She'd probably not pass the TOEFL exam herself. But, she could probably ace the SAT and GRE Analytical Questions.
I had extinguished any inspiration I had squeezed out of listening to Reagan's second inaugural address and decided that I shall stay after all. Especially since they set aside a permanent place on the shelf for my beloved Philly Cheese at the international grocery market in Jeddah. Great! I could get my Philadelphia Cream Cheese right here closer to home. Problem solved!
My TOEFL confirmation card came in the mail and I looked at it for a spell and then dismissed it.
She picked it up and marked the date on the calendar. And the night before the exam she reminded me to be on time for the 8 AM test at the Taj Mahal Hotel the next morning. There was no point arguing with her, once she is convinced what she wanted from us. She had a vision. She could definitely ace the GRE and SAT Analytical Questions. Because one, she knew I could excel in TOEFL even without any preparation. So, my excuse about not having studied up for it did not fly with her. And two, after giving it a good thought, she was convinced that she would support - and push for fulfilling - my dream of going to America - even though I had abandoned it since. But once she is convinced, there was no point arguing with her.
My TOEFL confirmation card came in the mail and I looked at it for a spell and then dismissed it.
She picked it up and marked the date on the calendar. And the night before the exam she reminded me to be on time for the 8 AM test at the Taj Mahal Hotel the next morning. There was no point arguing with her, once she is convinced what she wanted from us. She had a vision. She could definitely ace the GRE and SAT Analytical Questions. Because one, she knew I could excel in TOEFL even without any preparation. So, my excuse about not having studied up for it did not fly with her. And two, after giving it a good thought, she was convinced that she would support - and push for fulfilling - my dream of going to America - even though I had abandoned it since. But once she is convinced, there was no point arguing with her.
Behind every successful man there is a woman. And judging from how much my fellow Pakistanis regarded getting an American Student visa as a grand success, it was fair to look for one behind this success as well. Indeed, my success too wasn't without a woman behind it. My late mother. I thank our Lord for her and pray that He Showers His Mercy on her. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be where I am right now. The opportunities that my children now have in excelling in this land of opportunities wouldn't be possible had I not listened to my Mummy (as she loved to be called).
I couldn't evade her nagging me all the way to the TOEFL exam centre. But, I figured I could probably duck my way out of the visa interview appearance at the US Consulate several months later and that'll be the end of it. I had just gotten back from the tour of Pakistan with my school and embarking on another journey was no where near my radar. In fact I had switched off and unplugged myself and was ready for a month long sleeping extravaganza at home after the most tiring tour across the country. But she was there to remind me again of my appointment at the US Consulate the following week.
You guessed it. I had figured out a way to get out of this one too. I had resigned myself to failing the visa interview. I mean, how difficult could it be to fail the interview?
The guy sitting - actually "pacing" is the right word to describe it - next to me in the waiting room was constantly reviewing answers from a cheat-sheet that he probably got from another successful interview. I hadn't plugged myself in yet so my arithmetic was still a bit rusty: But I could have sworn that the guy could have circled the Earth at least once with the amount of pacing back and forth he did in that waiting room.
The guy sitting - actually "pacing" is the right word to describe it - next to me in the waiting room was constantly reviewing answers from a cheat-sheet that he probably got from another successful interview. I hadn't plugged myself in yet so my arithmetic was still a bit rusty: But I could have sworn that the guy could have circled the Earth at least once with the amount of pacing back and forth he did in that waiting room.
But I was resigned. I didn't care. I wanted to stay. I could buy a tub of my favorite cheese right here at home.
The visa officer had other ideas though. He was impressed with my papers. My marks sheets, my casual, almost matter of fact, answers and more importantly the financial support documents that my Mum and Dad had lovingly attached - duly notarized - to the application. He jarred my arithmetic rustiness loose some more by asking me the exchange rate between the Saudi Riyal and the US Dollar. And even though I purposefully rounded off the Saudi Riyal to the nearest high number, he was still impressed.
You guessed it again: I got the visa. A mother's prayers seldom go un-answered, I was convinced of that right there and then.
I loved Philadelphia Cream Cheese as much as Wallace does Wensleydale. But I didn't realize how much I associated it to the USA until the departure date came nearer. I had made it a point to pick a new block of the Philly Cheese from the international super market in Jeddah before running out - it wasn't available in all the stores. Just the big super markets carried it. So, the love affair with the Philly Cheese went way back.
I had decided that the first thing I am going to buy in the USA is a tub of Philly Cream Cheese. Although, the fact that I had to spend every loose change in my pocket upon arrival at the JFK to calling home is the topic of another blog.
I had decided that the first thing I am going to buy in the USA is a tub of Philly Cream Cheese. Although, the fact that I had to spend every loose change in my pocket upon arrival at the JFK to calling home is the topic of another blog.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, our fridge is filled with all kinds of different varieties of Philly Cream Cheese. There is the full cream cheese, there is the 1/3 less fat, and then there is the fat free cream cheese.
I am thankful to God for bringing us to this great land.
Happy Birthday USA!
God Bless America!
