Finally an American!

Yesterday was the long awaited glorious day: I became a naturalized American citizen. Although I had always had an interest in the American culture, arts and first world society (I studied English in a self-taught basis for the most part), I can now officially say I am "proud to be an American."
I love this country, here is where I started my family when I got married to an amazing American woman (Paige) and had my daughter Evie, not to mention the additions to the family (my in-laws)! The U.S.A. is where God brought Paige and I together to live and constitute a family and it has been a great decision and privilege.

The foundations of this Nation are a compelling story...

I could go on an on... but here is how the crucial day went.

We got up early and got our Evie ready for the special occasion. We dropped at daycare and and went on to the USCIS office in Atlanta. The appointment was at 9:45 and we got there at 9:42, just in time for me to jump out of the car and go through security.

While Paige parked I went ahead and checked in on the second floor. She came and joined me later until my interview.

The interviewer called my name. She was a dark, skinny, friendly little girl probably around our age. I went back to the interview room after asking her if I could bring Paige back with me and she said I couldn't. Paige waited in the waiting room.

The interviewer asked to see my ID and birth certificate. I showed her both and said "I can't seem to find the photocopy" to which she replied "no problem, I found it in the pile here." Basically, they ask you to bring all docs just in case because they have all of them there anyway.
The next question was about my name and date of birth. I said "how American, huh? Enzo Silva." to which she replied "if you would like to change your name legally you can as part of this process, it would just slow down your naturalization a bit." I said "no, I don't even like Enzo anyway, will just keep it."

She then asked the routine questions like "have you been involved in any terrorist plots," etc. To which I always replied: "absolutely not". Then she asked me if I had been in any trips outside the U.S. after 2007 (the last trip I had listed on the form before submitting was Brazil in 11/2007), I said:
"Yes, we went to Brazil this summer."
"How long did you stay there?"
"2 weeks, out of which we got sick for 1 week". We had the 'swine flu'."
"Really? You're over it, right?" - smile.
"Oh yeah, don't worry about it, not passing it on to you". She smiled.

Then she asked me if I knew what the oath I was taking meant and I said "yes." She asked if I was open to defend the country and join the Military if necessary.

"Sure. I just don't know what they would use me for with only one ear." Laugh.
"Well, I am sure there is a lot of brain power in there that could be used." Smile.

She then asked if I lived in the same address. I said yes and repeated it as she was saying it as well. She also asked if I was still married and I said "yes, and I intend to stay that way..." Of course, she smiled.

I coughed and made the "smart" remark: "oops, not the swine flu." and she replied laughing: "good, I was already holding my breath here..."

Next thing she said for me to put my documents/folder aside so we could start the "test".
Mmmm... did I say it was easy? I lied: it was an insult to anyone's intelligence. 10 random questions, if you answer the first 6 correctly the interviewer will stop and you will NOT have to answer the others.
Here are the questions she asked:

1. What is freedom of religion? Answer: you have the right to practice or not practice any religion. (Yep, I memorized this one verbatim).
2. Name one state that borders Canada. (my answer was New York)
3. When was the Constitution written? (my answer: 1876)
4. 
   When is it necessary to register for Selective Service? (my answer: males from 18 - 26 years of age)
5. What ocean is on the East Coast? (my answer: mmmm... Atlantic)
6. How many U.S. senators are there? (my answer: 100... 2 per state *smile*)

Then she put a sheet of paper on the desk in front of me and asked me to read the first sentence: "What do we pay to the government?"
I even said after reading it in immaculate English (just kidding): "well, we pay taxes, fees and more..." and smiled.

Funny enough, the "writing test" was for me to write the sentence she dictated: "we pay taxes."

That was IT!!!

I asked her if I could write down the questions. "I will have too many people asking me what questions were on my test. Is that against the rules?" She said no problem. Then as I started writing them down, I said my memory was bad (yes, tricky me). And she said: "hey, here, copy it from the test..." and handed me the test... ;)

Then she said: "I need your green card now. Say good-bye to it".

"Really? I wanted it as a souvenir!..." said face... and she smiles saying "yeah, we have to keep it".... Man, am I charming even in my naturalization interview... ;)

I asked her if she was born American herself and she said she was but her parents were from India. I knew I thought she looked like the girl from Slum Dog Millionaire!

Then she said, "congratulations, you passed the test, wait until they call you out there and give you the approval paper and then come back at 2 o'clock for the ceremony on the second floor. Don't forget to change your status to citizen at the Social Security office."

I got out of that room with a smile on my face and Paige was happy to see me. She then went downstairs because her parents had picked Evie up at daycare and had come to participate in the festivities. I thought I would be able to get out and have some lunch before the ceremony: wrong! I waited until around 1:30 for the approval paper! In the meantime, anxious, hungry and a tad mad, I talked to a Vietnamese lady whose daughter was going to interview as well... turns out she did NOT pass the test... probably nervous?

Anyways, I went on to the parking lot to see if my family was there, borrowed a cell phone to call Paige (mine was in the car) and went back upstairs when she didn't pick up the phone, knowing they would be in there anyway.
They then had to wait on the third floor while I was on the second floor, sitting in line talking to a guy from Liberia who didn't care enough to tell his family he was becoming an American citizen after 20 years of permanent residence... well..

The ceremony was really nice. We had a message from president Obama, videoclips with the song God Bless the USA in the background and, of course, the oath I was proud to take.

My family got front row seat since the Evie was a little baby.

And this is just one moment in the story of how I became and American citizen.

I already registered to vote.

Last night

Tonight is Enzo's last night of not being a US citizen.  Say a prayer for his test tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Jude!

Judah was welcomed into the world October 15, 2009.  This is a picture of my new little nephew with his Daddy!

Growing and learning

So much has happened during Evie's 6th and 7th months of life!  Her Vovo Rosaria taught her how to clap over the internet.  Crawling also began with about a yard's length at a time.  She also can say "bye bye" and wave at the same time.  Grammie and Grandaddy have also taught her to through her arms in the air and yell "YAY"!

Love my Punkin!

Evie is sooooo ready for Halloween!  

The Little Pumpkin at Burt's

Ok so we realize we have become a little obsessed with the pictures but she is just too darn cute!  Here is from our trip to Burt's Pumpkin Farm.  We had fun even though it rained a little...It actually might have been better that we went this day anyways because when it isn't raining this place is packed out!

And here is one of the cutest things in the world that Evie has started doing.  She copies us when we do stuff now.  Whenever Enzo makes faces she tries to do it back...so smart;)

U2 - Not waiting Any Longer

Although I have always listened and enjoyed U2's music, it wasn't until the 1997 Pop Tour that I admitted being a fan and started collecting CDs. No, I am not one of those fan(atics) that will collect all kinds of junk they don't even have space to store, but I love their music, their attitude, their message, their success and even how they've learned with their failures in their career.

So, back in 1997 I was still in high school (yes, basically some 20 years after U2 already had achieved fame) and I was NOT able to go to a concert. It was too expensive for my family's conditions, it was far (no real big bands EVER go to my town, which is not São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro) and I would have to travel to either townm which, without adventurous friends to encourage and acompany me, I wouldn't have done anyway.

It was a sad day when Paige had purchased a pair of tickets to the Vertigo tour thinking I was going to be here in America in time. Naive, aren't we? A broken immigration system stood in our way. Although we weren't kneeling at the time, "blessings aren't just for the ones who kneel". It was painful, and this was just ONE of the moment in which we felt helpless, hopeless and just wanted to be with one another and enjoy simple things... like a U2 concert.

The blessing was realized later when the broken immigration system was used by God to bring us together and take a step perhaps we wouldn't have taken at HIS time if it wasn't for the visa denials and despair: we got married.

Long story short: we have a beautiful daughter (Evelyn) and we have just been to the U2 360º Tour in Atlanta (October 6th, 2009). Fours years after that concert we weren't allowed to enjoy together. God brought us together to enjoy that moment once denied and this is just an illustration of how waiting for His timing, although all I wanted to sing in my heart at the time was "hanging on, you're all that's left to hold on to... I'm still waiting", wounded by fear.

The Long Awaited U2 Concert

In 2005 I bought tickets for Enzo and I to attend the Vertigo tour in hopes that he would be in the country in time for his favorite band.  No such luck.  When I finally realized it wasn't going to happen, I invited my friend Carolyn to go with me.  We had a blast but I knew Enzo was on the other side of the world wishing he was some where else.  We both couldn't get over how unfair the deck that was thrown at us was.  We both loved U2 and for his birthday in 2004 I had bought him the "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" CD.  Funny how music brings reminders to the past.  "Miracle Drug" is the song that makes me think of our "courtship."
October 6, 2009 it finally happened.  We made it to see the show together... reminding us that God had in mind for us all along to be together on his timing not ours.  If we only knew what was in store for us! Bono has a song that has been inspired by Psalm 40.  Here is a portion of the song that reminds Enzo and I of our life together.  Let's give a toast to the one we sing it to.

Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord
And He inclined to me and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction
Out of the miry clay
And He set my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm
He put a new song in my mouth
A song of praise to our God
Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord


On a side note, our tickets were VIP.  Before the show we had a private party and then we headed to our seats.  Our seats were nice.  They were 11th row and you could see Jeff Foxworthy with his family on row 10.  Enzo, the German groupie guy that we met, and I all headed down to the front to see the view from 1st row.  When we got there there was this couple who were smiling on the front row.  They were so excited because when they got there a man walked up to them and handed them 1st row tickets.  There was also another lady that was with them that was also given a free ticket.  Enzo asked them how they got so lucky and I said for them to get us if the rest of the row never filled up.  I never thought they would actually come and get us.  People normally don't think of others like that.  As soon as the first song begun the girl ran up to our row and insisted we sat with them.  Ahhhh!  We ran down right before some other guys got it.  So glad there are people like that girl.  She had happiness and she insisted on sharing it.  At the end of the last song I looked down and there was Wynona Judd.  Wow.  Almost perfect night... just didn't meet Bono ;)