Too Legit To Quit

Well, it’s finally happened.  It’s here.  I am legal.  Oh yes, you heard it.  Legal.  Legit.  Almost too legit.  Too legit to quit….

I received my residence card about two weeks ago, and I find myself staring at it sometimes as though it’s not real.  There was so much effort, time and money that went into achieving it, it feels as though it belongs on the shelf in a Vera Wang photo frame next to my wedding pictures.  But if I did that, I wouldn’t be able to get back into the country.

Regarding the actual photo taking process process, they really don’t give you much warning.

Now I know where Jim Henson got his inspiration for the Muppets – yikes.

But phew – what a relief.  I am good to go.  Tony is almost there, but then again all he has to do is, well, nothing, and he can stay.  Damn those EU citizens.  But in all seriousness, we are waiting on our Polish marriage license to finalize his process.

A big danke schön to Switzerland for being significantly more efficient than what I’ve heard about the US.  One hears horror stories about how long the process is, how expensive, how painful, etc.  But until you actually go through it, you can’t comprehend it.  I have found myself feeling almost a kinship to those that have worked towards living in America.  Never has a process been put in place as that of immigration to fully document one country’s discrimination towards another.

I knew I would grow and learn a lot about myself coming to Switzerland, but I never expected to also grow in my care and empathy towards others.  And it’s interesting timing given the immigration discussions that have been going on in the United States.  Not to get political, but my mind and heart have become more open on the subject….more open than US boarders, at least.  I guess it takes an immigrant to know one.