Running

[SachaAndIain 10]

Today I had my biometric appointment in Boston for removal of conditions on my green card. It's about the fifth time I've had to do it, just another of the apparently mindless hurdles they make us jump through. It's not like my fingerprints have changed since last time, but sure, whatever. My appointment was at 11, so I showed up at 10:45 and found a huge room full of people, all with the same "appointment". It took over two hours to get down the queue to me.

While I was sitting quietly fuming over the inefficiencies of bureaucracies the world over, I had a brief conversation with the bloke next to me. He didn't seem to mind the wait much. I learned that he moved here five years ago, and was proudly on the last leg of the immigration process - naturalization. I learned that he moved here from Iraq. He didn't talk about it, and I didn't ask, but he had what I took to be scars from acid burns all over his face. I learned that he worries about his family back home, for reasons very different to my own.

People want to move to America for all kinds of different reasons. I think we're all running from or to something. Me, I needed desperately to be with the woman I love. But today I got a glance at a real reason for desperation. Maybe I've got it wrong, and he had an accident at the burger flipping job his Iraqi medical degree got him. But his eyes when he talked of home said otherwise.

I worried less about the queue after that. Every single person in front of me has a story.

Edited June 4, 2016 by SachaAndIain

[Michael and Ganna 104]

Wonderful post!! I have found interesting things since I have been on the whole journey....from introductions, dating and living as an expat in my wife's country.....I have a different view of things....instead of looking, I now see......My newest discovery is people here in Ukraine work for life...not for a living like we do in the US. Here you don't work, you don't live

[MADDEN 40]

Today I had my biometric appointment in Boston for removal of conditions on my green card. It's about the fifth time I've had to do it, just another of the apparently mindless hurdles they make us jump through. It's not like my fingerprints have changed since last time, but sure, whatever. My appointment was at 11, so I showed up at 10:45 and found a huge room full of people, all with the same "appointment". It took over two hours to get down the queue to me.

While I was sitting quietly fuming over the inefficiencies of bureaucracies the world over, I had a brief conversation with the bloke next to me. He didn't seem to mind the wait much. I learned that he moved here five years ago, and was proudly on the last leg of the immigration process - naturalization. I learned that he moved here from Iraq. He didn't talk about it, and I didn't ask, but he had what I took to be scars from acid burns all over his face. I learned that he worries about his family back home, for reasons very different to my own.

People want to move to America for all kinds of different reasons. I think we're all running from or to something. Me, I needed desperately to be with the woman I love. But today I got a glance at a real reason for desperation. Maybe I've got it wrong, and he had an accident at the burger flipping job his Iraqi medical degree got him. But his eyes when he talked of home said otherwise.

I worried less about the queue after that. Every single person in front of me has a story.

I love that you shared this!!!!

Thank you.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I had a similar experience while waiting for my naturalization interview. The woman I spoke with was a refugee from Somalia and had a horrific background. She was so thankful to be in the U.S. and to be 'safe'. Coming from Canada I was a bit indifferent to the naturalization process. She was proud to finally be an American.

Good luck

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Thanks for the perspective, which is often needed around here.