Democracy from a Distance

I wake up this morning to a cool breeze coming in through my back window. My neighbor's dogs are barking at something or someone down on the street, and I hear a few birds beginning to stir and sing as the sun rises over the mountains to the east, just over the palm trees that line the main boulevard here in Turrialba. I roll over in my bed and reach for my phone. A few messages from volunteers along with a meme or two, a link to a website about a new waterfall in a message from one of my Tico friends, and an email about the latest solar power tech greet me as I sit up and rub my eyes. Nothing out of the ordinary, by any stretch of the imagination.

By all appearances, it's just another Tuesday here in Costa Rica. You wouldn't know it, but a few countries to the north, big things are happening. Today we have the Midterm Elections to decide a number of key Senate, House of Representative, and gubernatorial races, along with who knows how many amendments and referendums. It is a day that has been coming for some time, and it's finally here. But the cool breeze still blows as soft as always, and my water boiler clicks off to let me know it's time to pour into my tiny, single-serving French press. The same sensation and sounds I experience every morning.

Stirring a packet of Costa-Rican off-brand Splenda into my coffee, I boot up my laptop and log on to see what's already unfolding in the United States. Facebook reminds me, yet again, of the growing divide in our bipartisan political system. Twitter reminds me of the sublime truth that humor can be found in the direst circumstances. My hometown news outlet, Pensacola News Journal, offers a fair and balanced (a bit surprising for having been written in Escambia County, Florida) write-up on the biggest issues facing our great nation, down to the county level back where I was born in Pensacola.

It's a sobering moment of separated inspiration in which I realize that I am part of what is happening, having cast my overseas ballot by fax this past week with the help of our main office in San José. I think about all of the conversations happening over breakfast, some amicable and others perhaps not so much. Political lines have long since been drawn, crossing states, counties, districts, neighborhoods, streets, and, in some cases, living rooms and kitchens. It is an exciting time, to be sure, as the entire voting populace readies itself to go to the polls, stands in line, casts its vote, and sits back waiting with bated breath for the results that will (hopefully) come out later this evening.

"To confirm that your ballot was successfully
sent to the indicated fax number." thanks to Olga!

I take another bite of oatmeal and scroll through my Instagram feed and notice a post from the main Peace Corps account, highlighting volunteers serving in countries like China, Botswana, and Kosovo who have taking the initiative just like I and many of my fellow Peace Corps Costa Rica volunteers have done. I smile as I double-tap the image, content knowing that I am from a place where we are afforded such rights.

Today is a good day. Today I know my voice will be heard and will help to shape the future of my district, my county, my state, and my country. If you are, by chance, reading this and you haven't yet gone to vote, please go. Exercise your right as a citizen of the United States, and go vote!