Phoang Tran of Natchitoches became a US Citizen just in time to celebrate Independence Day

Nathan Wilson
Phoang Tran has lived in the United States considering that 2013, but the recent Independence Day weekend was the 1st getaway she has celebrated as a U.S. citizen.
Tran’s conclusion to transfer to Natchitoches from Vietnam began when her aunt, who now lived in the metropolis, launched her to a neighborhood salon proprietor, Steve Sanders. She describes a whirlwind romance that culminated in him proposing. “I came around Oct. 16, 2013, and he experienced a ring for me Dec. 25,” she states.
Any intimate notions of settling in the United States didn’t increase to the challenging process Tran confronted to turn into a naturalized American. Her to start with stage was to attain her “green card,” a document setting up her as a everlasting resident of the United States, that took her two several years to make. Soon after 3 more decades of dwelling and functioning in the U.S., she commenced the course of action of getting a citizen.

Through her practically nine a long time in Natchitoches, Tran commenced working as a beautician and now owns her very own salon inside of A’NALA Salon, which fashioned when her husband’s Sweet Tea Salon partnered with Be Dazzled Salon to extend the providers they could present their purchasers.
As Tran maintained her occupation and spouse and children duties, she began finding out for a sequence of checks covering subject areas most U.S. citizens understand throughout their youth, but which proved demanding to research as an grownup. The assessments are waived for some more mature immigrants with relatives ties in the U.S., but Tran wanted to fulfill her aspiration sooner.
When Tran felt ready to pass the exam, she experienced to implement for permission to consider the check, which necessary a new waiting around interval. “It took five or six months to approve the papers,” she says. She describes a battery of civics and English proficiency tests that expected her to display her skill to go through, write and speak in English and turn into familiar with the history and federal government of the United States.
Tran was awarded her citizenship July 1, the last governing administration organization working day just before Us residents celebrate the founding of their place. Tran explained observing Independence Working day this year with traditions common to many Us residents. She states that she expended the vacation weekend making the most of a barbecue cookout with close friends and family members, which include a few stepchildren.
Vietnam doesn’t notice Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving or Xmas among other American holidays, but 1 Vietnamese vacation Tran carries on to rejoice is the Lunar (Asian) New Yr in February. Each and every 12 months, she travels to Vietnam in the course of the holiday period to commit several months with relatives and previous mates, who ended up joyful to listen to her information of getting to be a twin citizen.
Tran considers her annual trips as an opportunity to escape the cold weather in Natchitoches all through her preferred time of year in Vietnam. She describes the local climate there as “hot and hotter, rain and rainier.” Most of all, she enjoys the foods her mom prepares in the course of her visits, which she describes as remaining the finest southern (Vietnamese) cooking.
Tran now considers Natchitoches dwelling, and she describes the great importance of attaining her citizenship in the U.S. “I can vote, and I really do not need a visa to travel, so I have much more liberty.”

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