My wife and I arrived in the USA, still bright eyed and bushy tailed. Our 4 suitcases contained all of our worldly goods, including my mechanics tools, having sold our cars, motorcycle, furniture and household goods in South Africa. I came here to train BMW technicians at a dealership here in Atlanta on a 12 month contract. Well, after 3 months I pretty much knew that I wanted to make America my home and set the wheels in motion for my green card. BMW was apparently pleased with me too, because they went to bat for me in extending my work visa so I could continue training technicians. Fast forward 5 years and we had our resident alien status granted (and many thousands of dollars in legal costs etc), our first child was born a US citizen, and the second wasn't far behind. We became citizens in 2000, my oldest daughter is a USAF Vet, the youngest is married and we are grandparents. I have a successful business, and I count my blessings every day. Life has been good to me, and the opportunity to live a good life is because I live in this great country.
Thankful.
Glad you are here and and not there. I've read it's really bad there for white people.
and many thousands of dollars in legal costs etc
yes , it costs a lot to do it legally , but its free illegally.
P.
You have done very well indeed . We need more like you
Hard for me to fathom some people's disdain for this country. I suspect their upbringing coupled with the fact that they've simply not lived anywhere else, and don't realize how fortunate we are.............
Plus one on the cost. Its enough to make one resentful, at least a little bit.
Glad you made it.
You know Badger, America came out ahead as well, when you and yours moved here.
Welcome home brother, it is a good day.
I was fortunate. I was borne here. I had the opportunity during my early years to live many places around the world and had I been born anywhere else I would have done all in my power to get here. I congratulate you for your efforts and expense in getting your family here and the success you have made of your life. I am proud to call you and American. Tip of the hat to you Sir!
Badger,
You're the kind of immigrant that made this country great in the 1st place & the kind that we need & welcome now.
Glad you came & that it worked out for you & the USA.
MM
Badger
I arrive here about 24 years a head of you, but do under stand the reference to expense, now days it is much more expensive if you do it the right way.
Our whole family is in USA with us now. Welcome friend. I toured the country about 2 years before you left. Cheers NC
Congratulations Badger! When it's said that the US is a nation of immigrants, your story is a perfect example. Come here legally, contribute and assimilate, we're all the better for it. My family did it that way 140 years ago and I'm eternally grateful. By the way...I love my BMW!
Congrats and glad you came and stayed!
I'm glad you're here. We need more Americans like you that WANT to be here!
My wife and I arrived in the USA, still bright eyed and bushy tailed. Our 4 suitcases contained all of our worldly goods, including my mechanics tools, having sold our cars, motorcycle, furniture and household goods in South Africa. I came here to train BMW technicians at a dealership here in Atlanta on a 12 month contract. Well, after 3 months I pretty much knew that I wanted to make America my home and set the wheels in motion for my green card. BMW was apparently pleased with me too, because they went to bat for me in extending my work visa so I could continue training technicians. Fast forward 5 years and we had our resident alien status granted (and many thousands of dollars in legal costs etc), our first child was born a US citizen, and the second wasn't far behind. We became citizens in 2000, my oldest daughter is a USAF Vet, the youngest is married and we are grandparents. I have a successful business, and I count my blessings every day. Life has been good to me, and the opportunity to live a good life is because I live in this great country.
Thankful.
Anchor baby!
Glad to have you folks here. While we were at the NCAA diving championships in March, wife and I chatted quite a bit with a couple originally from SA. She is a pharmacist and and decline multiple recruiting offers.....until the night their daughter was almost kidnapped.
They appreciate the USA as well.
I for one truly appreciate naturalized citizens. They made a choice. They went to a lot of expense and effort. They swore an oath.
I am natural born. I had it easy. I too hold the Constitution in high regard, but not everyone does.
Hard for me to fathom some people's disdain for this country. I suspect their upbringing coupled with the fact that they've simply not lived anywhere else, and don't realize how fortunate we are.............
When someone earns something, they learn the value of it. When something is given to someone, rarely do they understand the value of it, or even appreciate it.
Traveling does open up one's eyes as to how good we have it, and baffles me as to why people would want to throw that away.
it ain't as much where you;re born, but where you're at in your heart and in your head.
always good to hear from a fellow American. God bless you and yours badger
i'm thankful i shared a campfire with you.
Glad to have you here! iv got a buddie, his wife is from SA, and Iv met her folks, Great people! her flamily still lives there, I fear form them!
Best wishes to you and family.
My wife and I arrived in the USA, still bright eyed and bushy tailed. Our 4 suitcases contained all of our worldly goods, including my mechanics tools, having sold our cars, motorcycle, furniture and household goods in South Africa. I came here to train BMW technicians at a dealership here in Atlanta on a 12 month contract. Well, after 3 months I pretty much knew that I wanted to make America my home and set the wheels in motion for my green card. BMW was apparently pleased with me too, because they went to bat for me in extending my work visa so I could continue training technicians. Fast forward 5 years and we had our resident alien status granted (and many thousands of dollars in legal costs etc), our first child was born a US citizen, and the second wasn't far behind. We became citizens in 2000, my oldest daughter is a USAF Vet, the youngest is married and we are grandparents. I have a successful business, and I count my blessings every day. Life has been good to me, and the opportunity to live a good life is because I live in this great country.
Thankful.
Now if your predecessors had played "Cowboys and Indians" after Rourke's Drift, you'd still be in SA and I'd be the immigrant!
My wife and I arrived in the USA, still bright eyed and bushy tailed. Our 4 suitcases contained all of our worldly goods, including my mechanics tools, having sold our cars, motorcycle, furniture and household goods in South Africa. I came here to train BMW technicians at a dealership here in Atlanta on a 12 month contract. Well, after 3 months I pretty much knew that I wanted to make America my home and set the wheels in motion for my green card. BMW was apparently pleased with me too, because they went to bat for me in extending my work visa so I could continue training technicians. Fast forward 5 years and we had our resident alien status granted (and many thousands of dollars in legal costs etc), our first child was born a US citizen, and the second wasn't far behind. We became citizens in 2000, my oldest daughter is a USAF Vet, the youngest is married and we are grandparents. I have a successful business, and I count my blessings every day. Life has been good to me, and the opportunity to live a good life is because I live in this great country.
Thankful.
And many born here can't appreciate what they "inherited"
Welcome to you and your family - wish we had many more like you!
We need more like you and less of those that break into the US of A and as ILLEGAL ALIENS suck funding meant for citizens programs.
And vote . . . VOTE to maintain the nipple they suckle.
Thank you for your time effort to become a productive citizen of the US which is what we all want from immigrants.
Thank you!
Congrats Badger...
wish you represented the average style immigrant that we have in this nation.
after reading the book "Into the Cannibal's Pot", its a tragedy what has happened
to your native home.
We should open the door for all white South Africans who want to come here.
Precisely why accepting good people as this nations immigrants is far preferable than recruiting Muslim scum. We'll take more like badger any day.
You , and those like you who come legally, are the finest in the country. Having dealt with legal immigrants for much of my career, I have the highest respect for them. Please tell newcomers they do not have to pay the lawyers such ridiculous fees, The Immigration Service will do all the paperwork necessary, lawyers only make the process more complicated and charge you unnecessary fees. They are bloodsuckers! Having worked for the immigration service for 27 years, I have nothing but hatred for immigration lawyers, They are leeches! Those who are trying to come to this country legally can save a lot of money and frustration by bypassing the SOBs! On the other hand, those who are attempting to come in illegally need them!
Thanks friends. I didn't post this to toot my own horn, but rather to reflect on my good fortune and the opportunity I was given. I have shared a campfire with many here on the Fire, and am doubly blessed to have made great friends.
Badger,
I'm glad you made the effort and are here. We are a better nation for it.
Happy Anniversary!
Hard for me to fathom some people's disdain for this country. I suspect their upbringing coupled with the fact that they've simply not lived anywhere else, and don't realize how fortunate we are.............
That could be a poster statement right there. Good on you badger.
Badger,
39 years , 4 months and a few days . life is good. I would have been dead if I stayed.
P.
Exactly! I know several folks that have done as you have and better Americans are hard to find!
Seems both you and the US were fortunate.
Congrats!
Glad you're here, and in the South to boot.
Badger--I was born here thanks to my great great grandparents coming to this country from England and Scotland. You and your wife came here and became citizens by choice. My wife came here from the Philippines on a work visa twenty one years ago, and became a citizen, and every day I thank God she stayed. We are ALL Americans, and live in the greatest country on earth which is one of life's greatest blessings. Your coming has made our country richer and stronger.
Dankie, Boet. Ek is ook bly