Happy Obama Day!

Wednesday morning after we found out the election results, President Mwai Kibaki announced that Thursday would be a public holiday to allow Kenyans to celebrate the Obama victory. When the President made the announcement he addressed Obama directly saying that "We Kenyans are very proud of your ancestry." I think pride is an understatement because everyone in Kisumu at least has Obama-Fever!

On Wednesday, I woke up at 5am to watch the election results. I had to hook up the TV through several extension cords, but managed to get it working. It was really exciting to see all the scenes from Grant Park. My host mom ended up waking up to watch it with me and she was SO shocked to see how many people were there. She was also really surprised to see children at the rally. She said that rallies in Kenya never end without some people throwing stones or other violence. She thought it was really great how that many people could gather together peacefully to support a cause.

It was interesting trying to explain to my host mother the Electoral College and what it meant when each state was announced going to a certain candidate. We found out the results about 7am in Kenya. We were both a little late to work because we stayed at home to watch Barack Obama's speech.

My walk to work was a little interesting. I wore a shirt that said "ILLINOIS" on it and wore a Barack Obama pin. I felt like a celebrity because people kept waving to me, boda bodas (bicycle taxis) kept ringing their bells, cars would honk as they passed me. Some people who saw me would yell out "Obama!!!" while others yelled "Thank You!" or "Good Job!" Obama really is loved here in Kenya.

When I got to work, people kept coming up to me and congratulating me and my country for a job well done. In the morning, I taught an Epidemiology class at ISMAT (International School of Medicine and Applied Technology) about Malaria. We spent the first few minutes of class with people asking me about Obama and if I voted, who I voted for, etc. The fact that you can vote through an absentee ballot amazes people. In Kenya, you have to be in the country in order to vote.

The celebrations were pretty subdued here in Kisumu. I heard from people at work and then saw on the news that hundreds of people gathered in the local sports grounds to watch the coverage on a projected screen. There were a few parades/celebrations in the streets but everything was pretty calm. It rained all afternoon which I think also hampered people's celebrations.

In Kogelo, Obama's ancestral home, bulls were slaughtered in celebration. I got a few text messages from people asking if I was headed to Kogelo to share in the celebration.

Next week it looks like I'll be traveling with work. Some midwives from Europe are coming and will be working with Community Health Workers at our OSANI health clinic in the rural lakeside village of Ndhiwa. I'll be helping with some of the trainings. I am anticipating that I will be without internet then from Tuesday until Friday. I will be sure to update this blog upon my return.