Mish MoshOK, so this is not a photo. It's a collection of photos that isn't even put together all that gracefully. What can I tell you? I don't have the Photoshop skills I wish I did. This photo contains shots of: my green card, my naturalization document, my voter registration application, my passport application, my naturalization center, me standing in the crowd when they called my country's name. It's a small glimpse of the long road it took for me to get here.
Thirteen Years
I came to the United States in August of 1992. I had just graduated high school in Istanbul and flew across the Atlantic Ocean to attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Even back then I knew that I intended to stay here and was determined to do all that was necessary for me to achieve the goal of making the US my permanent home as quickly as possible.
My senior year, I turned down offers from companies that wouldn't guarantee a green card application, namely JP Morgan and went with one that promised to apply exactly one year after my start date, namely Goldman Sachs. Exactly one year after my beginning date, I made a phone call from London where I was for a project and asked them to start the proceedings. Thanks to a great law firm, I got my green card relatively quickly, in two years, with the Extraordinary Ability clause. Exactly three months short of five years later, I applied for my citizenship. That was December of 2004. Today, I took my oath and walked away with my naturalization papers.
I am officially a citizen of the United States of America.
There were over 1,000 others swearing in with me today. We were told to arrive at 8:30 but the ceremony didn't begin until 10. It commenced with a group of local junior high school students performing a medley of Footloose songs. The relevance still baffles me. We then waited while they gave some awards to some officials and sang the Star Spangled Banner. Someone made the motion for all of us to become citizens and a judge accepted it after we took the oath of allegience. The judge's parents were naturalized citizens themselves so he was very moved to be there and cried a bit as he talked about how great America is and what a special day it was for us and how honored he felt to be there. There was another moving speech and then the judge read the names of all 94 countries that had citizens being naturalized today and asked us to get up as our country's name was called. Being in San Diego, he left out Mexico and at the end the crowd yelled, so he said, "What there are people from Mexico here?" and half the room got up and cheered. It was quite funny and specific to our location, I imagine. If I weren't so worried about David going without food for so long, I might have enjoyed the proceedings more. As it were, I wanted to get my certificate and be done with this long ordeal.
I know there are many cynical and bitter people out there and not everyone agrees with me. But, to me, becoming American was a lifelong goal and one I am incredibly proud to have accomplished. This country has given me everything I've ever wanted. It allowed be to find myself and gave me the space to grow into what I wanted to be. If I hadn't come here, I am not sure I would have done half the things I've done in my life and I am so glad to live here every single day. I am proud to be a citizen. I am delighted that I will get to vote. Not to mention how much easier it will be to travel now!
It only took thirteen years.
