Green for go

After eight years at 11:15 am on Monday I became a resident of the United States. That means no more non-resident alien status, no more visas, no more long lines at the airport and no more restrictions as to where I can live and what I can do. Thanks Anna! I am now in the enviable position of being able to live and work anywhere in the States , Europe and South Africa. Whew! The interview was a formality at best. We were called right at 11, asked a few questions like how we met and how much money we are making. We cracked a few jokes, I got my passport stamped and away we go. Shouldn't it have been harder than that? I mean after all the angst and doing the visa thing, to say this was anti-climactic would be an understatement at best. I am still trying to get used to the new paradigm of freedom, but to celebrate I am letting work send me to Vancouver for a conference next week. I can't wait. I have never been to Canada, though I am told I have some relatives there. The conference is meant to be very good, though I did realize for the first time last night, that I wil be leaving my dear wife for four days and I don't much like the sound of that.
Back to work, Ben