This primary season I have been out of the country at least three weeks a month. I can tell you from direct experience that the world is watching the election very closely. I fully expect there to be references to the candidates and their positions a couple of times a week in whatever newspaper they hang on my door. That is how it was during the primary. Here are a few short bits about things heard and seen out here in the wide world.
In March I found myself in Belgium. When we go to the sites, we work with the teams all day every day for weeks getting them up to speed. This means that we eat lunch - and sometimes go out for dinner and/or drinks. At my first lunch with the Belgium team, talk turned - tentatively - to the election. The rules for discussing politics vary from place to place. I have been to sites in Puerto Rico where it is absolutely forbidden. Other places discuss them freely. So the Belgians were a little tentative about venturing into those waters.
They asked me how long I thought the primary would go. I told them I didn't know and asked them if they had been following it. "Oh, yes, we can't help it. It is on the news all the time." When I got back to my hotel room, I ventured beyond BBC - my staple because it is in English - to some of the local channels. Sure enough. There were head shots of Clinton and Obama as the commentator droned on in Flemish.
Anyway, back at the lunch table I asked the group who they liked. Everyone looked down, unsure of what to say to someone sent by Corporate. Finally, one young woman looked at me and said "Obama". I grinned. "Me too".
We also talked a lot about health care, pensions and the safety net in general. I get the impression that they consider our current system - um - barbaric.
Another instance was a trip to China. Again, we were having a group meal and the subject of politics came up. This is the first time I have worked with sites in China so I was unsure how to proceed. I went with avoiding all mention of Chinese politics - beyond procedural questions - and tried to answer their questions as best I could. You know, if you want to really put this whole primary in perspectice, trying to explain it to a table full of Chinese scientists is not a bad idea.
What they really struggled with as the idea of the Superdelegates overturning the results of the election. This is counter to what they understand of US style Democracy and trying to explain it all with very few linguistic tools (there is about 35% English comprehension at the site) was even more difficult. I don't think they ever really got it. And I think their views on our Democracy have changed.
In Japan, things take on that goofy Japanese air. There are, of course, the news stories about the people in Obama, Japan. After the election, Obama should really pay them a visit. I am sure that he and Michelle and the girls would be laughing about the experience until they were old and grey. No one does goofy fun like the Japanese. Seriously.
I usually wear a cap from the Festival International de Louisiane on the weekends. A while back I put a little Obama button on it. Today I was walking around near Osu Kannon Temple waiting for the check in time at the hotel. I noticed several people noticing my button and smiling broadly. The guys at the plant are split. They think McCain will be better for industry. I always tell them that economic reforms are coming no matter who is elected because the American people have had enough. The guys just say "I see".
The Italians commiserate. They can fully understand what it means to be on the verge of economic collapse. They lean towards the Democrats because they are, quite frankly, tired of all this shit.
I have to say that I have enjoyed watching this primary from a distance. I had a hard time getting excited about the candidates - HoHo remains my gold standard - but I think we did okay, Democrats. Something is happening. I can feel it way over here. The whole world is weary with us, watching us very closely and hoping for change.