Okay, so I'd like to take these 45 minutes of paid internet time to alert you all of the awesomeness that is being an American in Africa right now. We're on the tropical paradise island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania, and we've done some amazing snorkeling and eaten delicious food and went on a spice tour where we tried to identify exotic spices (pretty much the only one I got right was lemongrass), and, oh yea, Barack Obama is our new president. And, oh yea, Americans aren't horrible people. It's amazing, talk about a completely different attitude towards our country! The day before the election we were walking along the beach and whenever we told someone trying to sell us something that we were American, they would say, "Hey, Obama!...I bought this radio just to listen to see if he wins...Obama!...You're American? Obama!...I hope Obama wins!" Because of the time difference, we slept through the bulk of the election process. Talked to mom in the morning with the news that Obama is ahead, CNN projects Obama will be the next president. Ran down to the bar at the resort we were staying at to see if they were showing the election results, get to the bar and there are about 10 Africans glued to the TV screen watching McCain's concession speach, everyone is smiling and excited, announcement that Obama is the U.S. President-elect, cheers and calls of "Obama!", dancing and chanting "Obama!" with one of the waitresses, smiles, a little bit of unfamiliar national pride seeping into my emotional state. 2 African guys running along the beach holding an American flag (upside down, but still...), hoots and calls, sitting on a couch with 2 other Americans smiling and feeling good.
We left the resort on the beach, took the spice tour, and got to Stonetown, home of the old Zanzibar slave trade. Tour of the old slave auction area and holding pen for slaves, outside the building the workers are reading transcripts of Obama's victory speach. Greeted with "Obama!" Walking around the narrow alleys of Stonetown, people see us the tourists, shout out "Obama!" We shout out "Obama!" in return. One man on a motorbike stops and says, "Are you American?" "Yes!" He shakes my hand.
Okay, almost time to get on the ferry to go back to mainland Tanzania. Just wanted to let everyone know that things are exciting and historic and hopefully change really is on the way.
