To the flag of the United States of America.....

[Kyoko]

I just came back from U.S.Department of Homeland Security.

Today was my day to take a citizenship test!! I studied and listen to the CD of possible 100 questions in regard to US History, civic, geography, etc... I was pretty confident, but you know, was a bit nervous... You never know. The officer said that there are reading and writting portion to the test as well... What?! I didn't read that! I had no idea that I was going to be tested for that, too!! :-(

So, he tells me that I have to read aloud what is on the paper, and gives me the paper... it read " When is Thanksgiving?" What? Is that it? Then, he tells me that I have to write down what he is going to say. OK. I'm ready! Then he goes " Thanksgiving is in November." OK. This is getting a little silly here. But that was it. And I passed the reading and writting part of the test!

The History/ civic questions were the followings. You just have to get 6 out of 10 right. I thought they would ask me at least 50 or so out of that study guide! Since I got the first 6 right, the test ended there.

1) Name one of the longest river in the US.

2) Who is the current Speaker of the House?

3) Who lived in United States before the colonists?

4) How many years the president is elected for?

5) What is first 10 amendments of the constitution called?

6) When was declaration of Independence adopted?

The whole thing was done in less than 15 min. I took a day off and got dressed up, not knowing what to expect.

I am kind of surprised by how simple the whole thing was... I don't know if that is good or bad.

Well, for me, it was good. I will be sworn in on December 17th.

[Jean, Rylee and Cooper]

Congratulations Kyoko!!!

[Richard Crowe]

As your proud day grows nearer, I cannot hep but reflect on how much I owe my ancestors for having had the courage and foresight to leave their native lands and to travel to this new and exciting (and for some of my ancestors dangerous) country.  My ancestors traveled from England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany over a period of several hundreds of years and I owe these folks a great deal.

Congratulationa again to you Kyoko!

[Linda and "Toby"]

Congratulations, Kyoko!!! 

[Kyoko]

Thanks again for all of you guys!!! I am taking the day off again on Dec.17th ( The day after Charlie's Birthday!). I just hope the it is not a 15 min. thing again.... I should dress in red white and blue!!

[Richard Crowe]

Congratulations Kyoko! I feel proud that you are a memberof this group and I know that december 17th will be a proud day in your life!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! That has to be an incredibly moving experience :-)

[Kyoko]

We have a bunch of pockets of ethnic communities. Polish, German, Irish, Italian, Slovaks, etc....Many many years ago, people in Europe were told that street in Pittsburgh were paved with gold and immigrated here to work in Steel mills. It's a pretty historical town.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Not Pittsburgh but lots of Irish ancestry does Pittsburgh have an Irish population?

[Joe R.]

Donna, You must have been from Pittsburgh in a former life. Most look at you and give you the doodle head tilt look.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Joe we have our own unique dialect here in Newfoundland, funny thing is I knew exactly what Kyoko was saying without the translation.