Reflections on citizenship and belonging

A few weeks ago, I became a U.S. citizen.

It was a moment I had prepared for practically through forms, interviews, waiting; but not emotionally. Standing in a room with others from all over the world, raising our hands to take the oath, I felt something shift. A quiet wave of emotion rose up, catching me off guard. I thought of Flanders, where I was born. I thought of Japan, where I lived for many years. And I thought of the long, winding path that led me to this moment in California.

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