Obamania overtook cricket

I moved to Portland, Oregon, to marry my American fiancé in 1997. Since then I have had three kid and moved to St Helens, a small town next to the Columbia River river 30 miles north west of Portland.

For the first few years I was content just to have a permanent wave resident card; I looked forward to going "home" every year, visiting Marks & Herbert Spencer, eating steak and kidney pie and proper cream cakes. I followed cricket in the hebdomadally Telegraph and in fact felt more British people by life abroad.

About two years ago my hubby mentioned I had lived in United States long sufficiency to apply for US citizenship and that there were certain tax vantage.

I was against the idea - I'm British people, why would I want to be an American? I resisted until we found about dual citizenship; I wouldn't have to give up my British people passport. So I went ahead, albeit with reservations.

The citizenship process was reasonably painless and was more straightforward than acquiring the master permanent occupant card.

I had to fill out a form, get fingerprinted, be interviewed, do an English language test and reply a few inquiry on US Civics. I then came back the next day and was sworn in as a US citizen. My naturalisation certificate enabled me to registry to vote.

For the first time in 40 years Beaver State has been a major participant in the US Democratic race, as the two contenders fought for delegates. So this year we have seen Barack Obama - who had the biggest rally of his campaign here, 75,000 people in Portland - as well as President Bill Clinton, Chelsea and Hillary.

This is the first time I have participated in a primary and it has been fascinating. We vote by mail in Oregon and we received our ballots three weeks before the big day. My husband and I voted soon afterwards.

The candidate I chose had a Kenyan father and had lived abroad as a child. I had lived in Africa as a youngster and I felt I knew where he was coming from.

Around Christmas I donated to his campaign and began receiving emails from BarackObama.com. I have received emails at least twice a week since and have enjoyed getting them. It has been fun to be a part of something that may be so significant.

That was my first surprise; I thought I would be British with an American passport, but no, being able to vote has been a great privilege. Secondly, I feel much more part of the community here; I am not an outsider - I might have a funny accent but I am the same as everyone else.

Unfortunately with my kids totally immersed in American life, some things do now get forgotten (even with the Weekly Telegraph) - I completely forgot the FA Cup Final, cricket is now just a quick look at the results while my kids are enjoying baseball, basketball and American football.

So now I look forward to jury duty, something which comes to every citizen and now you cannot avoid. After all, it is my duty as a US citizen. By the way, Obama won Oregon - my vote counted!