(unknown) I mean, they weren't reall concerned with the type of money that they saw today.

But behind me right now, you can still see some of the work that remained from that high high tide that we saw earlier.

But earlier today this whole entire area... (Eric) Good morning.

[phone ringing] (Eric) I havent seen my wife children eight years now.

It's no.

[cell phone ringing] (Eric) Hello?

Donovan.

Yes.

It's working.

[unintelligible talking] (Eric) The network is bad.

Im in America.

They are In Ghana.

I need to be a citizen in America before I can go back to see them.

[cell phone ringing] (Eric) How are the kids?

I was doing some work back there.

By Gods grace, they will be fine.

The other day I was telling you about-- The network.

Hello?

So it is not easy.

But I'm doing this for my family my wife and all my kids.

[upbeat music] [background chatter] Service.

I'm working as a maintenance technician eight years now.

(Amadou This lock, It goes to room 205.

(Eric) Watering the flowers.

Take trash.

Clear the outside.

Service the machines.

[water running] [garbage disposal running] (Eric) I do a lot with this company.

And everybody loves me.

And they.

I'm also happy to work with them.

Okay.

To for that.

Wonderful.

(female resident) Thank you so much.

(Eric) Youre welcome.

It was very difficult for me to survive because all my businesses collapsed.

So I decided to move from Ghana.

I lose my customers, I lose my money.

I lose everything.

I dont even have fifty cents to buy even water to drink.

You love your case and then you cant provide them what their needs.

A big problem.

So I said to my wife, “I'm going to United States to find a job to do, and then you will come there with me.” And then all my kids, my children are crying.

When are you coming back?

[instrumental music] (Eric) One lady, she told me if I needed help for the citizenship exams, we have a program.

And one of the residents is available to help me, I said, “okay.” (Jill) Honey I'm going to have a cup of tea.

Would you like a cup?

(Carl Its almost time for cocktails or wine.

Ill come help you, though.

(Jill Living in a retirement community is something that I never thought I'd be here.

But, you know, time does march on.

[clock ticking] (Jill) In other cultures, the aging residents are highly revered, highly taken care of.

They are taken into the homes and everything.

And you don't find that so much here in the United States.

[instrumental music] [ambient background noise] (Eric) Hello, maam.

(Judith) Hi Eric.

The first time we met Eric, I was nervous and he was a little bit nervous because he didn't know anything about us.

Name one branch or part of the government.

[instrumental music] (Jill) When you look at the list of questions that they have to learn and they have to memorize 114 questions, it truly is amazing.

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

(Eric) Ahhh... (Jill) And I honestly don't thin I could have passed that test.

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

(Eric) Freedom of speech.

Freedom of religion.

(female resident) Good.

What is the economic system in the United States?

Market.

(Eric) Marketing system and, uh, (Jill) We worked with Eric for several months before the test.

We went over the questions again and again and again.

(Eric) My biggest fear is that if I couldn't pass the exams, I would not get the United States citizenship.

So I try to keep all the 100 questions in my mind.

(Jill) Not to have seen actually looked at his own family for real.

Touch their face.

Give him a hug for almost eight years.

(Eric) Good morning.

(Jill) That to me is unbelievable.

Unbelievable.

(Eric) When I came here, I knew.

I did not get the United States citizenship.

I cannot go back to Ghana.

[clock ticking] (Carl) Where there are some states that border Canada?

(female resident) What is an amendment?

Who makes the federal laws?

(Jill) Remember, the Civil War was between who?

Can you name your U.S.

Representative?

(Eric) Yes.

Don Beyer.

(Jill) Good.

(Judith) How many colonies were there all together?

Do you remember?

(Eric) Thirteen original colonies.

(Judith) Yes.

The original... (Jill) Knowing that the goal of his becoming a citizen was to bring his family here.

(Carl) Who was president during the Great Depression?

(Eric) Aww, come on.

(Jane) That's okay.

They're not going to ask that one anyway.

(Jill) I have to say, I was nervous for him.

[upbeat percussion music] (Jill You know, I keep thinking about Eric this morning.

What time is it?

Nine.

Little after 9:30 and his test is 1:30.

He's probably getting dressed.

[slow instrumental music] [ambient noises] [instrumental music] [door closes] (Jill What does the Constitution do?

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution.

What are these words?

What is an amendment?

Who makes the federal laws?

How often do we elect a senator?

(Eric) I havent seen my wife and my children in eight years.

(Carl) Who was President during the Great Depression?

[phone ringing] (Eric) What is this?

[cheering] (Erics wife) You got it.

(Eric) Yeah, I got it.

(Employee) Eric Frimpong.

Congratulations, sir.

(Eric) I get it.

(Jill) Congratulations!

Same to you.

Both of us got it.

Get it.

[laughter] (Erics wife I'm so happy.

Thats my husband.

(Eric) Now, my passport application is done.

I'm waiting for my passport, so I have to... (Erics wife) Are you serious?

(Eric) Yes.

I will be in touch with you guys soon.

(Erics wife) We are so happy.

(Eric) Thank you, thank you.

Everything is done.

(Jane) Very nice.

[laughter] (Jane) Yay!

Okay.

Very nice.

We'll hang that on the door.

(Jane) Ohhhh.

We're so proud of you.

We're so proud of you.

Oh my Gosh.

(Carl) A long time in coming.

Hi Amadu.

(Jane) Hi, come in, come in.

How are you?

Hi Mary.

Oh, congratulations to the sister.

Oh, how are you?

Oh!

(Carl) You had your picture taken.

(Jane) Oh, my.

Oh.

(Carl) Excuse me.

(Jane) You know what?

It makes me want to cry.

Oh, it makes me want to cry.

(Eric) ...how you say it in English?

(Jane) Well, there's many different ways you can say Cheers.

One day we had been quizzing him for the exam, and I just told him.

I'm proud of you, Eric.

And he said, oh, mom, I will be fine.

I was so touched by the fact that he felt close enough to call me mom.

And it made my heart happy to be called mom.

(Eric I have took them as my family no They're part of my family now.

I love them.

(Erics wife) I'm so excited.

Very, very happy to see my husband.

Play the.

[instrumental music]