Oath ceremony: February 22nd 2013

If you follow my blog, you already know that I was working towards my citizenship this past months and after some bumps on the road (like this!), finally the day came: February 22nd I officially became an American citizen!! 

 And I promised to share, so here are the pictures. Please be kind, I look rough! That's what happened when you drive for 2 hours in pouring rain freaking out about not making it in time for the big day!!

  

The first shot is when they passed the mic around and asked me my name and where I was coming from. Let me tell you: MOST.EMBARRASSING.MOMENT.EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate talking in front a big mass of people and the place was packed. Plus I hate talking in the mic. UGH! 

  Unfortunately I don't have a clear shot of me actually reciting the oath of allegiance, but after the ceremony (that lasted about 4-5 hours!!!), I took a shot with the judges presiding while I'm holding the so coveted certificate of citizenship. 

 I must admit I'm really proud of myself for finally made the decision and go through the process. Wasn't easy task, but was worth it and I think it gave me some more confidence in doing more things more myself (but that's for another blog posts!) 

I also want to take the time and thank 2 very special online friends that supported me in this process. I talked about my friend Kayla at The Eclectic Element very often, she's very near and dear to me and she sent me the sweetest little package. But I want you to go look for yourself, in this lovely blog post the she dedicated to me: I'm American 

I love love love the scarf, I put it on to go at work the next day!!! Here it is!  

And the bracelet is simply adorable! I like especially the symbolism in it: it of course have red,white and blue beads to symbolize the American flag, plus some black beads for the Black history in the country (Martin Luther King Junior), a cross charm for our freedom of religion (some country are not so lucky, you know?) and a red heart for the love that moves everything in the universe. And, of course, it has "I'm American" hand stamped on it and I love it even more knowing that it's one of the first hand stamped pieced of Kayla. What an honor!!! LOVE.IT!  

My pictures really don't do justice to this lovely gifts, so please, visit Kayla's blog for some eye candy! 

 Another friend, Gail, also warmed my heart with this lovely necklace!!  

How can I NOT wearing it proudly? I have America in my heart!

 

Can't catch a break!

So yesterday was the big day, the day that off I went to take my citizenship test. 

All was planned and Monday night, we loaded the car and started driving to Jacksonville where I had reserved a lovely hotel room to rest before going to the Homeland Security Office. 

We arrived to the Best Western hotel at 1 am and was warmly greeted, they made me "guest of the day" and my name was in bald letters on their board at the entrance.....wish I took a picture of it! 

Plus, once in the room I found a sweet gift bag with 2 bottle of water and snacks for the kids, which was more than appreciated, since we were tired, exhausted and hungry. 

I didn't get the chance to get a picture of the little gift bag or the room before we messed it up unfortunately, but when I woke up in the morning, I caught a lovely view outside the window, just before sunrise. 

It was so beautiful and peaceful, it was just too bad that I had business to do elsewhere!! 

But we had time to enjoy the lovely breakfast they served which included everything for every tastes and needs, from eggs, to bread, to waffles, milk, coffee and pastries.....oh my!! 

I really wish I wasn't so nervous about the test I was gonna take! 

 Anyway, we arrived promptly at the Homeland Security Office and after a little wait it was my turn! I was shaking, but all went well and I'm happy to report that in a month or 2 I will be "officially" sworn in and become American! 

 All was well and we were on our way home thinking of a cool way to celebrate the event when the car starts acting up.....in the middle of the interstate!!! 

We barely make it to the next exit and at this point is clear that we need to have it towed :( 

And so the wait started! the tow truck finally came and it can bring us to the closer dealership, about 5 miles away. So a trip to the ATM and $120 later, we are at the dealership to see what the damage is but everybody is out for lunch......so we wait again! We do end up catching the longest train I ever saw just outside the glass walls of the dealership tho! 

Turns out that the transmission gave out :( 

 So we had to get a rental and try to get home the best I can..... 

I'm trying to stay positive and thinking that it could have been worse. 

I'm trying to get out of my head that this is not karma trying to tell me that becoming an American citizen just wasn't the right thing to do. 

BUT, the truth of the matter is that just now I was feeling like things were looking up and now I'm back to square one :(