Calgary Wedding Photographer: 5 years as an Immigrant

Here I am sitting eating a watermelon (oh yeah me and watermelons have a special relationship!) and thinking I should tell you about something that happened to us last week. On Friday my family had the privilege of participating in the Citizenship Ceremony. How awesome was that?! It was a very blissful event and I am so glad I could be a part of it! There were quite a few Russian speaking families there (from Ukraine, Kazakhstan as well) and over 70 families from 25 other countries. One thing united everyone - the amazed look on their faces and pride for becoming a Canadian Citizen.

Rewind. Alex, Timofey and I came to Canada in July 2005. We had friends here whom we met online a few months prior to our arrival (Olya, Taras - you guys are the BEST and we miss you so much while you are in US, please come back to Calgary! :)). I remember Alex telling me before we got to Calgary: "Are you sure these guys are legit and won't kidnap us?"...haha It seems funny now but back then after living in Russia for so long it was kinda hard to believe somebody can simply be kind to complete strangers and even offer their home.

3 years have quickly passed and we applied for Canadian Citizensip. And then we waited. And waited more. :))We waited for a year and a half to write our citizenship tests (follow the link to see what those tests are like, they say it's Canadian school program). We were so thrilled when we got letters from the government saying we passed! woohoo! The long wait was over and we got to the Harry Hays Building early Friday morning along with almost 100 other people.

I am proud of my Russian heritage, my accent, and the fact that I look Russian.:) My son speaks both English and Russian at the age of six and we hope he keeps his native language. I am happy to live in Canada, I love Calgary (no seriously I do!, I think it's a great city and I keep discovering more and more about it!) and I can't wait for Stampede each year! :) I am now Russian Canadian and I love it! :) Lots of love to all my friends - both Russian and Canadian! Love you guys!!!

Tim and his new buddy:


My Mom and I: :)


In the ceremony room...it was gorgeous!


He looks pretty happy, doesn't he? :)


Love the Calgary Tower on my head..:) haha








The Judge and kids singing the National Anthem:


My camera settings were way off in this one as I gave it to my Mom to snap this photo: I like it anyways. :)