2006/12/12

We the People...

Went through my US citizen interview yesterday.
 
24 years after my arriving US in 1982.
 
I'm now at the end of this immigration route.  
 
Looking back, full of memories.
 
Things like,
 
My unable to board the airplane on my first attempt because of visa problem;  
 
The 26 English characters were all that I know about English when I arrived;   
 
The first turkey I've eaten (I arrived a day or two after the Thanksgiving);  
 
First X'mas celebrated;  
 
Friends, classmates and teachers in ESL class;  
 
I actually opened the wrong restroom door on the first day at school as I didn't know "Boys" and "Girls" painted on the doors.....  
(Why didn't they use pictures/icons instead...)
 
Rejected a Japanese girl's dance invitation in grad party at the end of 8th grade (me too shy...);  
 
"Turned bad" in high school years;  
 
Missed high school grad ceremony and yearbook pic because missed the registration deadlines;  
 
The years I spent in Texas;  
 
My first visit back to Taiwan after 19 years;  
 
Number of various types visa I've been held;  
 
The 9 years between my process for obtaining green card;  
 
Times I stood inline outside the Los Angeles INS building in EARLY morning, Winter too;  
 
The people I met in various periods;  
 
And many other stuffs...
 
Wondering... What would my life be if my parent didn't take me to US?  
 
Would I ever get to come to US then?  
 
Anyway, congratulations, I'll become an US citizen in a few months.  
 
And thanks, mom and dad, for taking me to the US so Em could come to this world~