This Afternoon I Became An American
This afternoon Nabila and I went down to the local USCIS office in Seattle and became American citizens.
Wow!
After eleven years in the US, seven of them as a permanent resident, I’m finally there. Theoretically I could have become a citizen two years ago as you only have to wait five years as a permanent resident before you can apply for naturalization, but I just never got around to it.
Then last October, two things occurred to me:
- We have kids who are both US (and UK) citizens.
- An election is coming and dammit, I’m voting this time.
We cut it close.
The deadline for registration is October 4th by mail or online and October 20th in person, so this evening I registered to vote and for the first time, when asked “are you a US Citizen?”, I selected “YES”.
The oath ceremony was pretty nice, not what you’d expect when sat in a building with the words “Department of Homeland Security” written everywhere. We watched a few short videos (which included probably the nicest video I’ve seen that starred George W. Bush) and accepted our certificates of naturalization.
Probably the coolest thing was that from the 109 people that were there being naturalized, they represented 44 countries.
Anyhow, once we were done, we picked up the kids and I headed back to the office where I discovered that my co-workers had decorated my desk in honour of the occasion, and our resident Photoshop guru had created this as the centerpiece:
Rock on!
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Congrats, Steve! Your citizenship was long overdue!! Welcome to the wierdest "family" on the planet :-)
Congrats!
CONGRATULATIONS, my friend. Welcome to the club.....I'll lay out a couple simple rules here for the newbie(s).
1. The Dallas Cowboys ARE AMERICA'S TEAM.
2. The Superbowl is the single most important annual event in a non election year.
3. The 4th of July is held annually on July 4th.
4. Michael Moore does NOT speak for Americans. He speaks for himself.
5. It is called SOCCER.
6. Football is better than baseball; refer to #1, #2.
7. We call them hot dogs or sausages..."Bangers" just sounds kinda dirty...if you know what i mean.
8. Big trucks are cool.
9. We play POOL...not billiards.
10. Cricket is something we step on...cause they are noisy.
11. Drinking is important.
12. Drinking more is fun......
13. Apple pie is made with apples.
14. Baseball...it is America
16. Americans are competitive
15. The Seattle Mariners are neither competitive or American.....they are Japanese & they SUCK.
16. Canada.....well, it's.....it's... Canada.
Congrats to the wife as well, be sure to share these important rules/insights with her. They don't usually address these finer points at the "big ceremony". I hope you found them helpful in providing you with more insight as to what "being an American" is. Plus, these finer points will add a level of enjoyment to your citizenship that you may not have realized possible. Really...especially #1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 12.
Next episode I'll provide you with a few "isms" to help you along in the daily grind.
OK...enough. Welcome aboard. Next American micro brew beer on me.
As you were......
Congrats. Kicking myself that I didn't get my act together and do this in time to vote. Oregon's leaning democrat without my help but still.
Anyhow, congratulations!
Another UK expatriat becomes a US citizen. YAY! I became a US citizen 32 years ago, I was too young to be sworn in, but became one when my dad did, my mum got her citizenship six years earlier.
Never forget your roots
GO CUBS!
Q: How many Brits does it take to hold a colony?
A: Nobody knows.
Congrats Steve
Q: What's the difference between America and yoghurt?
A: If you leave yoghurt long enough it grows a culture!!!
Anyway congrats.
Steve
Congrats amigo!!!
Welcome to the "Naturalized" Club
What happened? You became an America....and now you can't blog anymore?
I just saw this post so I'm a little late to the party. I wanted to say congrats and welcome aboard!
Rick
WOW that is so cool Steve.