"Express" Your Vote

So today I voted thanks to FedEx and the Overseas Vote Foundation. Turns out, you can vote from your current residence abroad by sending in your ballot from any conveniently located FedEx branch.

Sounded easy enough to me and my friend Marc as embarked on our mission to "make democracy work." Forgetting that nothing is convenient in this city for foreigners, I figured that I could fulfill my civic duty and still be back before lunchtime. Not so much.

We found the nearest FedEx branch pretty easily. It was like a little piece of America welcoming us with open arms. However, they informed us in broken English don't do this exact service. Ok, and all we had to do next was take a bus about 30 minutes north to another location. At this point, you can probably imagine my annoyance. "What do you mean you don't do this?!? Its already paid for- just ship it with the rest of your stuff. Really, really?"

Thanks to our good ole American tenacity we persevered. Marc and I were resolute in our desire to exercise our RIGHT to vote- and vote with as little monetary cost as possible. See, in my mind, paying for an taxi in order to mail my ballot seemed to violate the very foundations of democracy- we don't PAY to vote, right? Right.

So we jumped on the cheap bus north to the elusive FedEx branch with the magical powers to send my ballot abroad that other branches simply do not possess. After wandering around a bunch of corporate complexes, we finally found the right building, and around the backside was a FedEx loading dock- yes loading dock- and a small "World Connection Center" sign. Success! After all the obstacles, and about 2 and a half hours, we beat the system!

And then we voted. And that was it. All that work for one vote. At that victorious moment, I remembered my my political science classes. It's completely irrational to vote. All the work of taking time off, traveling there... the cost to citizens to vote is greater than the benefit derived from one vote. One vote won't change an election. When considering our odyssey, I felt we were pretty foolish. 

Still, I have no regrets for voting, it's more about the principle. While traveling, I have met many people who don't have the freedoms I enjoy on a daily basis, or some have endured much much worse for this privilege. With a better perspective (and food in my stomach), the little "inconveniences" I endured pale in comparison. The fact of the matter is, I am willing to sacrifice to vote- and just the fact that I have the right to vote is enough to make my long day worth it. Oh, and be I sure won't complain for standing in line in 2010!

Obamania...haunts me even in the Far East

I stumbled on this young kid playing video games while waiting for VISA photos in a local copy shop. My discovery was so good I had to share.

Picture it with me: I'm in an obscure, tiny shop in Asia away from everything American and familiar. A kid, who I am assuming is the shop owner's offspring, is intensely playing computer games on an unused desktop. His activity is not surprising in the least, considering that video games are becoming a normal part of childhood in this culture. It took me a few minutes to notice, though, that he was not playing just any Asian video game- but he was in the battle of OUR nation's time- Hilary vs. Obama. 

There they were- two of our most well-known politicians- introduced to my young Asian friend as opposing forces in a paintball shoot out in the White House corridors. The whole experience was so out of place for me, I had to document it. Oh, and naturally, he was Obama. 

One of the Seven Wonders of the World... and for tonight, my bed

For those of you who know me, know that camping is not really my thing. Give me hiking, boating, and whatever else outdoorsy stuff- as long as there is a bed waiting for me, I am, to use the phrase, a happy camper. 

But, in China there is a famous phrase that goes something like this: "you are not a real man until you climb the Great Wall." So, hearing this charge, our plan was to spend the night camping ON the Great Wall of China and climb up an unrestored portion in the morning. And that was that- off to the Wall we went. 

How on earth could this be possible you may ask. Well... see, our campsite was actually some fellow's backyard. He basically earns his livelihood by allowing groups like ours access to the wall for a small price per person (the equivalent to about $1.25/person). So we paid the guy and hiked toward the huge structure. 

We only hiked for a short time, thankfully. I was not used to walking with a big hiking backpack. This was my first experience to bring ALL my own supplies on my back- water, food, etc. As you can see in the first picture, we set up camp, literally on a small flat portion of the Great Wall. 

Needless to say, my bed was as hard and uncomfortable as I expected. Ancient old brick and mortar does not make for a welcoming bed. Regardless, throughout the long night of little sleep, I kept reminding myself- hey, I'm sleeping on the Great Wall, at least try to enjoy it! 

The next morning, I woke up and climbed up a portion of the Wall. Because this section is unrestored, some parts were partially destroyed by wear and tear, and these required serious climbing skills. It was a little intimidating without the security of ropes and harness, but in the end, the view was worth it. From the top, I could get a better picture of the awesomeness of the Great Wall- it stretched as a far as I could see, over mountains and down into valleys (picture 2). 

On the one hand, the Wall is a picture of man's willpower and capability to accomplish incredible feats. Still, thanks to history's record we know the real story. Most of the Great Wall was built to protect ancient Beijing against invasion from the North, and after 40-some years of fighting, a dissatisfied gatekeeper allowed the invaders through his pass. Beijing was captured and so began the last ruling dynasty- the Manchu (or Qing) Dynasty lasting over 300 years. So think with me, consider the monumental amount of work, not to mention the estimated 4 million lives lost, that went into building the Wall, only to let the invaders in the front door- rather ironic. 

In retrospect, I am still having a hard time believing that I actually camped on the Great Wall. After I told my dad about my grand adventure he smartly remarked, "Well, it took a world wonder to get you to camp. Now you have 6 more possibilities." Ha. So true. And so worth sleeping on the ground.