2004 U.S. Presidential Election, November 2, 2004, by Milla Savelieff
From MemoryArchive
Who: Milla Savelieff What: 2004 U.S. Presidential Election When: November 2, 2005 Where: Brussels, Belgium
As a relatively politically active person, most of my friends thought I was crazy to be spending my election year abroad studying in Europe. But I did it anyway, determined to enjoy my nine months abroad in Paris and Brussels despite the urge to jump on that campaign bus and cover myself from head to toe in stickers and buttons.
The week before election day found me in Paris, France visiting my aunt and uncle. A conservative from Ohio, I treated my absentee ballot with the utmost care, determined that no chad, pregnant or not, would disqualify my vote. Even my aunt, a staunch liberal by our standards, reminded me countless times, citing that it was my responsibility to vote, and that my mother in the US had expressly stated that I must drop my ballot at the embassy. SO with nothing to do, I headed down to the Place de la Concorde, and, surrounded by applauding French security guards, dropped my absentee ballot in a mail bag. It was my first Presidential election, and even though it wasn't a traditional booth with bells and whistles and what not, it felt good to vote.
On election night, I headed to a party for ex-patriots living in Brussels. We watched CNN on a big screen while munching on hot dogs, popcorn and Budweiser beer. When the emcees asked who voted for Kerry, the walls shook with thunderous applause; when asked about Bush, my lone voice screamed support. At 3 AM we caught a cab home, only 9 PM in the states, nothing established, states still up in the air, no clear winner. As I slept, America watched and waited. When I got to work the next day, hair not washed and makeup from the previous night smudged under my eyes, I heard the results.
Never once while abroad did I lie or cover up who I voted for. Asked countless times, I responded honestly each and every time. But when the European finished their tiraid on why my choice was the wrong choice, I told them I agreed with them. It was MY choice, and I had MY reasons for voting the way I did. Our election may affect others abroad, but when it comes down to it, it affects US, as Americans first. They may not have agreed with my choice, but every person acknowledged that they saw my point, and that was that.
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