> > I didn't need one. I have US citizenship through my mother, who came from here originally. I don't consider myself an American in any sense except on paper, but it's certainly very useful having that. I travelled on my US passport, and when I go back home I'll travel on my NZ one.
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> So, what other rights does this grant you? How soon could you vote? Could you have voted already or do you need to establish residency in a specific district/state? Do you need a Colorado driver's license? Could you be called for jury duty? Will you be start drinking bad, watered down beer?

I'm a US citizen. I have the same rights as you do, assuming you're one too.

I have never voted in a US election, although I could have lodged a vote from overseas, because I feel that voting is some sort of moral responsibility to one's country, and I feel it would be wrong to vote when a) I don't really consider myself an American b) I don't live there, and c) I don't know enough about US politics or even exactly how the electoral system here works to make an informed decision. However, if I find myself living here long-term during an election year, I am pretty sure I will vote in it and give my choice as much consideration as I would in a NZ election.

I got an international driving permit before I left, which is valid for one year. However, I don't really intend to be driving until winter ends. I have never driven in snow or ice conditions before, and that would be far too much to add to the problem of driving on the wrong side of the road. Once winter is over, I will do a bit of driving practice and then go get a Colorado license. I intend to find a job which I can get to by bus, or close enough to Dave's work that I can commute with him and then walk or bus from there. It is actually quite strange to be living in a city where you *can* live without one car per person. I have never lived/worked anywhere in Auckland where I could easily have used public transport to commute.

I don't know about jury duty because I'm not sure where they get people's contact details from. Technically I suppose I could. I think that once I have all the everyday impedimenta of life sorted out, like a bank account and a tax-paying job, my details will trickle through to all the government departments that use them for such purposes. I already had a social security number, which I got when I came here on holiday as a 17 year old, because I thought I might take a holiday job. As it turned out, I never did, so I have no idea what details they might have in my secret file.

I don't drink bad watered-down beer at home so I see no reason why I should start now. Certainly not in a country which is home to Barq's root beer.

Brunnen-"mmm, root beer"G