Becoming an American

After living in the US for over 30 years, I’ve finally decided to apply for an American citizenship.

People often asked me … even the immigrations officer who’d checked my passport the last time I’d returned to the US … why after all these years I have not gotten my citizenship.

I arrived in the US at a very young age, and as it is often the case for the children of immigrants, moving to a different country or any new place for that matter wasn’t so much a choice but decision that was thrust upon me. Therefore, unlike most adults, the children of immigrants don’t really feel the urgency or understand the importance of gaining citizenship of the new country. Instead, we focus on finding our place in the new environment or the new society, learning the language, excelling in school, and most importantly, acclimating into the new world … trying to “belong”.

Then, in my early 20’s, when the majority of the first generation immigrants in my family had applied and gotten their citizenship, I contemplated on filing my application. But then during the process, something held me back … a sense of loss of identity, as I'd felt that renouncing my Korean citizenship meant renouncing a part of who I was.

Children of migrants like me, who immigrated to America in their early childhood are often refer to as “Generation 1 ½ or 1.5”. It means we are neither first nor second generation immigrants, and therefore, can’t relate to the experience of one or the other. As we left our home country at an early formative years, we have limited experience of our country of origin, and yet always feel connected to that country and culture.

Of course, as I became older and gained better understanding of the world, I realized that being bi-cultural was an advantage; understanding two different cultures, being able to speak two different language (actually five), and being able relate to the people in both worlds. I also realized that citizenship of a country will never accurately define people … and define who I am. Even with an American citizenship and passport, people will see me first and foremost as a woman of an Asian heritage; there will no doubt be people who will look at me and ask, “Where are you from?” or be astonished at my ability to speak English at all.

More importantly, becoming an American and renouncing my Korean citizenship does not mean I will lose my heritage, the essence of where I come from or who I am. On the contrary, it will enable me to fully embrace all of my heritages and all the dimensions of who I’ve become, a Korean-American. Also, it will allow me to fully participate in the society I’ve lived in for the past 30 years … and I can’t wait to cast my very 1st vote in next year’s presidential election!