Walton's Path to Citizenship

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake resident Adriana Walton was sworn in as a United States (U.S.) citizen Oct. 20. While becoming a citizen was never a dream of hers, the security and ability to live freely with her husband and participate in elections was enough impetus to trade in her green card.

Adriana was raised in Araras, Brazil. During high school, her least favorite class was English.

"I thought that [because] I come from a poor family, I will never travel outside of Brazil. Why do I need to learn English?" said Adriana.

Adriana started working at age 14 to help support her family. She worked for a medical benefit company doing their payroll and taking care of insurance claims.

She graduated from the E.E. Dr. Cesário Coimbra with a degree in education. After realizing she did not like teaching, she went back to school for another three years at Escola Técnica de Comércio de Araras and graduated with a degree in accounting.

In November 2000, Adriana met her future husband Robert Walton. Robert was working in Brazil building a golf course as a manager with Tee Time International, Inc. Adriana's father Jose Pagotti was also working on the golf course. After three days of working together, Jose invited Robert for a barbeque at the family home.

"It was a lot of fun," said Robert. "I didn't speak any Portuguese and no one there spoke any English. The whole night was just trying to communicate and have fun."

Adriana and Robert continued to date while he was building the golf course. Robert said their first few months dating were spent learning how to communicate with each other. Robert learned Portuguese and Adriana slowly learned English.

While Adriana just thought it was a fling, Robert surprised her and proposed. They were married April 28, 2001.

Robert extended his working visa as long as possible but he had to return to the U.S. a week after they were married. It took him three months to get Adriana's paperwork in order for her green card so she could join him.

Coming to the U.S. was a big deal for Adriana. The furthest she had travelled was three hours from her home.

"Coming to another country not knowing what to expect and not speaking the language was a big deal for myself and my parents [Jose and Juzerleine Pagotti]," said Adriana. "Coming by myself was even bigger."

Adriana travelled alone to the U.S. to join her husband in July 2001. She remembers speaking to an airport security officer in one of the airports. While she could speak English, she didn't understand it. The security officer spoke to her in Spanish, not Portuguese.

"Somehow we were able to communicate enough to where he showed me where to go to get to my connection," said Adriana who had to get on a bus and travel across the airport for her plane. She made it through four major airports and joined Robert who was waiting for her not knowing anything about her travels until she arrived.

The Waltons lived in Spokane, Wash. for a year. They lived with Robert's mother and grandmother. While Robert worked in Seattle, Wash., Adriana was at home with her in-laws and had to learn English to communicate.

"I have not taken any classes or courses," said Adriana. "My English is just from work and from people correcting me."

They moved to Victor, Idaho. Robert worked construction and Adriana was hired for her first job working as a store manager and bookkeeper of the VVG - Victor Valley Market, a gallery and grocery/convenience store.

"When I went to the interview I told [the owner Dominick Chamberlain] I don't speak any English, I don't even know how to write a check. She hired me to be her bookkeeper and to run both stores when she was on trips," said Adriana who worked for her for three years. "She hired me because I was Brazilian and she had been to Brazil and knew the culture. I owe her a lot because my first job was her."

The Waltons returned to Brazil in 2005 and tried to make it their home. Robert found work in golf course construction but, after eight months and the crash of the economy, they returned to the U.S.

They lived in Seattle, Wash for three years before Robert took the job as the Double Arrow Golf Course Superintendent in Seeley Lake in 2008.

Adriana worked the front desk at the Double Arrow for a year before being hired at First Valley Bank, now Citizens Alliance Bank, where she still works today.

"Becoming a citizen has always been on my mind since moving to the U.S. but the process has always scared me," said Adriana who considered applying after living in Seeley Lake for a couple of years but backed out. "Because of the language barrier, studying English for me is really tough. It was very scary because of the oral test and like any other test there is a chance to fail. I didn't want to set myself up to fail."

However, this year's Presidential election was the final push for Adriana to apply for her citizenship. She submitted her 20-page application in April.

"The election was the number one motive," said Adriana who was looking forward to voting. "For me, personally, the other motive was, even though I'm here legally with a green card that is a piece of paper that gives me permission to stay in this country. It expires every 10 years and I have to go through the process to renew. That is scary. [I] always have that doubt; are they going to renew or are they going to send me back home?"

After passing her background check, Adriana went to Helena and took three tests in July. She had to orally answer six of 10 questions correctly based on a U.S. History book of 100 questions. Second, she had to prove that she could understand, read and speak English. The final test she had to correctly write the sentence she was told.

"She didn't miss one," said Robert smiling. "We are very lucky we live in Montana. The guys in Helena were just great."

Thursday, Oct. 20 Adriana became an American citizen with 12 others at the courthouse in Missoula. She said it was scary turning over her green card before receiving her Certificate of Naturalization.

During the ceremony she received her certificate, welcome letters from the President of the U.S., Montana senators and governor and a welcome packet including a pocket-sized U.S. Constitution.

"I was pretty proud of myself," said Adriana. "This whole process of becoming a U.S. citizen was very stressful."

"I'm so proud that she did it. I'm proud of everything she's done since we have been married," added Robert.

Adriana proudly exercised her right to vote when the polls opened Nov. 8. While she has been required to vote in Brazil since turning 16-years-old, she was not allowed to vote in the U.S. with her green card. She was surprised at the length of the ballot. In Brazil, they only vote for president and vice president who then establish the laws. She found it very interesting that U.S. citizens are able to vote on laws.

In addition to voting, the Waltons are looking forward to the freedom to travel together without the questions surrounding her green card. Now that Adriana is a citizen, she also has the right to petition to bring her family here who all still live in Brazil.

Adriana said, "To me it's just a piece of paper. I still came from Brazil. I still have Brazilian blood running in my veins. But this is my home and being with Robert is the most important thing to me. I am now a U.S. citizen. I am an American and I don't have an expiration date. I have the same rights as everyone else here."