It was 4 p.m. in London — 11 a.m. Washington, D.C., time. With an hour to go until Barack Obama’s inaugural oath and speech as the 44th American president, an entire office in Central London paused its busy workday to crowd around a television. None save one were American, but every single person stood there, infatuated with what was happening across the ocean.
When asked if anyone had done this — stand in front of the TV with eagerness and interest — during the 2004 inauguration of President George W. Bush, they all laughed.
"No, not at all," one senior employee said.
Another, looking confused, asked, "What happened in 2004?"
"The inauguration of President Bush for his second term," another employee answered.
"You elected him twice?" he asked incredulously, staring at the sole American in the room.
The American didn’t have time to answer, as soon-to-be Vice-President Joe Biden took his own oath of office.
This has been a typical picture overseas ever since Obama and Hillary Clinton began their campaigns more than a year ago: total disdain for Americans under the old regime and near-ecstatic interest for the possible America to come. But, with that, there also seems to be an understanding up to now it’s been a story fueled by media frenzy — with the hard part yet to come.
In the months leading up to that memorable day in November, when Obama became the first African-American to win a presidential election — and did so in the wake of one of the most controversial four-year terms in the United States’ history — the world was in a buzzing haze of excitement and hope. When he won, it seemed the international negative perspective of Americans had finally been lifted: Every major city throughout the globe went berserk for Barack.
The day after the junior senator from Illinois was proclaimed the next president, the front page of every major newspaper — free or pay, English, Spanish or French — headlined (actually, praised) America’s decision. In Belgium, the papers deemed it history in the making; publications in Australia simply had his name and face on the cover; in Brazil, a front page translated to "Light in America" above Obama’s smiling countenance; a newspaper in Bulgaria extolled his virtues.
In London, a middle point between the U.S. and the rest of Europe and a go-to city for much of the world, the excitement was so high it was as though the election had been for a British candidate. Streets were mobbed with people celebrating, election parties went through the night and those handing out newspapers in front of the Tube couldn’t keep up with the masses desperate to get a piece of the glory story.
It seemed to have been so vibrant in the UK Edrian Wenger, a 26-year-old ex-pat from D.C. living in London, could say it almost felt like home. Attending a Democrats Abroad inaugural party in Trafalgar Square, she was surrounded by both Americans and Europeans, both equally excited to see the next president sworn in. This is a far cry from what the city looked like this time four years ago.
"What stands out for me leading up to the election is that all the English people I know wanted to talk about the election with me … even the security guard at my office," Wenger, who has lived abroad off and on for five years, said. "I was at home for the first primary in January 2008 and there was a hysteria around it, and I thought I wasn’t going to keep my enthusiasm once I got back to London, but that wasn’t the case. I felt the buzz."
Wenger’s feelings have been experienced by others too — even those who never thought they’d care about an American election.
"I’m more aware of this election than any other election," Rob Burton, an accountant who was born in Africa and brought up in England, said.
He’s never been to the States nor does he have the desire to visit.
"I understand that this election has affected the entire world," he said, but this hasn’t changed his view of Americans that being, "I haven’t met a lot of Americans, but I know don’t I like ‘stereotypical’ Americans."
Why, then, was he one of the employees Jan. 20 standing in front of the television hanging on Obama’s words?
It’s a publicity stunt, he said, "all smoky mirrors. The election is a circus."
Jonny Pearson, a Scotland native who has been to America more times than he can remember, agreed.
"It was exciting and gripping because he is this charismatic figure," he said. "The PR team did a really good job of holding him up. It wasn’t about Obama the person, it was about Obama the concept — the chance to see history being made."
Pearson, who is a 26-year-old research editor for a parliamentary magazine, admitted he too was pulled into the obsession, but insisted the entire situation has been a complete showcase, something most people from other countries are quick to point out as American politics’ forte.
Still, for someone like Wenger, who returned to London from her visit home in December with an Obamarama pin attached to her winter coat, the enthusiasm overseas has been genuine.
While the international world has conceded the presidential election sometimes seems like a dramatic motion picture, they’ve all fallen deeply in love with the main character.
"I definitely feel a difference," Wenger said the day before the inauguration on how the world views America. "Obama means a lot in terms of the way Americans are perceived from abroad … I feel an innate change. I am definitely proud to be an American again."
