[Smurfysmurf]

Hi Everybody,
I have long debated whether to post about this on this forum or not, but decided to go ahead...

I am scheduled to become an American citizen tomorrow and right now I am making my round, saying GoodBye to everybody as a German citizen. .I will be losing my German Citizenship, which was a very hard decision to make. But during the last ten years, I have come to think of myself more and more as an American, so I wanted to make it official.

As far as I know I will keep the British Citizenship, for which I am really happy, as I am quite proud of it.

I know this is a very international board (that's why I love it so) and it may not interest a lot of you or a lot of you may not even understand this step, but I thought I share it anyway

I am announcing this today, as I will be leaving my home in about three hours and won't return until tomorrow evening when all is over (hopefully) (It was a long and very hard and painful process to get to tomorrow, and I have come to expect the unexpected, so I am very careful to take tomorrow for granted yet)

[eggie smurf]

I'm glad you posted, Maureen, as I think it is very interesting and so will the others on the board. Good luck and tomorrow I will say a congratulations Go get 'em, Maureen

[steveparkes]

Good Luck Maureen, It must have been a hard decision to make, but I wish you every sucess with it

[Pitufo]

Hi, Maureen!!!!!!!!!!!Good luck in your decission!!!!!!

A british Maureen, or a german Maureen, or an american Maureen? Never mind!!!!!!!!!!!We love the smurfie Maureen!!!!!Why not a spanish Maureen?

BYE

[SMURFYSTEVE1]

A british Maureen, or a german Maureen, or an american Maureen? Never mind!!!!!!!!!!!We love the smurfie Maureen!!!!!

Yep we love smurfy Maureen.
I wish you all the best with your decisions and citizenship and a big congratulations when it's all done and dusted.............


Smurfy regards
Steve

[Tojo]

That is a big decision to make Maureen & I'm sure you'll benefit from the change (probably less-red tape for example).

I've decided to keep my British citizenship & not become German even though it has a drawback. I can't vote in General elections here which always annoys me as I've been living here since 1992 (I can vote in the local elections though). I can't vote in Britain either though as I haven't got an address there The British voting system is really stupid.

Otherwise, I have all the rights that others have here so I won't be changing. I feel myself as a British European with an English, Irish, Scottish & Welsh heritage & just couldn't imagine become German.


Tojo

[SMURFYSTEVE1]

I feel myself as a British European with an English, Irish, Scottish & Welsh heritage

Don't forget your smurfy heritage too Tojo, we all have that in common!


Smurfy regards
Steve

[Tojo]

Oh no! I forgot that one. My humblest apologies for forgetting - must be turning senile

[SMURFYSTEVE1]

i think it happens to us all at some point, but my wife would say I was born senile!...........


Smurfy regards
Steve

[attombomb7]

Hi Maureen!

Congratulations on your new birth! as long as it doesn't brain wash you

into a non smurf aholic! then its super !

I'm sure you will feel very proud at the ceremony! and it will be a

great new expierance! are you wearing light blue?

I think you made a good decision if you plan to live there and be part of

what that country offers with a voice.

[Guest]

Awww Good Luck Maureen I hope everything goes smoothly and i look forward to your next message, when you can tell us all what happened

[Rachel]

Hi Maureen, I hope all your goes well for your big day.

It does sound like a big decision and it has been interesting hearing about your citizenships and also your story Tojo. It is something I don't really know much about so it's always great to learn something new.

[Bunno Smurf]

Good luck, Maureen. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. When I saw the date I was thinking "Geez who found out it was my parent's wedding anniversary and is reminding me on the forum???" Freaky as my sister was born on the 6/6 and my dad on the 8/8 and their wedding anniversary is the 10/10.



A Kiwi once told me this joke about becoming an Australian citizen:

Whats the hardest thing about becoming an Australian citizen?

Having half your brain removed


I guess its payback for all those kiwi sheep jokes lol!

[Ritter_Schlumpfenherz]

Good luck Maureen,

I didn't know about both your German and your British citizenship. Despite being born in Germany, I do have many relatives in the Czech republic as well many friends abroad. Therefore I'm open to anyone and call myself "globe trotter".

[XoioX2000]

Good luck Maureen! :):)

[Smurfysmurf]

Hi Guys,
well, I am back and after some phone calls (one of them to Germany that wasn't that good ), I am reporting back to you as a brand new American citizen

Thank you so much for all your good wishes...
I still can't really believe it and after 10 years of having to fool with immigrations and their bureaucracy, but also seeing many miracles, I will have to give God all the Glory for what happened today... I do feel very blessed that I have had the opportunity to experience living in two countries up close and personal

It was a very big and hard decision for me to make, not because of any big patriotic feelings I had, but because I knew what it would do to one special member in my family. In the end, I decided to go for it though, because this is where I am living and after paying all those taxes, I finally want to be able to vote. You can't even vote in small local elections in America unless you are a citizen .

I feel myself as a British European with an English, Irish, Scottish & Welsh heritage & just couldn't imagine become German

I guess, one of the reasons I never really felt like a German was that as Tojo's background, mine is very varied also and I always was more proud of my background and still consider myself as a citizen of the world (in the good sense of the word). My background is very mixed, so I think becoming an American only made sense. I am half Irish (Father was pure Irish), and on my mother side, I am quarter American (with Indian blood, and whoknowswhat else) and the other quarter is divided up with German, Polish and Jewish blood My British citizenship actually came from having been born in the best city of the world...at least in my opinion

are you wearing light blue?

that was funny because I had to look when I read that question, Attom, and I think the smurfs have gotten more into my blood than I knew, because yes, I was wearing a dark blue dress with light blue flowers..

[Rachel]

Great to hear you had a great day Maureen and that you are pleased with the way you are feeling about it all. Congratulations.

[eggie smurf]

:streamer: :streamer: :streamer:
CONGRATULATIONS, MAUREEN!
:streamer: :streamer:

[XoioX2000]

Well done Maureen!!!

You are now a complete Smurf... I mean an American!!!

Ok that's one more thing we will have to toast in Brussells... is somebody making notes of all these?

[Guest]

Excellent news Maureen Its good to hear everything worked out for you !