Lisa the Australian - Part II

A couple days ago, I received a booklet I requested from the Australian Government on becoming a citizen, prompting me to revisit the idea more seriously. Naturally, this is something Ben and I had discussed, but after reading my previous post on the subject, he was quiet for a moment - and then slowly asked, "Would you only become a citizen for the sake of convenience?"


At first I was surprised by his question, knowing me as he does, but then I understood: this is his country, his pride. It's reasonable for him to want prospective citizen to join for the right reason - not for ease of a visa or getting to join the short line at Customs.

My answer: "Of course not."


My previous post was about the practical applications of dual citizenship - the discernible difference (or lack thereof) that it would make in my everyday life - and not really the emotional ties behind it. So now, I'll explain this a little.


I've lived in Australia for nearly seven years. That's a long time - much longer than most people understand or appreciate. Every time I take a trip back to the USA, that point is driven home. Everything is new - everything is changed. Businesses appear or disappear, people move, children grow, roads are added or demolished, even cultural expectations undergo a subtle shift. Everyday practicalities are frustrating - hell, the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car! (Have you ever tried getting off a plane after a fifteen hour flight and into a rental car before driving on the opposite side of the road in LA traffic? I don't recommend it.)


It's difficult not to get churlish when well meaning friends and relatives impatiently ask why it's taking me so long to adjust - why I don't know things that are obvious to them, why I have to ask for detailed directions before driving anywhere, why I have no understanding about widely accepted new fads - even something as mundane as a new catchphrase or a hit TV show - that are so clear to them. Many don't understand why I grow frustrated when I'm expected to dig through the layers of exhaustion to muster instant enthusiasm when all I want to do is sleep before cautiously reentering a world that has changed dramatically during my absence. Whether I like it or not, some aspects of America a have started to become foreign to me. It breaks my heart to write that, but it's true.


And whether I expected it or not, Australia has become more and more familiar. I love this place. I love the country, I love the people, the culture - hell, I cheer for Aussies in the Olympics. I complain about it and even mock some customs, but I'll also be the first to defend it. And while I freely admit that I wouldn't sacrifice my American identity to become an Australian, I would be very proud to join this country as a dual citizen.


Perhaps some time in the future, we'll move back to the USA, and then my cultural affinity will revert to the way it once was. But right now, I can truthfully say: this is my home.