What Does Citizenship Mean To Us?

When making application for Naturalization, we were warned that if we missed our interview, our application could be thrown out if we didn't notify them. And as the only phone number I had was for the Nebraska office, I was very concerned that if we got stuck in traffic or something like that, that I wouldn't be able to let them know I was on the way to my interview. So ...... being very conscious of this .......

We all got up very early yesterday morning and left home in a mad scramble at 8am. We'd decided to leave as early as possible because the traffic going into Chicago city in the mornings is just too awful. The congestion makes the usual midday 50-60 minute drive sometimes almost take 90minutes plus and sometimes even longer. So, as my appointment was at 10.25am we wanted to make 150% sure we were there on time (as the Government Depts. don't wait for no man!!!). Another thing we had to consider time wise, was that fact that ( in amongst all the humongous traffic throng in the city itself) we had to first find the Federal building where the Immigration Department is housed, also find parking which is almost impossible and then walk from wherever to the INS and wait in loooooong lines to even get in. And all this had to be done before my appointment time.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, we got there with just under an hour to spare, found the address and then Bridgette decided, that it would be far better to just drop me and Jacqui there (as I'd been told the interview could take about 2 hours, and the INS instructed us to not bring along others as the waiting rooms were usually packed with applicants with no room for other people, especially bored kids). So, after offloading Jacqui and me, Bridgette then took the kids for walk on the lake beach while waiting for me to finish.

When Jacqui and I got inside, we waited in a long line to hand in the letter I'd received telling me to come to the interview, and then were told to wait in the huge, packed waiting room. Before going to sit and wait , I decided that I'd better go to the loo (bathroom) as I didn't want to have to go whilst being interviewed. So Jacqui and I went into the Ladies and as we walked in we were talking and a woman in the bathroom said to us - "Hey! I know where you come from, because I do too!" What a co-incidence, she was also from Johannesburg in South Africa and her and her family were there for their interviews to become citizens too. It was so nice to chat with her and we all felt so happy and grateful to soon be able to say we are Americans! So exciting to share this with an expat who was doing the same.

Anyway, this man took me into his office (quite a driving feat as I had to traverse so many narrow twists and turns on my scooter to get to his office which was very small too. He quickly removed about 3 chairs to make room for my scooter and commented on the fact that "It is so nice to have a daughter with you who obviously loves you and kisses you good luck. ) That seemed to set the mood for the whole interview.

He concernedly asked if I could stand, I said yes, then he asked me to raise my right hand and told me to say "I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!" I immediately complied. We then sat down and he proceeded to go thru my application, asking me questions all through to see if my answers gelled with what I'd said on my application. He asked if I wanted to change my name, I said No!. He also asked me what organizations I belonged to now or in the past. I told him that I'd belonged to 3 organizations in South Africa - The Kennel Club of SA, The Witwatersrand Kennel club and the Schipperke Club of South Africa (having been on the committee of 2 of them). He smiled when I spoke about them and was surprised at the coincidence as he said few people knew these great dogs, but he said his mother has a Schipperke and loves it. He continued his questions but only asked me only about 8 of the simplest American history and knowledge questions he could find, quickly ticking off all my correct answers. (While this was all going on, I smiled to myself knowing I'd spent weeks with my head buried in an extremely in-depth studying of these questions and answers about the 3 branches of the Government and all that they signify and do and the how's and why's and all about American history and past and present presidents and the Constitution and - and - etc - etc and so on and on. ) My head was reeling with all the acquired knowledge and he asked me questions like: How many stripes are on the flag, what are the colors and what do these stripes signify? What is the Constitution etc?. All so simple and none of the stuff I really tried very hard to learn about the workings of the American government, the executive branch, congress, the judiciary system and all the really important difficult to remember stuff.

{I must tell you that all the time this was going on ,I was having wild giggling fits deep down inside, because as Pat suggested, I could see and feel all the ' syr2k ' Schippeepels and the whole crowd of Schips enmasse surrounding me in that cramped little office, with all the beans alternately praying for me, supporting me and whispering the answers in my ear, while all the many, many Schips pranced up and down the walls and on the ceiling and played around chewing his pens, munching his papers, having rough and tumble games on his desk, peeing on his chair, sniffing his toes, nibbling his fingers and Nascaring up and down the passages}. Anyway, this very kind and nice Interviewing Officer seemed very pleased with all my answers, told me to write this sentence: "All Citizens have the right to vote", asked me if I was a Communist or had communistic leanings, what I thought about terrorists and if I was one. I answered all the questions, some vehemently , especially about terrorism and how I deplore people who commit acts of terrorism . However, to this last question - "Are you prepared to bear arms to defend this country ? " - I said :-

Well, I was very surprised as all this took only about 20 minutes. So, after him signing off on my papers and getting me to sign the final forms, I thanked him very sincerely and shook his hand as he congratulated me, saying I had passed my test, then gave me a letter that stated I had passed. He said he was going to send in my application with his positive recommendations and that, it's now just a matter of form and his recommendation being accepted and checking by another department to see that everything is correct, then I'd be getting a letter within a month to advise me when I have to attend the Oath Ceremony. And then the moment I've been waiting for so long, as soon as I have put my hand on my heart and uttered the Oath "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all"

After I was finished, Bridgette picked us up and we all went driving around the city to see all the splendid display of flowers growing all over the city, up and down the Magnificent Mile, in the beautiful gardens surrounding the spectacular Buckingham fountain, up and down the park - like grounds that stretch all the way up and down the Lake front. Then we went to Navy Pier, taking in all the sights, walking up and down looking at all the unique stores, had lunch and a wonderful time there walking all the way along the pier in the glorious sun, wonderful temps of +- 85 degrees with a slight breeze coming off the lake and we had a really great day. It was such fun and we were all in such a heightened, happy mood as it was truly a day to remember and a very important and defining day of my and our lives. One we'd been praying for for 14 years. .

So, now it all depends when I get my invitation to the Oath Ceremony then it's a done deal. I cannot tell you just how amazing it feels, how proud I am and how ecstatically excited I am , as soon, very soon I will belong to America and America will belong to me , then I can stand tall beside you all as a citizen of the mostest bestest country in the whole wide world. It is the best gift I could ever imagine.

Something else exciting is that, it won't be long and all 3 of us gals will be United States of America citizens as Bridgette gained her Citizenship in 2003, I will get mine soon and Jacqui will be submitting her application in sometime around July/August next year as she will have been married to an American for 3 years and can then apply. It truly is a dream come true, and we are all so incredibly grateful to be given this honor .