In my previous column, I promised to talk about my experience with the tutorial system at the University of Oxford. That was my intention when I sat down today to write, but it just felt disingenuous for me not to talk about the obvious elephant in the room: the U.S. election. I know this is not a political column, but following the election from the U.K. has been very formative for my study abroad experience.
I’m from Massachusetts, which you probably know is historically left-leaning. You could say my individual vote doesn’t particularly matter in the grand scheme of the election. But, like many of you, I still felt strongly about voting, so I did.
Believe it or not, I actually voted through email! Before coming to the U.K., I filled out an application for a Federal Post Card Application, but Massachusetts gives the option to vote online rather than through physical mail. It’s super convenient; the only downside is that you don’t get a sticker.
It’s hard to describe, but watching the election from the U.K. was surreal. I was actually invited to go to a pub to watch the election — apparently, locals here make an event out of American politics. The local Oxford students have been nothing but welcoming and friendly, but I had to sit this one out. It’s disconcerting for me to see others view an election as a spectacle rather than something with serious consequences. So, instead of hanging out with friends, I spent the night in front of my laptop, refreshing the Associated Press site over and over again.
As the hours passed by, I found myself longing to be at Tufts. I really do miss the social activism of Tufts; our campus is a great environment where you can have spirited conversations with very passionate young adults. Sitting alone, I realized just how important Tufts’s social sphere is to me. It’s so hard to witness a nail-biting election from thousands of miles away.
I went to bed at 4:30 a.m. (11:30 p.m. EST) genuinely feeling optimistic. When I woke up again around 7:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m. EST) to check for updates, I was shocked, and you all know what happened next.
It’s really frustrating to feel so strongly about something and then watch it unravel, especially when you’re so far away from the action. Many of my British peers came up to me to express their sympathy, playfully telling me I should move to the U.K. for good.
But the thing is, I wouldn’t want that. I love my home, and I miss it more than words can describe. It’s just unfortunate that from an international perspective, my home is seen as the butt of a joke.
I don’t want this to be a downer of a column; I’m a firm believer in silver linings. Seven out of 10 states with abortion on the ballot voted to have the right to abortion enshrined in their state constitutions. For the first time in history, an openly transgender person, Sarah McBride, has been elected to Congress, and two Black women, Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester, will serve simultaneously on the Senate.
I know that the silver lining feels more gray right now, but if I have learned anything from Tufts, I know that we as a generation are capable of change.
Until next time,
Grace x
