Home at Last

I STOOD IN MY BEDROOM CLOSET, searching for the perfect outfit. The big day was coming, and I wanted to look my best. Did I own anything red, white and blue? All of my most colorful outfits were Indian. I didn’t want to look too Indian. Then again, I didn’t want to turn my back on my heritage either.

I was born and raised in Tamil Nadu, India. In 2002, when I was 18, my father, a diplomat, was assigned to the United Nations in New York City. I moved to New York, married an American and settled in Oklahoma, where my husband, Destry, had been raised.

After 16 years in America, I was about to make my relationship with my adopted home official. In just 48 hours I would become an American citizen.

I’d been preparing for this moment for a long time. I applied for my green card soon after marrying Destry. More than a year