Election day

Today is a big day in America - so big that even Peruvians know about it. Aside from the center-stage Obama-Romney contest, there are some exciting things on the ballot in Washington, so on both counts I'll be spending this evening continually re-refreshing my internet browser as I await the results. As politics is not the topic of this blog, I'm not going to talk about my preferred presidential candidate. But, I'll give you a hint - I agree with Peru (and the rest of the world). 

Being abroad during an election has made me realize the true extent of our influence on the rest of the world. Rural Peruvians know that today is U.S. election day - can any of you college-educated folks name the date of Peru's next election? I'm guessing not. As a top dog in the international power arena, our internal democratic choices affect not only our country, but our relationship with every other nation, and they know it. So they pay attention, and "we the people" are judged by our choice of leadership - all the more reason to choose wisely.

Aside from making us think about decisions regarding our country's future, this election day made me look back and remember this time four years ago. On that crisp November morning, roommate Sarah and I got up at the crack of dawn to go stand on a street corner in Virginia, wave some Obama signs, and remind people to get out and vote. Late that night, when the polls had closed, we watched Obama's Chicago victory speech and then ran (literally) down to the White House to partake in the city's general revelry. The "GObama" spirit and the hope for change made DC an exciting place to be that winter, from election day to the inauguration, and I feel lucky to have experienced it. But it's crazy that four years have already passed, and to compare where I am now to where I was then.