Poltics Abroad

My professor from Drake asked about how they were covering politics over here, so I did some more research and here is what I discovered.

Europeans love Obama. No matter what city or country I am in, Obama´s face is somewhere near by. Oktoberfest, I ran into the Obama supports and here in Spain the apartment we stayed in had a sign on the door for supporting Obama. My professors, when asking us about the election or our views always end it with, "We really like Obama."

And for a while I thought Europeans followed US politics, the way I follow foreign news. That is just not the case. The more I speak to people the more I realize Europeans are probably more educated voters on US politics than most Americans. I didn´t really understand why until my friend told me about a conversation she had with her graphic design professor, an Italian. She asked if he was following the election and he responded, with a face of shock. Then he said so simply, "Of course I do. What happens in the US affects the rest of us." I think I did know that, but I just had no idea it was to that extent.

While, I cannot read any of the Italian publications, I often see the newspapers in Italy--especially the National one, has US politicians on it. Munich, the paper was full of US politics and in Spain the local paper also had election news.

The International Tribune--is the New York Time´s international publications and it has a lot of world news, but of course had a huge story about US elections, especially it being so close to the elections. 

Even one the local nightly news in Italy US politics is a headlining story. And all the magazines we get at home--even the fashion ones are published in Italian and have had US politicians on them. 

That is what I have been observing, but it is much more optional that an home, I was not bombarded by advertisements or commercials... obviously. But if you wanted, it is very easy to keep up with US politics here in Italy. 

So, despite the fact that I am an ocean away from the election at home, I am still getting my fill on U.S. politics. Tomorrow night I am going to an election viewing party, where they will have coverage of the election from 6pm until 4am. I don't know if I will stay for the whole thing, but I will be there for a while watching the developments. I will let everyone know if it is very exciting.