Being far away from the political flames in the American kitchen has be a gift and negative experience. I wouldn't say that I am someone who is obsessed with staying current and up to date with everything that goes on in Washington DC, nonetheless I would say that it behooves you as an American living abroad (or anyone who likes to call him or herself a "global citizen") to stay current with what is going on in the news and know how to throw out a few opinion on say international diplomacy, the current state of the global economy, history, and of course have a firm understanding of who you are and where you fit into the world.
Yeah, I have high expectation, I know. But it could be said that I come from an elite group who prides themselves on their knowledge of the world and being able to Oooh and Aaah each other on what they can bring to the conversation in (I'd say a noncompetitive way). We like to educate each other about the world and how to think. I really do love my friends who educate me on about life and the world at large.
But either way, I'm just bantering away now, I wanted to just say that being abroad is really no excuse for not knowing what's going on at home back in the 'ol country of Uncle Sam.
I like to scan the New York Times for things like this:
...which made me laugh (sooo hard my morning coffee which was in my mouth got spattered across my computer screen). Or article of Nicholas Kristof which make me think and smile, he is seriously the best. You hear and see key words like:
"Legitimized rape"
"Obamacare"
"Voter identification"
"Romney/Ryan"
"The Black vote"
"The single women vote"
"The Latino vote"
The list can go on and it can get a lot more verbose than I can type. It's just nice to think that I'm not all day around a bunch of American who are talking about the upcoming election or sitting on my old couch in NYC watching the election buildup unravel on PBS. It just all makes me anxious. This will be the second time I will be abroad during a presidential election. I'll be curious to see if my absentee voter card even arrive in my little postal box in the Northern Cape out here in South Africa. I'll be impressed if I get it and then the vote is even counted.
I think of the few times I've been to DC and listened to everyone go on and on about which think tank they work for and what they do "up on The Hill." I like politics but only up to a certain amount. I felt slightly overwhelmed in that environment, it's like give me a break! I can't breath with all these politicos jabbering on around me and polluting my air...Hahaha. Either way hope you all are not getting worn down by all the political conversation. And to who ever is in charge of sending me back my absentee ballot, please do! Since I want Obama to win, or else I might need to stay here.
Oooh here's the White House beer recipe: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/09/01/ale-chief-white-house-beer-recipe
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