Being Abroad during the US Presidential Election

One of the ways British people surprised me was by how much they knew about the US elections. I did not know much about their government systems and the people in power while they knew all about the US presidential candidates, who said what, when the election was happening, and so on.

Compared to the US, I was asked about who I was supporting in the election significantly more. I could be 10 minutes into a conversation with someone I just met, and I would get the question, “so who did you vote for?” Personally, I am not very private with who I supported during the election, so I would answer honestly. Political conversations are something you have to be prepared for when you are from a country who’s politics are so prominent internationally. It is important to not get too deep in the conversation and steer to a different topic before you get in a heated debate about political values and beliefs. The good thing is most British people are fairly cautious of this as well and it has not been an issue for me.

One of my biggest challenges was processing the election results while being isolated from everyone I know who was dealing with the same issue. The outcomes of the election were not as I hoped for, and it felt lonely living in a foreign country while they were announced. I felt worried about the future, disappointed with Americans, and ashamed that by what our country supported. People from other countries will listen and express their surprise, but it is impossible for them to fully relate. For them, it is simply another political conversation that they will walk away from and not have to think too much about, but for me, it is real and will have an impact on my life. My friends were going through the same emotions but they were not with me, and it felt like I could not be there for them either. Staying in contact through texting and calls helps ease the pain a little bit, so I am grateful to at least have that form of communication.

As time passes, my emotions die down, and I am able to move past the election results. It still crosses my mind and has made me reconsider a lot about where I thought the US’s values stood, but it’s not as overwhelming as it was the day after the election. Staying in regular contact with friends and family has helped a ton, so my advice is to remember to reach out and talk to people when you need support. It has been a challenge being on my own during a difficult and emotional time, but as with other challenges I have faced while being abroad, I have no other choice but to overcome it and have become more resilient and independent in the process.