Start 2006 With a Grin

A Funny Thing Happened on the Road to Citizenship

My friend from Sweden relocated to America and was anxious to begin the process of US citizenship. We traveled into the city, needing to obtain some legal papers from her native country. Near our destination, we stopped to ask for directions. The clerk at the convenience store was smiling and helpful.

“Can you tell us how to get to the Swedish Embassy?” I asked.

Politely and with assurance, the clerk replied: “Which one? There are two of them."

"Two Swedish Embassies? My friend asked, obviously perplexed.

"Yes, Hun," the clerk answered, "But here in Houston they don’t call them Swedish Embassies—they're called Embassy Suites.”