Even though she’s been in the country for 18 years, Oxford resident Tina Buchert said she did feel different when she officially became a citizen of the United States last Monday.
‘I think it makes us feel more at home and included,? she said. ‘It’s exciting.?
Buchert is originally from Germany and moved to the U.S. when her husband, Norbert, had a job offer. They came to Oxford in 1995.
She’s been a substitute teacher at Lakeville Elementary and paraprofessional with the kindergartners for the last eight years, where her big smile and contagious laugh make everyone’s day brighter.
‘Tina is a delight,? said Lakeville principal Sharon Karpinski. ‘The kids know she expects a lot from them and they want to live up to her expectations.?
Recently, a student transferred from a school in Germany to Lakeville and the staff was unable to translate the student’s records; Buchert immediately stepped in to help with.
To become an American citizen, Buchert had to ‘fill out a lot of paperwork? and take a written and spoken citizenship test. The written test focused on American history, which she said was ‘really easy.?
‘My son’s had American History for the past two years, so I know most of it because of that,? she said.
Buchert and her husband decided to apply for dual citizenship between Germany and the U.S. She said she was surprised it only took them four months to be granted the dual citizenship.
On Monday, the Bucherts gathered at Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit with 589 other individuals from 71 different nations to take the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America. Afterward, the group recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
‘That was easy for me because I say it at school all the time,? she said.
The oldest person who became an American citizen that day was a 79-year-old man from Greece, which Buchert thought was fun to witness.