Where was I when Obama was elected President?

What better distraction than writing a blog post while I wait for the ringing in my ears to die down to the point where I can sleep. The cause of this ringing is not a concert, or even music but the sounds of Americans screaming because the world has been set right again. Being out of the country doesn't mean you have to sit at home and watch the election on CNN.com. There are tons of ex-pat bars that play CNN, and we went to Sacramento after an intense Frisbee practice. There we met up with Frisbee friends including one porteño, or our friend Emilio, to watch what we knew had to be Obama's election. Every time a new state was won the crowd cheered and every time McCain won a measly few votes everybody booed. Everyone sipped on cold Quilmes (the only beer to drink when in Argentina) to stay cool in the sweltering heat inside the bar and my exhausted legs somehow led me to find a few seats to sit on during the waiting period. And then it happened. The same screen I'm sure you all saw was projected announcing that Obama had won and the bar literally exploded with people's screams of happiness. I couldn't believe it, but I even cried. Only one tear, but still. It was really powerful. All of these people who, like me, have chosen to live outside of their country, screaming USA and Obama and "Yes we can!" in Spanish.
At that point I decided I had to go home before I dropped to the floor with exhaustion and took the opportunity to grab a taxi home with Emory, a girl from Frisbee, who also lives in San Telmo. They spoke in Spanish the whole way home, but I understood a surprising amount. The whole conversation began, of course, with the cabbie comparing Bush to Hitler. This is not the first time I've heard this comparison, and it makes more sense once you realize that most Argentineans believe that Bush had a hand in 9/11 along with their history of corrupt governments that and a history of killing its own people. Even if this were proven true I still have to disagree with the comparison, but it was wonderful to think how America's reputation has changed in one instant and how many people's faith (including my own) has been restored in the so called democratic system that elects our president and for politics in general. To boot the Senate already holds a majority proving that Joe the plumber (can anyway explain this analogy to me? Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't plumbers make a pretty good living? Also this leaves out Jane the plumber which is offensive) does have a voice and he/she shouts "Yes we can." I'm betting Joe the plumber would say it in English, but a huge majority of Latino voters also voted for Barak (eliciting more loud screams from the crowd). Anyway, I'm so happy I could cry, oh wait I already did. Sorry Mom and Dad for calling 12 am your time. In my excitement I forgot what time it was when I got home!!! Time for me to join the ranks of those who slumber for my measly 5 hours of sleep before class tomorrow! Yay for Barak Obama and America!!