A change of status
A had his citizenship ceremony yesterday. He had set the ball in motion last November, just before they changed the rules and introduced the exam and viva and whatnot. Once in the inevitable British queue, we knew that it was only a matter of time before the invitation to the ceremony landed on our doorstep.
We wondered if we'd have to travel up to London, Birmingham or Bristol for the ceremony. But it turned out, that it was being held just 10 mins away in Llanelli, at a date of our choice.
So we drove down yesterday to the smallish home-turned-office in the centre of Llanelli. Were welcomed with much warmth by the all-female staff. Were introduced to the three others citizens-to-be--an Eastern European woman (my guess is Polish) and her British partner, a young Spaniard on his own, and a Bangladeshi man and his British wife. And were escorted into a smallish room with theatre style seating. Facing us at the foot of the lectern (hmm?) was a framed photograph of Queen Elizabeth. Draped over radiators on either side behind the lectern were the British and Welsh flags. A lady sat at a table laden with welshcakes and coffee in front of the Welsh flag. The doorways on our left and right were draped (in somebody's idea of pretty) with curtains in two shades of blue for the other ceremony performed there ((marriages, of course).
Soon the ceremony commenced with the Welsh and British national anthems, to set the mood. Then the diminutive lady behind the lectern read aloud the oath of allegiance to the Queen and her heirs and the State. And the applicants all smartly lined up in a row facing her repeated it to the best of their varying fluency.
Then they were pronounced citizens of the UK, and given a folder with a certificate and other papers. And in true British style, the new citizens and their guests were invited to tea. Whereupon the Polish lady immediately hugged the Queen's portrait (surely taken some 60 years back) to her side for a photograph. Whereupon, the bottom of the frame fell apart--and the reason for its place at the foot of the lectern was revealed. Then like true Brits everybody queued (another national pastime) for photos with their partners in front of the flags. Myself excepted, of course, I was not quite ready to swear allegiance to other flags. So I fobbed off the nice ladies until I couldn't anymore and gave in for one photo in front of the Welsh flag.
Then it was tea-time. And the not-so-diminutive lady at the tea-table came into her own. With hospitality reminiscent of my grandmother, she coaxed me into piling welshcakes and chocolate bourbon biscuits on my plate and getting a drink. Only coffee or orange juice, though, as there was no tea! Then, like guests at a dinner party we all settled down to a cosy chat about last week's snow, the drive down, etc.
As intimacy grew, the Bangladeshi man hoicked up his trouser legs to show off his new socks bought for the occasion with the British flag printed on the tops. And the conversation drifted amidst gales of laughter to starting up a line of merchandise (socks, ties, briefs(?), brooches, scarves...) for sale at these centres.
They were still laughing and chatting when we left. Citizen A and I. Each contemplating the change of status.
We wondered if we'd have to travel up to London, Birmingham or Bristol for the ceremony. But it turned out, that it was being held just 10 mins away in Llanelli, at a date of our choice.
So we drove down yesterday to the smallish home-turned-office in the centre of Llanelli. Were welcomed with much warmth by the all-female staff. Were introduced to the three others citizens-to-be--an Eastern European woman (my guess is Polish) and her British partner, a young Spaniard on his own, and a Bangladeshi man and his British wife. And were escorted into a smallish room with theatre style seating. Facing us at the foot of the lectern (hmm?) was a framed photograph of Queen Elizabeth. Draped over radiators on either side behind the lectern were the British and Welsh flags. A lady sat at a table laden with welshcakes and coffee in front of the Welsh flag. The doorways on our left and right were draped (in somebody's idea of pretty) with curtains in two shades of blue for the other ceremony performed there ((marriages, of course).
Soon the ceremony commenced with the Welsh and British national anthems, to set the mood. Then the diminutive lady behind the lectern read aloud the oath of allegiance to the Queen and her heirs and the State. And the applicants all smartly lined up in a row facing her repeated it to the best of their varying fluency.
Then they were pronounced citizens of the UK, and given a folder with a certificate and other papers. And in true British style, the new citizens and their guests were invited to tea. Whereupon the Polish lady immediately hugged the Queen's portrait (surely taken some 60 years back) to her side for a photograph. Whereupon, the bottom of the frame fell apart--and the reason for its place at the foot of the lectern was revealed. Then like true Brits everybody queued (another national pastime) for photos with their partners in front of the flags. Myself excepted, of course, I was not quite ready to swear allegiance to other flags. So I fobbed off the nice ladies until I couldn't anymore and gave in for one photo in front of the Welsh flag.
Then it was tea-time. And the not-so-diminutive lady at the tea-table came into her own. With hospitality reminiscent of my grandmother, she coaxed me into piling welshcakes and chocolate bourbon biscuits on my plate and getting a drink. Only coffee or orange juice, though, as there was no tea! Then, like guests at a dinner party we all settled down to a cosy chat about last week's snow, the drive down, etc.
As intimacy grew, the Bangladeshi man hoicked up his trouser legs to show off his new socks bought for the occasion with the British flag printed on the tops. And the conversation drifted amidst gales of laughter to starting up a line of merchandise (socks, ties, briefs(?), brooches, scarves...) for sale at these centres.
They were still laughing and chatting when we left. Citizen A and I. Each contemplating the change of status.
posted by Sabiha | 5:26 PM
3 Comments:
What! Well, congratulations to A. will call later
N
your being the wife doesn't automatically get you citizenship? how can you take advantage of his citizenship? :)
Will convey the congrats, Nish. How was Uttaranchal, btw?
Rums, nope, citizenship is not automatic for the spouse (not that I'm in a hurry). As for the other, you can bet the new Brit Cit will be taken advantage of, thoroughly:)
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