[Only in Beijing] Election 2012: Watching American Democratic Process in China(仅在北京) 2012年的大选：在中国看美国的民主大选

Growing up in Italy and Honolulu, I couldn’t grasp the appeal of prime-time sporting events, as I never got to watch the games live. It wasn’t until I went to college that I finally saw Monday Night Football on Monday night. “Wow, what a swell idea!”

China is way ahead of the West in the most literal sense possible. As America tucks in for the night, I arise for the start of the following day. On holidays I have to remind myself to celebrate; on days of remembrance I can stroll the gardens of my emotions unassailed by the squawks and chirps of cacophonous social media. The tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was all the more haunting because no one around me seemed to take note.

But earlier this month, the time difference worked oddly in my favor. Whereas most Americans have to stay up late to watch the results of Election Day, polls closed shortly after breakfast on Wednesday morning in Beijing. Finally, a celebration suited for my time zone!

I started my party preparations in the most American way possible: voting. Hawaii requires absentee voters to submit ballots via post, and being the penny-pincher I am, I decided to trek to the US Embassy and mail my ballot for free in a diplomatic pouch. Bypassing throngs of Chinese locals vying for visa approvals, I strolled to the American Citizen Services counter where I jabbered with fellow voters. A Californian and I oogled the swing-staters: “You’re from Iowa? Ooooh, he’s from Ohio!”

Days passed, and I grew increasingly anxious about the election. In need of some good ol’ American comfort food, I made myself two grilled cheese sandwiches for a pre-election dinner. Laying out a red sweater, blue jeans, and stars-and-stripes boxers to wear the next morning, I drifted into a nervous sleep.

Come morning, I threw on my clothes before hustling to Bridge Café, a favorite among foreign students in Beijing’s university district. The staff set up a projector showing CNN, so I found a cozy seat near the window, propped open my MacBook, and ordered black coffee and a cheese omelet.

As more people filled the room, the din of excitement started its crescendo. An English teacher from New York made typically dry comments about how Democrats ignore his state except when asking for money. Confounded Chinese students asked the difference between an estimate and projection. The crowd was overwhelmingly made up of Democrats, which made for plenty of cheering as Wolf Blitzer continued to show Republicans trailing in most close races. I shouted for Maize Hirono when CNN called the Hawaii senate race in her favor.

When Ohio finally went to Obama, the room erupted in applause, both Chinese and American. The organizers passed around free beers, and the atmosphere continued to buzz. President Obama’s words nearly brought me to tears. But just as beautiful was witnessing the processes of democracy unfold before a crowd of Americans and Chinese, even those who came for just the show.

作为在意大利和檀香山长大的人，我不可能感受黄金时段体育赛事现场的震撼力——因为我从来没有在现场观看比赛。直到我上了大学，最终在周一晚上看了一场当晚的足球比赛后我才感叹“哇，真是太棒了！

中国在文化渊源上可能是远远领先于西方的。随着美国那边进入夜晚，我这里已经起床迎接新的一天了。在假日里我不得不提醒自己要庆祝一下；因为回想这些天来，我能悠闲地漫步在花园里，我的情绪没有受到各种媒体的抗议和对社会的不满等嘈杂之声的影响。在9/11攻击的第十个年头，虽然周围的人似乎已不再关注它了，而我却越发久久不能忘怀。

但在本月早些时候,时差这种奇怪的现象反而对我有利了。正当绝大多数美国人不得不熬夜来关注大选结果时，而在北京这边，已是星期三的早晨了，当我刚刚吃完早饭后美国那边的投票就很快结束了。最后的一系列庆祝活动，恰恰适合在我这边的时区观看。

像绝大多数美国人做的那样，我开始准备我的政党选举：投票。因为夏威夷需要缺席的投票人通过邮递的方式进行投票，而我又是一个节俭的人，所以我决定长途跋涉去美国大使馆，通过使用外交信封来免费邮寄我的选票。当我绕过拥挤的竞相争办签证的中国当地人群后，踱步来到美国居民服务柜台，在那儿叽叽喳喳地和一些投票者交流。一个加利福尼亚人和我都开始关注摇摆不定的人：“你来自爱荷华州，噢，他是从俄亥俄州来的。”

几天过去了，我对大选渐渐有些焦虑了。在吃些美国的爽口美食的需求下，我给自己来了两块烤好的芝士三明治作为大选前的晚餐。我特地拿出了红毛线衫，蓝牛仔裤，和一条印有星条旗的平角裤，慢慢地进入了紧张不安的睡眠。

第二天早晨，我匆匆穿好衣服以百米冲刺的速度来到大桥咖啡馆，这里是北京大学留学生最喜欢来的地方。工作人员架起了投影仪来播放CNN的节目，我找到一个靠近窗口的舒适位置坐了下来，打开我的苹果笔记本，要了一杯黑咖啡和带奶酪的煎蛋卷。

当更多人涌进咖啡馆后，喧闹声就一浪高过一浪了。一个从纽约来的英语老师发表了一通枯燥的点评，无外乎是关于民主党人只知道向他们的选民要钱，却忽视了选民的诉求。中国学生则困惑地询问关于大选的评估和预测之间的区别。当CNN报道中主持人布利策不断地显示共和党人的得票紧随其后时，占压倒性多数的支持民主党的人群就不断发出欢呼声。当CNN访问到夏威夷的参议院选举情况时，我为梅兹*赫鲁奴狂叫。

当最后奥巴马获得了俄亥俄州的胜利后，整个房间彻底沸腾了，包括所有的中国人和美国人都在狂呼。组织者将一杯杯免费的啤酒传给大家，空气中持续弥漫着“嗡嗡”声 的 激动。奥巴马总统的演讲几乎让我泪不自禁。对这一群美国人和中国人，即使那些仅仅把它当作一场表演来看的人而言，见证这个民主的过程本身就是很棒的事。