Tomorrow, on Friday March 14th at exactly 10:45 I will became a Canadian Citizen after 23 years of living in Canada. WHAT took you sooooooooooooo loooooooooong you might ask?
Well, I had started this process before and it got pretty far, (as far as all-we-need-now-are-your-fingerprints-and-its-almost-done) BUUUUUT .......... I never got it done and my application lapsed. You see it was 2006. And 2006 was THE year!! the VERY important year!
The year for what you say? Well the year I had been waiting for for the last 16 YEARS!!! YES! 16 YEARS!! 2006 was THE YEAR OF THE CANADIAN ROYAL COLLEGE EXAM! Yes, after 16 years of re-training I was going to finally be certified to practice medicine in Canada (provided I passed the exam - which of course I did after studying really hard for 12 months), so you can see how travelling with a Canadian passport and voting in Federal elections (really the only two "extra" perks you get from being a citizen rather than a permanent resident) may not have been a priority at the time.
But NOW it is 2014 and ......... I. Am. Ready. So tomorrow at 10:45 I will wear red and proudly say the Canadian citizenship oath: "I affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors and I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen". Then I assume there will be applause and hugs and happy wishes.
After that I am hoping Canadianism will just fill me up with glee and joy so that I can say eh? without feeling like I am faking it, say sorry all the time and mean it, be passionate about hockey and beer, enjoy all winter sports, skate like I have been doing it all my life, know and properly identify all animals in the tundra, know how to build an igloo ;), buy shares of Tim Horton's, love maple syrup, continue to enjoy bacon (Canadian bacon that is), put vinegar on my fries (I. Dont. Think. So - YUCK!), and eat poutine.
No, seriously, all kidding aside I WILL BE PROUD TO BE A CANADIAN because:
1) Canada has welcomed me with opens arms
2) I have two Canadian kids
3) I have friends of all shapes, colors and nationalities in this multiculturalism heaven
4) Canada treats women and men equally
5) Same sex marriage is like any other marriage
6) Canada sees value in families and allows for a one year paid parental leave
7) Universal health care
8) Canada is committed to multilateralism and most importantly FIERCELY committed to peacekeeping efforts.
9) It has made environmental efforts one if it's top priorities
and
10) Canada is A GOOD SOLID KIND WELCOMING COUNTRY for those who come next
But let's face it mostly I am hoping that becoming Canadian means that I will never be cold again!!!!
Thank you Canada for becoming my adoptive land. I am sure we will be happy together eh?
