When Linda Samir Zaidan, a native of Lebanon, was growing up in Tyre, a mid-sized city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, she often dreamed about America. But she never imagined living here, much less becoming an American.

Her dream will come true tomorrow when she and 16 other immigrants take the oath of citizenship and become naturalized Americans in an Independence Day ceremony at Put-in Bay.

When the fireworks light the Toledo sky tomorrow night, Mrs. Zaidan will be an American citizen. She will be reminded of her childhood days when she longed to be like the American tourists she saw in her native Lebanon.

"I remember seeing Americans and wishing I could speak like them," the 24-year-old mother of two said. "I always wished I could fly to where they came from."

Mrs. Zaidan came to America five years ago after meeting her husband, a naturalized American of Lebanese descent.

As they have in the past, they intend to head downtown for the fireworks.

"This year is going to be so special because I will be an American," Mrs. Zaidan said. More than that, however, she is excited that she can now apply for government jobs, vote, and apply for some scholarships. She intends to enroll in the University of Toledo this fall.

"I like this country and I will enjoy being a citizen," she said. "I still have a lot to give this country."

For many immigrants living in the United States, attaining citizenship can open many doors. Rama Thapar, a native of India, has been living in Toledo as a permanent resident for 10 years. She decided to become a citizen because she was tired of applying for visas whenever she and her husband traveled to and from India.

"It's better to be a citizen because I don't have to worry about so many things," Mrs. Tharpa said. "This is a great

country and I'm glad I'm becoming a citizen on a special day."

Every year, more than 400,000 immigrants from all corners of the world apply for and are granted American citizenship, according to the U.S. bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As of April, more than 380,000 people had taken the oath of citizenship nationwide this year.

In Toledo and northwest Ohio alone, 350 people became naturalized U.S. citizens in 2003 and 2004.

As some families celebrate new beginnings tomorrow, one family in Oregon will re-live the past and also celebrate a dream come true.

In the fall of 1993, Ron and Jan Miller started hosting a high school foreign exchange students in their home. While the students have learned about American life and culture, the Millers have gained insight into other cultures as well.

The Millers have since hosted seven Germans and two students from the Czech Republic.

But the Millers always felt that the students missed an integral part of understanding the American experience because they were always sent back home in June.

This weekend, five of the German students returned to northwest Ohio to celebrate Independence Day with their host family.

Standing at the entrance of the Toledo Zoo yesterday, Mr. Miller beamed as he was flanked by his wife and their German guests.

"It has always been a dream of mine to have these students come back and celebrate July Fourth with us," he said.

The students basked in the comfort of familiar surroundings. "It's like coming home," said Tom Wiechert. He lived in the Miller house during the 1994-1995 school year and just graduated from the university in Mannheim, Germany, where he lives.

He looked relaxed in the scorching July sun as he recalled the bitter-cold winter mornings in January when he felt like his "eyeballs were going to freeze."

Even though some of the students were meeting each other for the first time, Mrs. Miller said it was easier for them to relate to each other because they all shared similar experiences. "It always took all of them a couple of weeks to adjust to our language. They thought we spoke too fast."

All of the Millers' guests agreed that there is no national day in Germany that is celebrated with the fervor that Americans celebrate the Fourth of July.

"People here are more patriotic than in Germany," said Eva Rosenbaum, now a student at the University of Heidelberg.

Contact Karamagi Rujumba at:

krujumba@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.

First Published July 3, 2004, 10:00 a.m.