On Wednesday, March 12th, I officially became an U.S. Citizen. The Oath Ceremony took place in Oakland, in a very crowded theatre full of hope.
There were over a thousand people from 99 countries, and they all became naturalized citizens of the United States. Toward the end of the ceremony, all the names of the countries were read aloud. People from various countries, especially from Mexico, Brazil, China, India and El Salvador cheered. Close to me a Jamaican women was beaming with joy.
We were asked to remove our hats for the ceremony, unless they were for religious purposes.
We heard an old-fashioned choir made up of senior men and women dressed in white shirts. We sang the Star Spangled Banner, which is the National Anthem of the United States. We watched videos about U.S. heroes, famous history moments, and gorgeous nature. Madeleine Albright said that becoming an U.S. Citizen was the most important day of her life. Donald Trump’s short speeches for the occasion were aired. We all received a small American flag.
I wondered if the Oath Ceremony in other U.S. states are so welcoming to one’s culture and origin.
Next to me stood a man born in the Philippines, who had waited for this moment since 1982, when he came to the U.S. He was the last one in his family to become a citizen. His grandfather fought in the Philippine-American war, he said in quiet voice.
The U.S. officials were so nice. They made you sure they welcomed you and respected your journey to the U.S. They welcomed your hard work, skills, dreams and were encouraging you to apply for the U.S. passport and register to vote (they did that in English, Spanish and Chinese). I was happy to do both on the spot.
I got teary during the ceremony (especially when we watched the videos of fallen soldiers, or mothers with little kids being sworn in), even though it was a straightforward path for me. With the help of the lawyer, and of course of my lovely American husband, it was all a very nice experience. The Naturalization Officer who examined me, loved my hometown Kraków, and was just so welcoming and reassuring. I got all the questions right, and enjoyed a lot preparing for the test.
I thought of other people’s paths, who never made it to the safe land of America, or for whom it was a particularly long process. I wish I could learn more stories from that day. I thought how I met Dean, how we are raising kids together in the U.S. I thought what it meant for Rose and Maya to have a Polish-American Mom, who came voluntarily to the U.S. in her late 20s.
Dean and the kids were with me at the ceremony, although they had to sit separately, at the guests and family balcony.
In the evening, after some wonderful park time with the kids, we celebrated my citizenship at the Chinese-American restaurant at the shopping outdoor mall.
Later I cooked Polish pork cutlets and ironed a huge pile of clothes, right after help Rose rehearse her Polish poem for her school performance.
The next day, we were tired, yet very happy that it was finally done. Spring is just around the corner now in Berkeley, and now even the lavender colored trees seemed more welcoming.
PS. Polska wersja wkrótce, może ktoś chce przyjść popilnować dzieci? xx
