Hope!

This is the calendar I have in my hut, and that is a close-up of the Obama button that my mom sent my awhile back. I was so relieved when I heard that Obama won. So relieved. 

I was relieved, because, for a whole smorgasbord of reasons, I really, truly believe that Obama was the better person for the job. 

Also, because I really didn't want to have to have a lot of conversations in which I tried to explain why America had voted for the other guy (as he's usually referred to here) instead of Obama. (It would have been studying abroad during the Bush Administration all over again.)

Instead I got to spend the day after the election getting congratulated like I'd personally cast the deciding vote or something. Sometimes people would tentatively ask if I was happy about the election, sussing out my political orientation before saying anything potentially inflammatory, which I think was really nice of them. Once I'd identified myself as an Obama supporter they'd shake my hand and grin and talk about how nice it was that he'd won and I'd agree. 

Finally, someday, after I get back to America, Peace Corps will send me a certificate of appreciation bearing the President's signature and (whether or not it's actually hand-signed) I'm glad that that signature is going to be Obama's.