BlueOregon UK

Rachael Vorberg-Rugh

Greetings and salutations from the other side of the pond! I've now been in Oxford for about 2 1/2 weeks, and thought I'd share my impressions of being an American over here along with a few other random observations. (The photo, by the way, is of me in front of a Co-op here in Oxford…I’m here to study the co-operative movement pre-WWI, but they’re still going strong in these parts.)

The US election is a constant topic of conversation over here. Last night I went to a screening of the 3rd debate, sponsored by the Oxford chapter of Democrats Abroad. About 200 people showed up, and half of them were non-US. Needless to say Bush’s comment about depending on England for flu vaccine got big laughs. For election night I'll be watching the returns come in til 4am GMT (and drinking heavily) at the Oxford Union...tickets are nearly sold out already. Nearly everyone I meet asks me who I'll be voting for, and I've yet to meet an American here that's voting for Bush.

I'm frequently asked why it is that so many Americans will vote for Bush, and unfortunately I'm at a loss to explain.

One thing I often mention is the current sorry state of the American media. Just a few listens to BBC4 on the radio elucidate a major difference: reporters feel no qualms about interrupting politicians when they aren't answering the question or stating something inaccurate. (Just imagine if American presidents had to endure a twice weekly "Question Time" session like the Brit PMs do...Bush wouldn't last five minutes!) The British press provides amazing international coverages, something you have to work hard to find in mainstream American media.

Although there is significant anti-American sentiment in Britain, I haven't run across it in Oxford, one of the most international places you could hope to find. Among the members of my college (Queens) you'll find more international students than Brits. The new crop of graduates includes Australians, Brazilians, Canadians, Chinese, Croatians, Czechs, Dutch, Germans, Japanese, Latvians, Mexicans, New Zealanders, and Poles. Most of the Americans I meet are from the East Coast, although there's another Oregonian, Peter, who's from Corvallis and working on a master's in Jewish Studies.

The hardest part about being an American here is my own reaction to it. I am proud of being from Oregon but embarassed by my national government. I want people here to know that Bush does not represent me and that large numbers of Americans share my opinion.

Some of my new Brit friends have had interesting comments. One remarked, "It is depressing that your election is going to have such a dramatic impact on my life, but I won't have a vote." Another commented that in some ways Bush v. Kerry was more positive than the situation here. "Although no one likes Tony Blair much, no one believes that the Conservatives offer a better alternative...at least you have a real choice." The thinking here is that, when the British election is called sometime next spring, voter turnout will be at an all-time low, with the majority holding their noses and voting for Blair. As for the occasional teasing about America that does come up, more than one Brit has responded: "We were the ones the world loved to hate in the 19th century...it is your turn now."

For those who’d like to see where I’m hanging out these days, here’s the link to the virtual tour of Queen’s College.

More on non-political matters at a later date…I’m off to the library!

By Rachael Vorberg-Rugh Oct. 15, 2004