April 27th, 2009
There is a back story in the lead up to the BIG day, but I’ll keep it focused on the high points. However, I will tell you that I did spend the weekend prior memorizing the study guide, which I knew most of the answers to already; and had the help of a number of co-workers quizzing me daily.
I arrived at the Immigration building within the prescribed 30 minutes prior to my appointment, and was sent to the 3 floor to await my interview/exam. Imagine sitting in a very large open room. Everyone has someone with them and is chatting to his respective companion while you’ve been told to listen for your name to be called out. Now add to this task, no one in the room is speaking English! And a flat screen TV showing CNN Headlines with the volume being piped in at such a volume you could almost hear it.
While waiting, I had the pleasure of over hearing one guy come out of his interview. He was VERY excited! “I passed, I got all my questions right except for one!” he told his ‘girlfriend’. “What did you miss?” she asked inquisitively… “Some song about Bangles,” he replied with a smile. Off they went to the staging area for the oath ceremony. Now I don’t know about you, but ‘Walk like an Egyptian’ is not normally the song I hear at the beginning of a baseball game, but maybe it’s me. Today, this guy is as Red White and Blue as you and me. For the record, the correct answer to the question he missed is the national anthem Star Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key.
Once called in for my interview, of course with ‘no personality guy,’ my nerves were running high. Right out the door I had failed to bring passport photos, and was now at risk of not making the swearing in that day! Ahhhhhh, it’s like going to dinner with people you hardly know and immediately saying something offensive without knowing!!!!
The reading and writing portion of the exam:
My immigration officer printed off a sheet of paper and wrote the word ‘writing’ in the middle of the page; he then turned the sheet toward me and pointed to a printed sentence at the top of the page and asked me to read it aloud. It read: They buy mostly from the store.
Thoughts that resulted in a few questions about the above statement, which I didn’t really ask:
- Is this really a sentence?
- What are they buying?
- If they are not buying at the store, where are they buying things?
- What does that mean really?
- Who has the job of writing these sentences?
- Who selects the sentences for mass use?
I was then asked to pick up a pen. I obliged noticing quickly that the pen was frayed at the tip and was a bit bendy adding some difficulty to my task at hand. I was focused and determined; the officer dictated the sentence twice: “He wanted to talk to his boss. (Pause) He want-ED (Pause) to TALK to HIS boss.”
Right, got it! I handed him the paper back. He took out his red pen and wrote PASS over both the typed sentence and the one I had transcribed (YES! One step closer!).
The American History and Government questions:
Ready? Did you study?
- How many times can a US Senator or Representative be re-elected to congress?
- What is a change to the constitution called?
- What is the highest court in the country?
- Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death?”
Answers:
- Unlimited
- Amendment
- US Supreme Court
- Marie Antoinette… just kidding… Patrick Henry (he was a fiery leader…)
Post haste, I acquired the said ‘missing photos’ and was sworn in that day. Sadly I was not in time to make the Big swearing in with 100 other strangers. You know… the one with the music and videos, the goose bumps and emotions. Instead I was sworn in with 3 others, who must have also and minor issues with paper work or photos. I was vetoed on the pomp and circumstance. So, quietly and with little ado, I along with 3 unknowns became an American. Those who know me… know I have a ton of energy. I wanted nothing more than to jump up and down, give out hugs and laugh about it all; but rather I shook hands with the lady who performed the swearing in. She shook hands with a dead fish handshake, mind you. I promptly left with my hand held flag and new citizenship.
My friend Jennifer was waiting for me at Starbucks down the street, and when I explained how I missed the main event she turned to the guy sitting next to her and explained that I had just become and American!!! He was kind enough to be excited as well…and then the coolest thing happened it spread throughout the store and my newly fellow Americans were welcoming me into the club! How perfect and appropriate that Starbucks be the first place of many celebrations!
May 9th, 2009 at 11:31 am
You should have anniversary parties every year to celebrate. Full of pomp and circumstance! (The last was not a sentence, merely a fragment; my apologies.)
May 13th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Lisa San,
It sounds like the only energy in your experience came from you. That is okay though as you do have enough energy for the whole room usually – and that’s a good thing, as Martha is wont to say. It is also very likely that you know more about the U.S., its history and institutions than most native born Americans. Of course, most Canadians do. Go Lisa!