The One With The Election Results (11/7/2012)

I am not typically the most politically aware person but being in Tanzania during the US presidential election has been really interesting.  About two weeks ago the school had a solar panel installed (it had been donated by a British NGO) which meant that we could hook up the school TV in the staff room and watch the election news today.  The news station that we watched went back and forth to all of their international representatives giving the reactions of countries around the world to the Obama victory.  The news reported stressed the importance of the event by saying that, “when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold.”  Most of the Asian and European representatives said that their respective countries were glad that Obama would be back in office because with Obama they know that to expect.  There are challenging times and the known is better than the unknown.  But the reports on the reactions in Africa were what I found most interesting.  Reporters said that the general public in most of Africa was excited to have an African American in the office but that governments across the continent turned inward today.  They explained that most people here have little hope of an economic upturn in America under Obama so they are not counting on American financial support.  They are looking instead to within their own countries as well as to other African nations.  I think it would be really great to see Africans supporting each other and not looking to America for handouts but it is a little discouraging at the lack of faith they have in our president.

On another note, Dahlia and I were realizing how influenced we have become by the culture here when both of us had the same reaction of horror when we saw Obama’s daughters walk out on stage in skirts that showed their knees.  It will definitely be interesting to get back to America in the middle of bikini season.