Yes They Did!!!

I could not let today pass without expressing my thoughts on last nights election. It was one of the most exciting times of my life, I know that sounds funny being I am not from America, but this was not just about America last night, this was about the world! This was about breathing life into our future, giving us hope!

The people have finally spoken and the government is listening! This is a huge win for the working class voters, for the minority voters, for every single individual on this planet!

When I woke up this morning it felt like Christmas, the first thing I did was get online to make sure last night really happened, and it did! It's still a long road to go, but I feel like we are all headed in the right direction.

The other day I was online and saw someone write "I am glad I am not an American today, it could all go so wrong." This lit a fire in me, this is not about just America, this is a GLOBAL issue, this affects Canada, UK, Japan, Mexico, that small country you likely never heard of, as much as it affects the American people.

I have said this before, and I will say it again. It is such a privilege to have been alive to see history being made, and living here in the U.S. for me, made it that much more of an emotional thing. I have felt the impact of the economy, of the current government.

I am an immigrant don't forget, I had to go through hoops to get to be here, just like every other immigrant that comes to the United States. We have had our issues with the Bush administration. During our visa process, which should have been straight forward and simple. The Bush administration decided to pass a bill, that would force us to sign a document stating that we did not meet through what they considered a marriage broker or internet service. As it was we already had to accumulate a phonebooks worth of information to prove a bonafide relationship. Which included and was not limited to phone bills, personal emails, letters and cards we wrote eachother, during our long distance relationship, photographs of us together and with eachother families. Letters from family and friends stating they knew us and that we were "Legit". This new bill ended up holding up my application for an additional 6 months. During this time I was not allowed to enter the United States, due to the pending visa. Imagine having waited already six months to wait an additional six months before I could be with my fiance. Imagine having some stranger going through and reading your personal emails and letters to eachother that you have saved for the past two years, and decide if you are worthy of getting married and living in the United States, then be told "well we still aren't totally convinced so sign this "sworn affidavit".

We had our immigration lawyer on it and she wasn't able to do anything for us, she suggested we contact our State Representative to find out if they could get information or have my papers moved along. Paul was living in Chicago, and this was before Barack Obama was on Oprah and became a national sensation. Paul called his office to see if they could help us out. Regrettably he was out on official business but his aides told us to contact Rom Emmanuel, who contacted the United States Immigration Services and all of the sudden I got action on my application. Maybe it was coincidence but I can't help but feel a strong connection to Obama and his new Chief of Staff Rom Emmanuel. It's not over yet of course, I still have to apply this winter/spring for my 10 year greencard, but I have a good feeling this time that it's going to be much smoother.

America did it! Yes, they did! Yes they did!!! I may not stay here for the rest of my life, but while I am here, I will be proud of it, as if it was my own. Because they showed the rest of the world they CAN Change and they ARE Changing.