The US Elections From This Side of the World

By now everybody knows the outcome of the US election, so I'm not going to delve into the results. I have to say though, given this is my first time away from home during the elections, I've had just as much of an eye-opening experience simply by being an overseas observer.

Earlier this year, I remember Sharon commenting (while we were relaxing by the pool in Siem Reap) about how amazing it was that the run-ups to the primary elections were broadcasted all over the world. It didn't matter whether we were in a third world country like Cambodia, or riding thru the remote areas of Southern Thailand, the US presidential race was indeed blasted in each area and sometimes in the destination's local language.

I met a French man this weekend who told me he had been religiously following the presidential race for the past two years, and he watched every debate. In fact, he was so enthusiastic about the elections, that he invited me to a 5 am "party" to watch the results. I politely declined and admitted I was much more excited to watch the race from the comforts of my own home. But when I returned home that night, I found an email from the local Beijing Hash Harrier Group, and there it was, the official invitation to the 5 am party at the Goose and Duck bar, with promises full of beer, air hockey, basketball, and many other assorted games for relief.

According to today's China Journal, hundreds of young Chinese and Americans attended an event sponsored by the US Embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce. At the event, the organizers created mock ballots and brought in kiosks to educate the Chinese about the intracacies of America's voting system. One of the attendees at the event even commented that although he wasn't sure an American-style election could be held in China, elections do take place in his village in Hunan Province, and he hopes to become a diplomat in the future.

Finally, when I came into work today, I casually asked one of my Chinese coworkers whether he was following the election. He looked up, peered at me through his glasses and blanky asked, "What election?"

Hmm...go figure.