It feels wrong to write about my travels without at least mentioning the orange elephant in the room. He is the last person I want to waste my time thinking about, but I know many people do not have the privilege of disregarding him like I can. It is easier for me: I am not a recent immigrant to the US, I am not a woman of childbearing age, I am not a childless cat lady, the mom of daughters, or someone who has debilitating health problems. I am not Muslim, Jewish, or gay, nor am I a US veteran. I am not Black or Asian, and I do not have a trans child. I am not even living in the US right now. However, I know and love many people who fall into these categories, and care deeply about their lives and welfare. I voted with them in mind.

To me, the promise of America, at the fundamental level, is the promise of protection, no matter your race, religion, or sexual orientation. Many countries do not have it, including the one I’m living in.

When I went to bed on Tuesday night, I felt sure that the American people would rise up and reject the ongoing clown show of racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, and crudeness. At the polls, it was finally time to say what we will stand for as a nation.

I guess we did.