Last December I wanted to travel from the United States of America to visit my parents and siblings plus extended family in my country of birth Cameroon, but there was an obstacle that I had to over come. I had just taken up citizenship of the United States of America in September, which meant that I needed a visa to travel to Cameroon.
To apply for a visa to visit Cameroon, I had to hand over my Cameroonian passport to the Cameroonian consulate in Washington DC. What? Up till this point, I knew I was excited to be a US citizen a process that took me 14 long years of navigating the complexities of the US immigration system. Now I was being faced with making the ultimate sacrifice, i.e. giving up the citizenship of my country of birth. There was no option for me to negotiate, so I gladly mailed my Cameroonian passport, together with my US passport, and waited for my visa in the mail. The visa finally arrived, and I traveled to Cameroon as a US citizen, and at the port of entry in Cameroon, I was not processed as a Cameroonian, but as a foreigner visiting the country. It felt awkward when I was given paper work asking questions about who I was coming to see and where I was going to stay etc.
There is no point bashing my country of birth, being born somewhere does not mean that you have to remain there for the rest of your life. Some people have to move for their calling in life to be fully manifested. In my case, the United States of America is the place I had to come to fulfill my lot in life. I am more than grateful that when I showed up the United States of America welcomed me with open arms and have given me the opportunity to be equipped so that I can inspire, equip and motivate people from all works of life to be all they were created to be as well.
I am moving forward, and there is no turning back. The United States of America is my new country and home. This was not forced on me. Therefore I am going to make the most of being here. It is Divine Providence that has made this possible and I do not take it lightly. There are few places in the world that you can show up with a single suitcase and no money and succeed. The United States of America is one of those places, and I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to join the ranks and file of millions who have come before me. Details of my story are found here
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I am passionate about the United States of America because it has been a great blessing to me and has given me the opportunity to be all I was created to be. The chance to become a citizen of the greatest country on earth was not handed to me on a platter of gold; it cost me something precious.
Dr. Eric Tangumonkem was born and raised in a Caldera on the Cameroon Volcanic Line in Cameroon. In addition to being a geoscientist with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, he is a teacher and an entrepreneur. Currently, he teaches for Missional University, Embry Riddle, and West Hills College. He is also the President of IEM Approach a premier personal growth and leadership development company based on the infinite wisdom revealed over the ages. On a mission to inspire, equip, and motivate people from all work of life to find their God-given purpose, pursue, and possess it. He also educates people on, life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Annuities, Long Term Care Insurance, Wellness Programs and Tax-Free Retirement Plans.
The IEM APPROACH is a holistic way of life; the physical and spiritual must be in synergy for real, lasting, and sustainable success.
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