The moment to cast my first vote is at hand and I’m very excited. My one vote probably would not make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but the journey I took to cast the vote has been a most memorable one. From the time I left my country to pursue an education in the United States to the moment I took an oath and become a citizen of this great country, it has been nothing short of amazing. I don’t think many people plan for landmark moments in their lives, and when something of significance happens, it has an enduring effect.I left my country as a bright-eyed, clueless and adventurous teen with hopes of getting an education and returning to my country and family. Boy, what a seductress the United States can be. In a matter of years, I unknowingly fell in love with the freedom, the opportunities, the wealth, the people and, most importantly, the rights accorded to the citizens of this country. I had every intent of going back home after college but once I had tasted the goodness of life here, it was hard for me to settle for less.My entire family was back in Malaysia, and as hard as it was to be away from them, the allure of making my own choices and experiencing life here was more rewarding. The first few years of my stay here were riddled with challenges as well as acts of random kindness from strangers and friends. If not for that, I don’t know if I could have coped with the prevailing feeling of homesickness. As the years went on and my life became more structured and stable, I began to put down roots here. I no longer was just a visiting student but a contributing member of the society. I paid my taxes, spent my hard-earned money and invested in the future of my life and family. Sadly, not all of my experiences have been pleasant. I have had brushes with racism and discrimination, albeit not prevalent.One of the main reasons I decided to become a citizen was because of the protection my family and I would get being a citizen of this country. If my family and I ever are stuck in another country and war broke out or if our lives were in jeopardy, I know the United States will come and rescue us. I’m sure they would use whatever force necessary to get my family and me out of harm’s way. But if I was not a citizen and my family was, I might be left behind as they wouldn’t have jurisdiction to extradite me. That thought scared me.That brings me to the elections. In the current global climate of war and rumors of war, whom do I trust to keep my family and me safe? All of my siblings and relatives, including my parents live in Malaysia. There is a chance that during my travels to that part of the world that tensions could rise and a war breaks out. Will Obama be the one who I put my trust in to make sure he sends a chopper to pick up my family and I or will McCain, who himself has been a POW. My decision on whom to vote for cannot be made based on their political party or how much taxes they will cut. What good is cutting taxes if we are not here to pay them?