It's been a long wait - ten stressful months that pushed my
blood pressure up to dangerous levels. However during the last few days of
February I attended my Government Medical Examination and three days later an
interview with an official of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Yesterday in the mail I received notification that my permanent residence had
been approved and that I should receive my Green Card within two to three
weeks. It actually arrived in the mail today, and I can now legally work in the
United States.
I've learned a lot since leaving South Africa at the end of
April last year, and much of what I have learned you will find in previous
postings. My opinion of several airlines has hit rock bottom. Emirates is one
of them. They would not even answer my emails, even after advising me that they
had found the laptop that went missing in Dubai, and would forward it to me
without delay. I also got to fly on Aer Lingus. Their Shannon to Logan flights
are little more that cattle wagons, with three ageing flight attendants trying
their best to serve nearly 200 single class passengers (there are no Business
or First Classes on these money-saving flights).
After 42 years in southern Africa I have been thrown into
the deep end of continental American winters. Yesterday the daytime temperature
rose above freezing point for only the second time in almost four months.
Thankfully this time it looks like staying in the 40's for a few days - not
nights though, which will still be below freezing. The 2 - 3 feet of snow lying
in our yard (garden) has started its slow thaw, but will probably be at least a
couple of weeks before we can next see the grass on the lawn. Another thing I have learned - not to let your central
heating furnace run out of oil - likewise the pellet stove out of pellets. And
I have learned how best to conserve the two fuels so as to keep down costs.
Now that I am able to look back at my last few years in
South Africa, I can see it with a completely refreshed mind. I see a country
that has openly practiced reverse-apartheid since it became independent, a
country rife with nepotism, corruption and bad management, and a country with a
president who apparently needs his head examined. In 1998 I was privileged to
meet and shake hands with the late Nelson Mandela, a complete opposite to
today's president, and a total gentleman. But we've seen it before, haven't we?
Up in Zimbabwe, for example, and in the majority of newly independent states in sub-Saharan
Africa. Sadly many of the whites left in South Africa have nowhere else to go. I
was lucky - I have a British passport (when I first came to southern Africa in
1972, I vowed never to give it up), and I have an American wife, daughter and
grandchildren. My heart, prayers and love reach out to those of you who are now
stuck in that country. At least you have
the beautiful countryside, climate and wine to enjoy.
America is vibrant. The economy is back on track, and the
price of gas (petrol) has recently been at its lowest for many years. You learn
things by just watching television ads though - apart from the fact that the models
are better looking than those in SA. It seems that at least 50% of television
ads are for drug companies. Ads that market expensive prescribed drugs for
heart disease, obesity, shingles, a
variety of vaccinations, COPD and many others. With the buoyant economy, many
of the ads are for motor companies such as Nissan, Hyundai, Honda, Chevrolet,
Dodge, Ford, GMC, and Jeep (not so many); and there is a dearth of vehicle insurance
ads. Naturally, all of the big fast food chains are regularly represented.
