Like Obama?

This is from a December 2008 letter I wrote soon after now President Obama won the election. I wrote it while returning from Thailand:

[Editor's note: A tuk tuk is a small, three-wheeled passenger vehicle that serves as an alternative to a taxi in Thailand.]

Now that Obama is president-elect, people seem ready to believe that black people really do come from the U.S. too. It's kinda nuts.

Typical exchange:

Tuk tuk?!

No thank you.

Where you from? (South Africa?)

America.

America! Like Obama?!

Yes! Like Obama.


Typical follow up exchange for remainder of trip:

OBAMA!

Yes. Obama.