Yesterday at the Thursday Berkeley Farmers' Market, I get into a conversation with Karamoo and Amina who are sitting on the sidewalk. After getting my favorite breads from Eduardo Morell, first apples from Bernie, mushrooms and eggplants, I listen to Karamoo playing the kora. His partner Amina stands up and dances with me under a blue sky – I feel transported. The exquisite music from Mali is delicate and joyous, flows like a river; the sounds and harmonies open the heart. Amina smiles, showing me her graceful soul as we communicate through movement, we float…. As it ends, she declares the song a dedication to earth, a praise of its beauty. We bow. Danke schön :)
Immigration On Friday morning of September 20, I am spending a couple of hours for my naturalization interview in the federal building on 630 Sansome Street in San Francisco that houses the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Then later at 1 pm, in the oath ceremony, I am reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Standing, holding up my right hand like everyone else, repeating the words after our master of ceremonies, I am engulfed in a chorus of immigrants’ voices from all over the world. Out of maybe 80, only two are Caucasian. The man leading us through the 20 minutes ceremony, is most likely a judge, but without his robe. He is an elegant, kind, and personable elder. We can hear the genuineness in his voice, and we are genuine, too. As we pledge allegiance to this country, the English sentences might ring slightly different for each of us. In another minute we will be citizens of the United States. Something in me is expanding. I am swearing to be a responsible an...
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