I'm an American too
And I became an American too. I had a very good day. The ceremony started at 10:30 in room 103. Applicants along with the relatives sat together at first. A lady started talking about how to obtain passports, what forms needed, how to bring family members to the US and stuff. She then answered all the questions until about 11:05. After that, relatives were asked to leave the room. Then, starting from the first row, we one by one went up to the desk in the room and were shown our certificates to make sure all the info was correct. This is when you surrender your green card if you didn't during the interview. We were also given a copy of oath alligiance, alligiance to the flag and welcome letters from Sonny Purdue and George Bush and an info sheet showing how to sign your naturalization certificate. Aftre each person cehcked out, an officer was brought in to finish the ceremony. This is when the relatives are called back in. Around 12:05. We finished the oath at 12:20:52 and all became US Citizens. Then we took alligiance to the flag, listened to the national anthem and listened a music video of God Bless America. This is when I cried.
After that the certifications were handed out one by one announcing the names and their countries. There was 72 people from 32 countries. Some of them were Turkey(only me), Bosnia, Nigeria, Colombia, Guatemela, Mexico, Bahrein, Bulgaria, Russia, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Canada, Sierra lione, Granada, St.Vincent, China, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, El Salvador, South Africa, Korea, Romania, Phillipines, Trinidad Tobago. Cutiest applicant was an old Chinese lady (about 90 yrs old). Then pictures were taken. You can also take a picture as you take your certification with the officer. It was all done at 12:45.
Overall, it was a very emotional interview. As you leave the building, you feel overwhelmed. Hard to believe it's over. My naturalization process took 208 days. July 21 2005 to Feb 14 2006. It was also a very special thing that I became an American on a St. Valentine's day. This day will never be forgotten.
I AM PROUD OF BEING AN AMERICAN.