America: Through an Immigrant's Eyes

He was scared. His dark chocolate eyes watched the smooth snow-boarders zig-zag down the steep, snowy mountain and skid to a stop perfectly. Most of them looked like they had just stepped out of a snowboarding fashion magazine with top of the line goggles, helmets with funky stickers, patterned snowboarding pants, and sleek and bright jackets with brand names popping out all over.

To ski or snowboard for the next few days? That was the question. After watching the definition of cool snow-boarders float past us with some skiers mixed in, Dom, my hip hubby, decided on snowboarding.

The first half of our first lesson, he wasn’t so sure about his choice. He could never get up when he went wake-boarding in Thailand, so how would he succeed on this white stuff he had never encountered before?

But he conquered it. By the end of the first day he was the A+ student of our three person class, and by the next day he had become, as the other student put it, a snowboarding rock-star.

Our instructor would say, “Now everyone look at Dominic as he comes down the hill,” or, “You don’t need my help Dominic, go ahead,” or “Not all of you are at Dom’s level, but you will be with more practice.”

It had the potential to get old after awhile, but I was just beaming with too much pride of my hubby to let it.

So now Dom’s dream is to move somewhere, anywhere, where he can go snowboarding all the time. We had relatives in from Brazil, and Dom asked if they had snow there. We were talking to my friend who goes to school in Savannah, GA, one of Dom’s questions was of course, “Does it snow there?”

Now we know that the first place we find with snowboarding and good telecommunications companies is where we are meant to be. Thanks Colorado snow-boarding for helping us to figure that out.

Mom and I were in the kitchen wiping counters and putting the finishing touches on the decadent chocolate cheesecake, and pull-apart honey wheat rolls we had prepared in advance for tomorrow.

Dom wandered in from his evening workout and declared that tomorrow was Thanksgiving!!

“Mom, do we eat many big meals tomorrow? Or just one big one?”

His hollow leg was a little sad that it would only be filled to the brim once tomorrow instead of three or more different times. But perhaps a new tradition on the horizon? An entire day of feasting from morning till night?

Maybe next year.

We were holding our breaths. My face was white. Dom kept looking in the rearview mirror like he was waiting for something, and then it happened. The mirror reflected flashing blue lights.

“Pull over! Pull over!” I shouted frantically.

He eased the car over on the side of the mountain town’s road while he asked me what was going to happen.

“He will probably give us a ticket for  like $200 or something cuz you were speeding…”

“Really??”

The officer moseyed to the window to introduce himself and then informed us that Dom had been going 55 in a 35mph. I sweetly as a Southern belle told the policeman how we weren’t from around here, but he said there were two signs Dom passed to tell him to slow down. First Oops.

Then he asked for his license and registration.

On the way to Boone, we realized we had forgotten Dom’s international license. We figured we would be ok, so we didn’t go back to get it.

Dom looks at me with huge “What do I say” eyes before he speaks,”Well, officer, Im from Thailand. I have an international driver’s license.”

After hearing he was from Thailand, the policeman perked up,”Do you have a warrant against you?” he said. Dom looked confused so I answered no for him. “It’s ok, I can just look at your international license.”

Dom in a quaky voice,”Well, we left it in our other car.” Second oops.

“Just give me your registration.”

Then he walks back while we sit, waiting for our verdict. “Dom! Pray he gives us grace! Ahhh!” Nervous chatter continued.

After a few moments, he returns. “Did you know your registration expired yesterday, and that one of your back taillights is out?” Third Oops. Fourth Oops.

I innocently told him that it was my mom’s car we were borrowing, which it was, so we weren’t aware of all that.

He had already made up his mind though before he had even gotten to the car. With a stern policeman glare, he looked Dom in the eye and said, “Drive slower and pay more attention ok?”

Dom feebly said ok, and the officer left without giving us any tickets.

“Tun din, Tun din!!” Dom screamed out while pulling onto the road again. This is Thai for the freaked out feelings you get when something bad almost, but doesn’t happen to you.

“What a nice policeman, he even introduced himself! They never do that in Thailand! My first experience getting pulled over!! Wow!! It felt just like the movies! I wish I could take a picture with him!”

He glowed the rest of the way to Boone.