I am originally from Kenya, in Africa, and on July 4 I will have been an American citizen for exactly one year now. But it is so strange..I feel as though I have always BEEN an American citizen, especially now, since I lost my best (and first American) friend on September 11, 2001.
I feel nothing but pride to know that I am now considered to be "FREE". In Kenya, I was NOT free. I couldn't vote, I had very little in the way of education, I had no rights as a woman, I was forced to grow up long before I even BECAME a woman (I was circumcized at the age of 11 and was married shortly thereafter; and I became a widow 2 years later after my first husband had been killed by a lion), and I had a very hard life. As a Maasai woman I had to take care of the house and the chores and the cattle, and I had to walk many miles to get water and food for them and for my family. Maasai life is very hard anyway, and it is especially hard for a Maasai woman like myself.
Yes, life was still hard for me in America (I had been raped and then set afire by my attacker, and I spent many months in the hospital recovering from my burns and other injuries), and I also had to get used to the fact that I was now permantly disabled and now had to rely on sticks (crutches) and braces on my legs to get around (or a wheelchair for longer trips). THEN, if THAT was not bad enough, I got sick again with the flesh-eating disease, and I faced more in the way of surgery, and had to recover from that. I also had a lot of severe pain, and I ended up having to have surgery to take care of the pain, it was so bad. I couldn't eat or sleep or do ANYTHING!! It was really bad.
It didn't help that I had a baby son I couldn't even take care of; I was just so sick. Roberto, my husband, had to take care of him because I could not. I was in terrible physical shape. I looked (and felt) bad. I looked like I had the slim disease (AIDS; what I call ukimwi in my language). It was really a rough time for me.
But then I had the surgery, and I have slowly been recovering ever since. My life is much easier now; but I still have health problems. I still have problems with my low blood pressure (it causes me to get dizzy and then pass out if it goes TOO low), and I still have breathing problems and have to wear oxygen from time to time, as I get short of breath quite easily. I also am not that strong yet; I am still quite weak. I tire easily. And I still have to use my sticks and wear the braces on my legs. And use a wheelchair or a walker.
But I am able to take care of not only my husband, but our son, and I am able to take care of the house and cook for my family. I am also able to do the laundry (although Roberto gets mad at me; he says I do too much; it's no wonder I am so tired all of the time, he is always saying to me). I am also able to go to my new job, which I started just a few weeks ago; I work at a local newspaper, and I work in the editorial department. I love my job. I have a really nice boss, and I work with several other people. I got my first check a week ago, and it feels good to know I am making my own money instead of just getting my disability pay each and every month.
But being an American citizen has allowed me to do as I please, and it's allowed me to get a job and to get my license. (That's another thing. I now have my own car, a yellow Bug.) I also can vote for the president or for the governor, something I could not do back in Africa. I also can go back to school (which I did; I just graduated last month; I majored in Journalism; I want to become a writer), and I can wear or say or think however I want. Nobody can tell me what to say or think or wear. I am my own person.
And I love it. I love the idea of being free.
I also love the idea of choosing whatever religion I want. (I am a Christian. I attend my husband's church. He's a Catholic, but his church is like a Pentecostal church because they believe in miracles and have healing services; but it's different than, say, my friend Louisiana's church.) I want to raise our son in this way, to let him know that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, and that he can accept Him into his life if he so chooses. I want to give Jubaki that opportunity when he is old enough.
I also can wear anything I choose, be it African (Maasai) style or Western style clothes, and nobody can get mad at me. I could also go around in my pajamas and slippers if I so choose (which I often do on my days off from work).
Yes, being an American citizen has allowed me to grow as a person, and I feel nothing but pride whenever I hear the National Anthem being played. I now can stand up with the rest of the people and sing along and know for a fact that I am now a bona fide American citizen, even though I originally came from Kenya.
I AM AN AMERICAN. AND NOBODY CAN EVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME. (Just like they can't take my African/Maasai heritage from me. EVER.)
A wicked Cajun Fairy named Robes Pierre entered the impenetrable Magical doll land of Sha Bebe. Queen Faustina, the ruler of the doll land, thought she had destroyed him, but he's back! Will the doll land survive his evil ways?
