Obama, finally.

Above: Obama, minutes after winning the South Carolina primary.

I took this picture almost exactly a year ago at the primary in South Carolina, when nobody even knew if Obama would be the Democratic candidate. And now . . . look how much our world has changed. I still can't believe we're in the final hours of the Bush presidency and that by the time I get home from work today, we will have a new president. Wow.

And ps. check out washingtonpost.com today and look for photos taken by my friend Abby Metty. She´s working down there today and her photos are on the front of the site. Go Abby!

Back page news

My fascination with the local reaction to Obama's win continues. While our president-elect has (finally) made it off the front pages of the biggest newspapers here, he continues to be big news on the back pages of the local diarios. 

Meaning -- The back page of Clarin, traditionally reserved for political cartoons, has featured at least one Obama cartoon every day since the election.

My personal favorite is "La Nelly," a regular cartoon which features Nelly,  an old lady who has been camped out on the border of the U.S. and Mexico for some time now, accepting various visitors and making political commentary, most of which I do not understand. I think the idea is that she is tripping on drugs and creating elaborate visits in her mind. Nelly is rarely politically correct but always lively (therefore I am not posting full translations on this blog).

Nelly, Obama and Jack Daniels on the U.S.-Mexican border.

After the election, Nelly was blessed with a visit from none other Barack himself. He arrived from behind a cactus, swinging a bottle of Jack Daniels, singing "We are the champions," speaking in broken Spanish and making intelligent statements like this:

"Yes, I am the esperanza black, new presidente of United States. Mi terminar con crisis financiera, recesion y guerras in the world!"

Since then, Obama continues to lounge on the border with Nelly (I guess he doesn't have anything better to do?), taking generous swigs of his Jack Daniels and discussing important world issues.

And this question, from Nelly, after Obama empties a bottle: "Se habra empedado para festejar o para tomar coraje?" 

"Are you getting drunk to celebrate, or to find some courage?"

Obama and Nelly discuss his position as the "New JFK."

Obama = Buena Onda

In Buenos Aires, saying an individual is "buena onda" is perhaps one of the highest compliments you can give.  Literally, it means "good wave," but it's kind of like saying you get good vibes from someone (or something or someplace).  

Basically, you don't want to be friends with anyone unless they are muy buena onda, you don't want to hire anyone unless they are muy buena onda, and you don't want to date anyone unless they are muy buena onda. And clearly, you don't want to elect a president unless he's muy buena onda!

The above means:

Good day 

Buenos Aires

Vote Obama

BUENA ONDA!

Note: I asked this lady before taking a picture of her chest. She did not mind.

The night before el dia gigante

It's the day before the big day here in Argentina, and we expats aren't the only ones awaiting tomorrow's big election news.

Argentines seem to be just as fascinated by this election as we are, and my boss recently made me show him my absentee ballot just so he could see "the real thing."

Clarin, one of the largest national newspapers, covers the election daily, providing us with updates on Joe the Plumber (actually, here he is "Jose el Plomero") and useful electoral maps that include the voting preferences of states such as N. Delaware (now is that New Delaware or North Delaware? And is this a red state or a blue state?). 

For real though, John McCain should feel lucky that Argentines aren't in charge of choosing the next president of the USA.  According to Clarin, 60 percent of Argentines are in favor of Obama, while a whopping 10 percent would vote for McCain. 

We shall see . . . 

Oh how global we are

Sidewalk art outside a subte entrance.

The financial crisis has sent Argentina into quite a tizzy as well, the only difference being that Argentines are decidedly more adjusted to being in a tizzy about the state of their economy, while we Americans are still new to this. Argentina's economy hit a low in 2001, the peso fell to the floor and an enormous number of people lost of their jobs, so, as the economy goes south around the world, a lot of people in BA are experiencing a bit of dejavu.

Most of the papers here cover the elections closely, and my English students are superinterested in what I think of American politics.  They are fascinated by Obama, and they like to ask me point blank which candidates I'm "for," as if the election is a futbol game with diehard fans and a longstanding rivalry. 

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of expounding on my political beliefs at a recent dinner with a family from the local Chabad. (They asked! I swear I would never bring up politics at a shabbat dinner. Talking about it was certainly against my better judgment). I was rewarded with a lengthy and questionably sourced lecture (err, discussion?) on Obama's terrorist ties and how his election would lead to the triumph of the Arab world and the coming of the Messiah. 

I think "awkward" would be a good way to describe the rest of the evening. 

In other news, I just bought a bus ticket for Rosario, so I'll be spending most the weekend out of town. I know nothing about the town, except that my favorite Colombian pop singer has a an awesome song called "Rosario Tijeras." 

CHAU!

Julie

P.S. Click here to see Kenneth Cole's AWEARNESS blog, which is featuring my Thailand video!

"Uniforms distort man and make him crazy" 

(bueno . . . excuse my horrible translation skills)