Ex-pats plan parties to mark arrival of Barack Obama
New US President to be sworn in
Published:
TODAY, as Barack Obama was due to be sworn in as his country’s first black commander in chief, there were celebrations among American ex-pats living in the North-east.
Layla Unger, who came to Aberdeen to work as a geologist for the Chevron oil corporation, wanted her daughters to watch the occasion with her.
The 33-year-old Texas-born Obama supporter cancelled the family’s weekly swimming trip, so that she could watch today’s momentous proceedings on TV at home in Cults with twin five-year-old daughters Clara and Grace.
She said: “I want it to be a family memory, that we witnessed Obama being sworn in as President.
“It will be such a big thing in the lives of my children.”
Michelle Kennett a full-time mum from Phoenix, Arizona, was also among those who expected to be glued to the TV, with her oil industry engineer husband Ben at their home in Aberdeen’s West End.
The 31-year-old said: “We watched the inauguration concert with U2 on TV and now we’re ready for the main event.
“It’s all really exciting and I’m sure Obama will do well.”
Another Obama backer Rachel Cook, from Kalamazoo in Michigan, was to host a party in the politician’s honour.
The 27-year-old was expecting 20 friends to join in.
She said: “There will be quite a few of my friends, including ones from Ireland and Scotland, and they are all excited about Obama becoming president.”
Meanwhile, down at Aberdeen’s city centre American-themed restaurant TGI Friday, staff were getting ready to serve up Obama cocktails, which include cranberry and vodka.
And Aberdeen University’s North American Society was also holding a party and TV screening of the inauguration.
Alison Pusateri, 22, founder of the society, said: “The inauguration is historic – it will affect everyone, not just Americans.”
International relations expert David Capitanchik, who teaches at Aberdeen University, talked about how Obama’s Presidency would affect the North-east.
He said: “If we’re talking about oil and gas in a general way, then the new President’s main task will be to deal with global financial problems.
“It’s all very much a case of wait and see though.”
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