"Did you study enough?"
"Yes!"
"Okay how many representatives are in the House of Representatives?"
"435"
"Name one of the longest rivers in the US?"
"Mississippi...I told you I studied...no need to keep quizzing me!"
This was our conversation on the way to my husband's citizenship interview on March 6th 2012. He lugged his huge briefcase brimming with all the documents they requested...marriage certificate-- translated--children's birth certificates-- tax returns-- utility bills (I guess to prove we both are staying in the same house)-- pictures of the family--to make sure we are married? hello??? We've been married for 25 years...we have 3 kids...soon 3 grand kids!
I sat out in the big waiting area. The book on my lap gave the impression I was reading, but every time a door opened my head flipped around to see who was coming out. Nope ...not him...not yet... I had a lot of time to people watch. Oh, no, that man definitely didn't get it...he is shaking his head and trying to tell his daughter some reason why ...maybe he didn't have all his documents? Oh look at that other woman's smile- she is showing thumbs up to her husband, so she must have done well! Good for her.
Everyone sits straight in their chairs, hugging their documents and looking serious as they wait. When the officer calls out their names, they jump up and walk mechanically to the door. What a transformation when they exit the door after the interview. Each person emerges with relief all over their faces.
The door squeaks, I turn and it is my hubby. I search his face, I can't seem to detect the relief...he has an odd expression...."How was it?" I already have my coat in hand and am ready to head down the stairs.
"Wait...we can't leave yet."
I half sit, half stand, "Why? Is something wrong?"
"No...the opposite...they said I did very well and I've waited so long why not just join the ceremony today and get my citizenship today!"
"REALLY? Today...like when?"
"in a couple hours"
"Are you serious?"
He was serious. We waited a couple hours. I texted the kids. No one was expecting this so everyone was at work. Cassandra was able to make it...thankfully...since she snapped the pictures.
There were speeches, video presentations, oaths said, pledges made and presentations of the naturalization certificate. Tears softly tied each part of the ceremony together...they were happy tears...they were tears of amazement....they were 'just because' tears. Daniel said when they played the song, "God Bless the USA"* his eyes welled up with tears. When he walked across the stage to receive his certificate, Cassandra and I clapped as loud as we could.
After 20 years of being a green card holder, he now is a citizen. I asked him what he is looking forward to doing as a citizen...his answer? "Vote, of course!"
*I could not find the exact link to the video they showed at the Naturalization ceremony but this was close enough.
Herein lies a labyrinth of memories...past and present... this is best navigated by going to the very beginning of the blog... it is in the first posts, from March 2008, in which the heart of this blog is found
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
And time marches on
Time doesn't wait for any person. One minute you are in 2018 and the next thing you know, 6 years have passed and you are in 2024! Of c...
-
Weddings...weddings...weddings...this year seems to be full of them. We can't seem to get away from the royal wedding. First, they had t...
-
Can you imagine my utter disappointment when I walked into a bookstore here in the States and they seemed to have no clue who Enid Blyton ...
-
Several years ago, I wrote a book about my grandmother . Her story is a fascinating story and I enjoyed researching and writing it. When I...
oh wow!! congratulations!! the smile on his face says it all!!! so I guess now it's celebration time!!
ReplyDeleteWoo Hoo- yes celebration- is it okay if I'm married to a different man now ;) ha ha!
Deleteweeeeeeeeeee..I am so happy for your family Ms.Anjuli..a celebration is waiting hihihi..I can see you smiling Ms.Anjuli..awwwwwwwww..sweet, a perfect family and you are sooooo blessed..stay happy and God bless you more *hugs* ;)
ReplyDeletep.s.Ms Anjuli..this has been happening to me also on my friends sites..I have left two comments on your previous post..the other one was yesterday then a couple of hours ago but I checked and it disappeared again..maybe it went to your spam folder..
Congratulations again *hugs* :)
thanks for alerting me to the comments problem- I checked the spam folder and now I know to do that- there were four different comments in there, not only yours- so now I see there is a problem, I'll keep on it.
Deleteomigod!!!yayy yippeee!! congratulations!!!!!! So when and where should I come along for the treat :-)))
ReplyDeleteha ha- come to Seattle Washington!
DeleteWoo Hoo! Congratulations! I remember the day our youngest became a US citizen - thrilling for sure. Many blessings to you all. We are blessed to have your dh join our citizenry. Deb
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear the journey of your youngest becoming a citizen- I have come to see it is a very special process!
Deletecongratulations!
ReplyDeletehe did "very well" and was asked to get the citizenship in a "couple of hours" was the best part!
@ Sujatha- you are so right- those were the best parts :)...especially the 'couple hours' instead of waiting for a letter and then having to go back in weeks later!!
DeleteI'm so happy for both of you. What a wonderful surprise that the waiting was immediately over after the interview. Welcome, new Citizen!!
ReplyDelete(for your reader who is winding up in spam--if they would stop using the * around their name, I think that would make a difference. Spam catchers read unusual characters in a name as a sign of a spammer.
@ Vera- thank you for your wonderful thoughts sent our way. And also thanks for the suggestion regarding the spammer issue- I will definitely let Sie know
Deletewoww.. that is soo awesome. :) I am really happy for you guys. He must be rocking. To have done so impressively well to get it in 2 hours. I can see how happy and emotional you guys would be right now and it is time to celebrate! :)
ReplyDeletewell the 2 hours is I think there was already a ceremony on that day and it probably wasn't full- so they figured this guy has been waiting 20 years why not let him in- ha ha!! ;)..whatever it is- we are overjoyed and celebrating- as my hubby says "ALL MONTH LONG"
DeleteCongratulations! How awesome for him and you. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely fail most of those questions...funny how we forget the things we learned in elementary school!
ha ha- It is sooo true- thankfully it is all over and all questions were answered correctly- they actually only asked him 6 - when he got 6 correct they said that was enough they didn't need to ask him more.
DeleteCongrats to your husband! I remember many years ago when my husband did the same. It's a big step but honestly, the immigration process was the real pain.
ReplyDeleteYou are sooo right, the immigration process was the REAL pain. I remember when he did the process for green card- it took an entire year for us to gather all the documentation from various countries he had lived in- police reports- etc- and then we had the interview ...then over the years, we have been out of the country so he couldn't apply because he didn't have enough months within a five year period- so at least now he fulfilled all the criteria. It was good to have it finally OVER.
DeleteHearty congratulations. The smile on his face tells it all. I can understand how important this moment would have been. I am so happy for you all.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely it's a celebration time.
Clap clap clap
:) thank you for the congratulations!!!!
DeleteAww, wow, what a lovely story to visit your blog on. Congratulations to all of you, you must all feel so happy, especially your husband! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, we do feel especially happy!! And congrats to you for Fetheyi going to the next round!!! BRAVO!
DeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!!! How very exciting for all of you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind congratulations!!!!
DeleteThis is such lovely news! Congratulations to your family!
ReplyDelete♥ www.thegirlatfirstavenue.com
Thank you for your kind congratulations!!
DeleteCongratulations Anjuli, in this moment of triumph:) Am sure you and your family would be elated!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the congratulations
DeleteWonderful news, congratulations:-))!!!!
ReplyDeleteHe was soooo thrilled that day!
DeleteCongrats to dad!!
ReplyDeleteWe are so happy for him aren't we Sean??!! I am praying for you guys this week as you start back to work- that all goes well with organization etc.
Delete