There is a big difference between observing an American presidential election while in the US and observing it from outside the US. I have done both. People who observe a presidential election while in the US have a ringside seat to the mood swings (changing mood) of voters during campaigning by the candidates. They can feel the vibe. If you have a ringside seat, it means you are in a place with a close view of something, such as a boxing match. But it can also mean in a position to observe something very well, such as an election.
To feel the vibe means to sense the mood and energy of a situation, such as an election or concert by a superstar. People who follow the election from outside the US are too far away to feel the vibe. I am now in the US, which has given me a ringside seat to feel the election vibe over many months. I have observed the mood swings as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump compete for votes. Most Americans are convinced this is the most important presidential election in modern times because the visions of Harris and Trump are poles apart (very different).
Voting for the Tuesday, November 5, election will be just hours away by the time you read this because of the time difference. It is exciting to have a ringside seat for this very tight election. I will then pack my bags a few weeks later to travel to Taiwan and Hong Kong.
身處美國和在美國境外觀察美國總統大選，有很大的分別。我兩樣都做過。人們身處美國時觀察總統大選，就可以近距離觀察（ringside seat）在候選人競選期間，選民的情緒波動（mood swings），得以親身感受整個氛圍（feel the vibe）。若你有個 ringside seat，意即你得以坐在最好的觀賞座位，例如一場拳賽的近台座席；但它也可以解作身處最有利於觀察某事，例如選舉，的位置。
To feel the vibe是指去感受一個情景，例如一場選舉或一個超級巨星演唱會的氣氛與能量。在美國以外的地方追隨大選變動的人，要去感受氛圍（feel the vibe）是距離太遠了。我現在身處美國，在過去這好幾個月內，給了我最佳的觀察位置（ringside seat），得以感受大選的氛圍（feel the election vibe）。我觀察到當副總統賀錦麗與前總統唐納德‧特朗普拉票時，整個風向的轉動（mood swings）。大部分美國人都確信，這是近代最為重要的總統選舉，因為賀錦麗與特朗普的願景可謂南轅北轍（poles apart）。
因為時差的關係，你讀到這裏的時候，11月5日星期二的大選還有數小時便開始。可以在這麼近的距離觀察（ringside seat）這場勢均力敵的選舉，實在非常緊張刺激。在這之後，再過幾周我便會收拾行裝，前往台灣和香港。
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Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻
