Monday, 06 April 2009

• Obama in Prague

  

  Sunday past was probably the happiest day of my life. I saw Barrack Obama in the flesh and up close in Prague, something I never dreamt would happen, even in my wildest dreams.

  Initially when I decided to go see Obama earlier last week, I wasn't expecting much since there would be tens of thousands of spectators, and due to security reasons it wasn't likely I'd be able to get close to the stage.

  Then on Saturday, a dear friend, P, told me that she picked up 2 invitations from the US Embassy, and she wanted me to go with her to this area closer to the stage.  Needless to say, I was insanely excited after she told me about this, and spent the rest of Saturday in a state of delirium (while hiking in beautiful Cesky Raj).

  Sunday morning, I woke up at the unearthly hour of 5:30 am, to make my way over to Prague Castle. I met P at the tram stop near my home. When tram 22 arrived, it was packed to the rafters by other Obama supporters and it was a struggle getting and staying on the tram. When we arrived at the entrance to Hradcanske namesti, we were greeted with this:

  

   

  I was so grateful then that P got us both the invitations. We were ushered through a different queue, went through security (conducted by US Secret Service, no less), and got into the action proper at 7:15 am.

  After finding the best possible vantage point we could, we started our respective waiting rituals, P reading her book about an ultra marathon man, and me trying to nap while sitting on the cold cobblestones.  Our rituals were interrupted soon after as we began bumping into friends, chatting with other strangers around us, trying to work out where all the snipers were situated, and taking pictures of everything and anything in sight.  It made the 3 hour wait seem much shorter for sure.

  At about 9 am, we got our first glimpse of Barrack and Michelle Obama on the big screen, standing with Czech Republic's President Klaus and his wife, and subsequently walking together into Prague Castle. Many speculate that Barrack spent most part of the hour with Klaus trying to convince Klaus that global warming does exist, and Klaus vehemently opposing Barrack's views.  It seems Barrack's charms and eloquence have had no (positive) effect on Klaus whatsoever.  No wonder Klaus is on the way out.  The mystery of Czech politics....

  While the VIPs were inside the castle, volunteers handed out Czech and American flags to the crowds, and a Czech band played up a storm in a vain attempt to entertain us all.  They were unsuccessful since I have no recollection of what they played at all.

  At about 10:30 am, Barrack and Michelle Obama finally took to the stage amidst wild cheering, and flag waving by the crowds.  After we calmed down substantially, Barrack proceeded with his speech, starting off with a little history of US public relations with Czech Republic, and went on to his administration's plans on dealing with terrorism and nuclear weapons.  After 5 minutes of taking pictures, I eventually stopped as I was drawn into Barrack's speech.  He spoke with a combination of flair, humility, charisma and charm that was both endearing and forceful.  By the end of his speech, I understood Obama mania like I never did before.  I doubt much of it would fade away in the light of an unpopular economic stimulus package and a ever deteriorating US economy.

  After Barrack Obama finished his speech, he walked around the crowds shaking hands and signing autographs. At one point in time, Michelle and Barrack were about a metre in front of me but all I managed to see were bobbing heads as the crowds surged forwards trying to get an even closer glimpse of the first couple.  I didn't shake their hands, but I was already immensely satisfied that I got so close.

  I have been pondering today about the odds of someone like me being in Prague when the first African-American president of the United States is here, and being able to get such a close-up view of the first couple in the flesh. It's one in a million.  No one should blame me for thinking I was probably the luckiest girl in the world on Sunday.

  

  For more pictures from Sunday, click here.

   

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