is unheard of. That is purely thought as of "american sensationalism". And its true, it is a bit over the top, but that's how it works in the US. But in the last few months, the news coverage here has also stepped up. Every news report in the evening had a piece over what was going on with McCain and Obama. And last night, there were several watch-parties around the country, specifically the bigger cities: Amsterdam, den Haag, Rotterdam, Leiden, and Utrecht, with programs and speakers, and in one case "an american breakfast" (they think here that's donuts and coffee). Several Dutch channels (there's only 3 main public ones!) had coverage from NY and DC. The Germans were there too, and of course in Miami, FL (if you know Germans, they love Florida). The free daily newspapers in the train- all have "full" coverage (that means more than one page) of what is going on in the election. There is even a special edition newspaper this afternoon over the election that will be distributed nation-wide. It is very interesting for me to see their coverage on an election that they cannot vote in, yet directly impacts them. There is always a feeling of hope here, that America will pull through and vote for the man that will bring a better future to the US and to the world. And, of course, I want to keep up with everything going on in my own country.

So, it was an unprecidented election- two candidates that would both have made history (first black president or the oldest man to take office), highest voter turnout in generations, and the most expensive campagnes ever. But it was also unprecidented coverage here in Holland as well. Over 80% of the Netherlands would have voted for Obama if they could have voted. Everyone wanted him to win. It was a no-brainer. But I think they were still hesitant here on how America would really vote- could they get past his "liberal" ways or the color of his skin? But even here in the NL, I've heard from many people, that they do not believe Holland would be ready for a black prime minister. Just in the past month, a Morrocan born Dutch citizen was voted as mayor of Rotterdam. Many many people still have a problem with this. But, if he can lead and govern properly and enough people have faith in him to do his job right, then where is the problem? Its letting go of their "dutchness" and of what has always been.

We all know we are at a critical turning point: in international relations, with the environment, and the future of this planet. So, will America continue the same path as always, or vote for change, was the big question.

When I woke up this morning at 630am to check the news, I see that finally my fellow Americans came through, and voted for change! I'm SOO happy and excited and proud that Obama won and will lead our country in a new direction. Now I do not have to be ashamed any more to say I'm an American...Bush will no longer be the image synonymous with the US to others around the world. It will be an inspirational, intelligent, honest, young, black man. The image that everything and anything is still possible in the United States.