Since the last time I wrote anything something historic has happened to America, and of course I am referencing the election of the first African American US president, Barack Obama. Many of you know my affinity for President elect (how great is that) Obama. This is not anything new. Yet as we see pictures of the reaction to his election worldwide, I thought I would share with you my experiences in Seoul concerning this great moment in our history. Some of you McCain supporters may not care, and if so I have two things to say to you, 1) Go do something else then, and 2) I am surprised you can read in the first place (kidding, of course).
Over the past few weeks I have been walking the streets sporting an Obama button on my backpack, given to me by one of my friends. People would point at my button, smile and say in their thick accent, "Obama." I would smile and shake my head, happy to have some small connection with that waitress, apartment store clerk or whoever it might be. All of these moments were pleasant, and I was never accosted by a rabid Korean McCain supporter, as I am not even sure there were many who knew he was in the first place. There seemed to be general excitement about the potential president, just as I felt in America before I left.
As I got up early to follow the election results on my laptop, I also flipped on the TV to see what the Korean coverage was like. They had devoted time to follow the results, frequently though taking clips from CNN and translating it. There were a few channels providing this information. Once the news of his election was final, the Koreans in my building and I had a connection, as I am sure they could here me jumping up and down, clapping and screaming like a school girl. Perhaps, at that point, they disliked Obama, or at the very least this American.
Taking my Obama button off my backpack, I proudly wore it on my shirt that day when I was in my classroom. My kids had asked me before about American politics, do I like President Bush, do I like Obama, and I always attempted to temper my response so as not to sound overtly one way or the other. Yet that day I could not help it. When my students asked why I had the button on I told them proudly that he was now the President elect of the United States, and I had supported him. And to my utter surprise, most of the kids seemed either indifferent or even took a more radical approach. Some stated they didn't like President elect Obama because he was in some way anti-Korean, referencing some statement he had made in a debate about the importing of Korean cars, but not exporting American cars to Korea. Others stated that he should not have been elected because of prior drug use, saying "He smoked Marijuana" at which point I reminded them that our past two presidents had puffed the magic dragon. And the most upsetting response I received was when I ask a girl if she liked Obama, and she shook her head and matter of factely said "black." I shook my head and walked away, as this may not have been the proper scene for this argument. Though overall I was disappointed with my students' point of view, I did have one girl who wrote in one of our activities about how Obama's election would benefit the world. She, of course, got an A.
Despite my children's general lack of excitement, which I have no doubt mirrors their wealthy parents opinion of the election, I have seen things that indicate there is excitement about the President elect. The night following his election, they ran on a loop what seemed to be a history of his life, and the campaign. During a victory dinner with a friend, we saw this special on TV and many Koreans seemed genuinly interested in what it had to say. While purusing of the larger bookstores, a family approached the foreign language section (English basically) and were jabbering in Korean, with some "Obama"s interjected. They look at the table of books, seeming to be try to find a book on the President elect, and thought they found one in a book titled "Condi" with the secretary of state's photo on the front. Fearing they would buy that book and get the wrong idea I nearly slapped it out of the man's hand, yet he seemed to realize his mistake and instead directed his family's attention to the stand of Obama books over my shoulder. Thank God. I watched as they excitedly looked over the books, mainly looking at the pictures of the man. Throughout that store there are various copies of Dreams of My Father in Korean, as well as other books about Obama. The man even sells books in Korea!
I believe the aspect of Obama that is on the one hand enticing, and on the other hand creates apprenhension is his relative inexperience and youth. During my visit to China a few months ago I experienced this same feeling while talking to a low level diplomat perhaps only a few years older than me. He stated that McCain seemed the better choice because he was older, and that Obama was too new and young, and therefore not ready to lead. This point of view, most likely shared by some, if not many Koreans, seems to be consistent with the Asian mindset that the oldest is the wisest. Though I interjected my point of view, that age is secondary to leadership and past decision making, it seems that there was no getting through to my asian peer.
The world has changed since election day. Even though watching the celebration of the election of President elect Obama brought a strong desire to be in America celebrating with you guys, I took some solace in the fact that I am in a unique situation. I can gauge this historic moment's reponse in another country. To see how this profound moment, that has impacted me, impacts people on the other side of the world. Throughout my visit so far I have been both cursed and honored to be the representative of America to various people I meet during my day. I am the American down the street to my grocery store owner, the American who frequently stops in at the GS mart to get an ice cream bar, and to whomever I may pass on the street. This is a great responsibility, to be in some small way the representation of a whole nation to a person, how they may generalize all of us by my actions. Yet now perhaps they will not see a war hungry, brash American, and instead see the uniting, welcoming American. When they see my Obama button, they will cheer. One can only hope.
Random observations/ideas/sports thoughts/political diatribes:
- Congrats to the Phillies, and their fans for an unlikely World Series Championship. I have seen many of your hats worn around Seoul since your victory, but they are not the only ones. Here are some more to add to the list: Rays, White Sox, Mets, Royals, Twins, and Orioles.
- I eat a ton of candy and ice cream. If I didn't walk everywhere I would be fat, like American fat.
- Anyone feeling the financial collapse of the free world, or has their house foreclosed on can crash at my place.
- Korean fruit better than American fruit, Korean dessert not nearly as good as American dessert.
Please post any comments, they are always appreciated. I hope to post something again sometime soon with pictures. Later alligator.
