Please forgive me if writing not good.  I learning English; English still difficult for me.  I hope you have patience with me. 

Name Slobo.  Slobo Anton Trbanek.  Born in Bosnia-Hergezovina; lived there until war, war change me, I no longer same person as I once was.  Hurt in war, lost leg, now use crutches for walking, sometimes use wheel chair to get around.  Not easy, no.

I have bad dreams about war; have lots of problems, sometimes go in hospital until I get better.  Now live in America, have live America last few years.  My mother, she come with me, we still together.  She learning English, too, it harder for her. We both take English classes at local school.

I am most happy now:  on July Fourth, my mother and I, we become American citizen.  We pass our test, now we say pledge of Allegience, and take oath, now we citizens.  That mean we can vote for president, be whatever we want to be, even go to school to become smarter, or even get a job.  We have much opportunity here, not like back home in Bosnia, where so many people still try put their lives back together after war wrecked them.

July Fourth we go on picnic, have nice lunch at park.  We then go to downtown part of Nashville, where we listen to music, eat some more, then see fireworks when it get dark.  Fireworks look like big flowers bursting in sky; very pretty to see.  Mother and I, we go "Ahh, ooh!" everytime fireworks burst in sky.  We enjoy fireworks; we see them every year.  Fireworks probably my favorite part about holiday like July Fourth.

Then my mother and I become Americans, that was best part about whole day!  When we become Americans, my mother and I, we cry because we were so happy!

Well, I have to go back to sleep; too early.  I will write in here soon, this is your friend Slobo Anton Trbanek saying good-bye for now!

~Slobo Trbanek, new American. :)