University of Portland students studying abroad navigated the complexities of the 2024 presidential election while feeling isolated from their home communities. They addressed voting while abroad through various strategies and faced international perspectives that complicated their experience. Emotional reactions to the election results highlighted their concerns for marginalized communities impacted by the political climate.
Students from the University of Portland currently studying in various international locations confronted the challenges of the 2024 presidential election from a distance. Engaging with the electoral process and processing the results while abroad, these individuals shared their unique experiences about navigating voter registration, the significance of the election, and international perspectives. Their journeys highlight feelings of isolation and difficulty in staying connected to their communities back home during a turbulent political time.
Sophomore nursing students Faith Zachariah and Camryn Hines, who are studying in Salzburg, Austria, made concerted efforts to ensure their voting participation while abroad. Camryn, a Washington State resident, registered as an absentee voter before leaving for Europe, allowing her to vote online. In contrast, Faith returned her ballot via mail through family members in California, a process that she found time-consuming and costly, but ultimately fulfilling as it kept her connected to her home community.
Moreover, the European context brings additional layers to their experience. Hines noted that her professors were concerned about the election’s implications regarding global issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Furthermore, both students encountered misconceptions about American identity based on race, with Zachariah recounting how some Europeans struggled to accept her as an American due to her ethnicity, illustrating broader issues of Eurocentrism and xenophobia.
Other students, such as junior theater and music double major Casey James, experienced intense emotions upon hearing the election results. As a member of the transgender community, James expressed feelings of devastation regarding the implications of a Trump presidency for marginalized groups, emphasizing a poignant awareness of the societal challenges faced by individuals in her position.
Zora Richardson, another junior in London, echoed concerns about the impact of the election on her friends and community back home. Both James and Richardson reflected on the privilege they possess residing in progressive states, yet grappled with feelings of guilt and helplessness for their friends who are struggling.
Despite the challenges, both students have found solace in engaging with their current communities. Many of their peers abroad also share progressive views, fostering a sense of unity. However, the disparity in perception about the election between Americans and Londoners posed a bittersweet dynamic, as James expressed the complexity of experiencing varying reactions from her new peers and the conflict of cultural disconnect.
The backdrop of this discussion revolves around the experiences of University of Portland students studying abroad during the 2024 presidential election. These students had to navigate the complexities of remaining politically engaged while away from their familiar surroundings. This situation raises issues surrounding absentee voting, cultural perceptions of American identity abroad, and the emotional impacts of election results on individuals, particularly those within marginalized communities. The conversations reveal insights into how international perspectives can influence Americans’ experiences during significant electoral moments.
In conclusion, the experiences of the University of Portland students studying abroad during the 2024 presidential election reveal a unique intersection of personal feelings and broader sociopolitical contexts. Their efforts to maintain civic engagement while feeling isolated from their home communities underscore the complexities faced by expatriates during pivotal national events. Furthermore, their encounters with European perceptions of American identity reflect ongoing issues of race and nationality, highlighting the diverse responses to political dynamics in an increasingly globalized world.
Original Source: www.upbeacon.com
