I should be proud. The USCIS makes it rather easy for citizenship applicants to pass the interview and English language skill exam. So didn't have to hurdle that so much more than saving up $675 in cash to fork the application fee (they do not accept credit cards).
I am an American in the era of a black, man of the world kind of president, who flouts his Muslim middle name in a speech to the citizens of Cairo. Wouldn't happen for sure if I were instead a French Citizen. On top of that, it was either going to be a Black President Obama, or a Woman President Clinton. Either way makes history.
I am an American in the time of sweeping changes. A crackdown on credit cards company sharks finally when they feed on each other, and pass the brunt to you (my Capital One got bought out by Washington Mutual, which got bought out by Chase, who slapped me with a hefty 29.99% "default" APR surging from 15.99% rate on my older card). Segue: I called them by the way to counter that, unfortunately they couldn't do anything for me. Three months later, they offer me a brand-spanking lower APR of (roll your eyes) -- 28.99%! Oh and by the way my credit score is 740.
OK, so that didn't work out. Well let's see. I am an American in the fall of the GM Empire. Who received billions in bailout money to save their workers, but are folding up dealerships across the country. Oh boy! What a mess!
Do not get me wrong. I am definitely proud, and happy to be an American. I live in a country where there is access, recognition of need for improvement in many areas, and a country of good, hardworking people. Probably the most overworked of human beings.
It is a constantly exciting crust of world out here. Ideas replicate and proliferate 24/7. I love the speed at which information travels. More and more each day, concepts transform into actuality. It isn't only a place where immigrants come to achieve their car + house on a lot American dreams. It is a place where a Chinese boy can turn his idea into a website, and have that same little 5-year old head learn to play Mozart on the piano.
Then when you want it slow, there are places like Vacationland Maine. Verizon can claim the widest cellphone coverage as much as they'd like. Apparently they have never been to The Forks up there. Oh, it can be bliss when technology is tangible like having your cellphone on you (phenomenon), but not have utulity for it due to lack of network range (noumenon).
We truly do have most everything here (notice I now use the word 'we' because I'm official!). Maybe not everything as sometimes I wonder why it seems everyone I left back home in the Philippines are either getting married, or married having kids, and with what seem to be good jobs. Or maybe we have too much everything that keeps us mostly in a state of unrest and not knowing what we want out of our lives.
I do now know what I want with my life. A career in urban planning, get married and have children and see my family often (twice a month at least when I have kids of my own). I have good ideas on how to get there, and that maketh my plan. True, a recession slows financial prospects and opportunities that come. We dare less to dream; we dare less to take risks even when that means sticking to a job you are unhappy with. Nonetheless, more than any other time, we question whether more money, a luxury car, or an iPhone will truly make us happy. In the end, we learn how to be content, make do with and/or without, and simplify. Then life goals start to emerge out of all that fuzz.
Do you dare to dream on? I do. I am now an American. And that entitlement commands me to do the best that I can, because just by being so, I have means to an end.
