Election Breakfast

The US election was held on November 4th 2008 with voters choosing between Democrat candidate Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

As the election results started to come through late on the night of the 4th, Hong Kongers were waking up on the 5th and enjoying their breakfasts.

Find out how people reacted to the election results and what they chose for breakfast on that memorable morning.

Before you watch, we suggest that you do the vocabulary task below.

Match the types of breakfast with their descriptions.

Exercise

Comprehension Check

Test yourself to see how much you can remember.

Read the statements and decide if they are true or false.

Exercise

..but what have you got?

Sausage pattie, fried egg, ham, bacon, baked beans.

Instead of the beans I got grits and ...

What are grits?

Grits? That’s a very good question. It’s oatmeal, couscous, you know a type of grain

It’s a type of grain

That doesn’t look grainy it looks mushy.

Yeah well they cook it for like I don’t know, 20 minutes. Yeah it’s kind of like porridge.

This is Eggs Benedict. It is egg, ham on English muffins with Hollandaise sauce. This is fruit and baked beans.

But you are a US citizen, so you voted or?

I voted absentee for Illinois.

And how did you vote in the election?

Democrat. Democrat for Obama.

Maybe you could just tell me what your breakfast is there.

Belgian waffles and coffee.

And this is a typical breakfast for you?

If I’m eating out…yes. I’ll have cereal at home, but I like waffles.

How about the election? Are you excited?

I’m nervous, nervous yes. Pro Obama, so it’s looking good for him right now. He’s intelligent, he’s thoughtful.

Can you see the result from there?

I think it’s 102 -34.

Who would you vote for?

I think he’s Obama. He looks quite decent and gentleman.

What did you have for your breakfast?

I started off with a fluffy pancake and some maple syrup. Then I had some crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes.

Is that what you usually have when you come in here?

I usually have it on election days …yes. I’d definitely vote for Obama – OBAMA! America is very important and it’s crucial that we have a decent guy in there. It’s very emotional that he’s black and that’s powerful. I don’t think a lot of people who are in their forties and fifties thought there was ever going to be a black man in the White House. So that’s fantastic. So all those things are good, they will make a difference, they will matter. I’m going to cry when he wins, I am because for me it’s deeply moving.

Obama.

Can you tell me, is it because he’s sexy?

He’s sexier than John McCain…definitely. But erm no because I like his politics. He’s gonna develop green technology, he’s a bigger supporter of education. All those things. Bagels and lox, with tomato, onion, capers, sour cream.

Wow that looks great actually. I’m waiting for lemon.

She got a sandwich that’s already assembled. Mine is just not assembled which I prefer. Thin layer of cream cheese, tomato, couple of capers, onion, salmon, salt and pepper.

So it is in fact almost exactly the same?

Yes, but he got eggs too. And one key difference is she has two, the whole bagel whereas I only have half.

Did you vote?

Of course, of course.

Everybody here voted or everyone we talked to, everyone professes to be pro Obama.

But no this is a pro Obama outlet….hence the blue. No…

Oh yes woo, yes

He’s just got to keep up his end of the bargain.

What’s that?

Change baby change!

Who’d like a bloody Mary on the house?