HOPE

Today was the first day that I’ve been homesick since leaving the United States. Today was also the first day that I’ve genuinely been able to utter the words, “I am proud to be an American.”

I ditched classes to spend the day at a 2008 U.S. Presidential Election party hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. I watched the election unfold live on CNN from a conference room in the Hilton Shanghai. As much as I would have liked to have been on U.S. soil watching the final results with people close to me, instead I was standing in a buffet line waiting to get a mini-cheese burger. I heard applause coming from inside of the conference room, which was the response to CNN projecting Obama as the next U.S. president. I never got the mini-cheese burger… they were all gone. What I did get was my choice for president.

I think that McCain gave a very diplomatic conceding speech. I was beyond antsy while waiting for Obama to take the stage in Illinois. Thankfully, passing the time, my historically republican Mom and Dad phone from Alabama to tell me that their votes went to Obama. I was especially pleased to hear the excitement in my Dad’s voice when he told me that we were watching history. Indeed we were.

When Obama took the stage with his family, I couldn’t help but tear up. I have never been so inspired by a politician in my life.

At the moment, I am exhausted and at a loss for words other than to say, THANK YOU! Thank you to the first time voters. Thank you to everyone who actively campaigned for his or her candidate via the Internet. Thank you for being a part of U.S. history. And most of all, thank you for making a change.

I’ll leave you with this email…

From: Barack Obama <info@barackobama.com>

To: daraodo@aol.com

Subject: How this happened

Date: Wed, 5 November 2008 8:21 pm (GMT+8)

Friend —

I’m about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don’t want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign — every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it’s time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.

We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing…

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack

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