Dread and awe: How US is preparing for Trump

SITTING on a replica whaleboat in the middle of Boston Harbour, drinking tea, it would be easy to assume nothing special will happen in Washington DC on Friday.

Donald Trump. Picture: Evan Vucci

Queenslander Laura Telford booked her ticket to the US hoping to see Hillary Clinton sworn in as their first female president. It wasn't to be but the political science graduate, who normally reports on the happenings of life in St George, boarded the plane and is reporting on the lead up to Trump's inauguration on Friday, January 20.

SITTING on a replica whaleboat in the middle of Boston Harbour, drinking tea, it would be easy to assume nothing special will happen in Washington DC on Friday.

A long way from sweltering St George in western Queensland, here where everyone is wearing coats and gloves and watching snow flurries fall, Bostonians go about their day seemingly unaware their country will be under a new president in days.

Though talking to workers, the truth becomes more apparent.

Philadelphia resident, Traci Benson, 30, said she had felt a sense of dread watching the election results last November.

"I was pretty nervous during the day and coming to work the day after the election, I was very upset and in shock," Ms Benson said this week.

#TheResistance #MLKDay #Quote #AndyBorowitz offers a positive tip of the hat to #DonaldTrump for reminding us that the struggle is not over. pic.twitter.com/XHkGXfsJHp

— John Moffitt (@JohnRMoffitt) January 16, 2017

It is clear Ms Benson still has strong emotions about the result.

"Trump's campaign dug up a lot of hatred in the community, exactly what we don't need in this country right now.

"It really hurt to know that there are a lot of people like that in the United States."

JUST IN: Trump met with Martin Luther King III at Trump tower: “Donald Trump is going to represent Americans!" #MLKDAY pic.twitter.com/mXFMkCP2dL

— Tennessee GOP (@TEN_GOP) January 16, 2017

Not everyone has such a pessimistic view of Trump becoming president.

Young professional Tate Taylor, 24, working in Charlotte, North Carolina, said it would not be the worst thing to have a businessman in charge.

"I don't see Trump as a racist; he comes across as brutally honest and the things he spoke about during the campaign really resonated with hardworking, blue collar Americans; the backbone of our country," he said.

At least 20 Democrats are joining Rep. John Lewis in boycotting President-elect #DonaldTrump​'s inauguration. https://t.co/BzMxFMO6wq pic.twitter.com/rqI3lxLCLH

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 16, 2017

Boston Massachusetts is famous for its role in the quest for independence when patriots threw tea into the harbour under the cover of darkness, protesting another British tax hike.

At the time, Colonial Massachusetts Governor, Samuel Adams said "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate tireless minority".

So while Clinton won the popular vote Trump's victory shows that sentiment remains and the unexpected still happens when there's an appetite for change.

 Laura will be in Washington to witness the handover of power and the beginning of a new era for American, and possibly world, politics.   

Originally published as Dread and awe: How US is preparing for Trump