CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The highlight of Friday's Cincinnati Reds game came before the first pitch.
One-hundred-fourteen people swore the oath to become American citizens in front of the crowd at Great American Ball Park.
Mohanad Abudamedah came to the United States on a student visa from Jordan.
"I am so excited. It is a really big day for me. I am so honored and happy to become a U.S. citizen. It's been a long journey. It's been five years since I came here and it finally happened," Abudamedah said.
Abudamedah has family in Cincinnati. He also met his wife here as well. It hasn't been easy though; he says the government closely scrutinized him and his wife and their relationship.
"It was actually terrifying. Between not knowing where you're going exactly and being under investigation at some parts. They want to make sure [it's a legitimate] marriage, not doing it just for the papers. Just being under the pressure is so difficult. Five years felt like 50 years," Abudamedah said.
Irina Enevska is from Bulgaria. She says she fell in love with Cincinnati while getting her degree at the University of Dayton.
"It feels like freedom. Finally, I'm free. I can say, 'I belong. I'm one of you,'" Enevska said.
Enevska ran into an unexpected friend during the ceremony.
"I used to teach, and one of my students also got naturalized today and neither of us knew that we were going to be here, so that was a shock, but also a very happy moment," Enevska said.
This is the first time the ceremony was held at Great American Ball Park.
"It was really touching and to see them stand on the field and wave the American flag, it was just picture perfect," Federal Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman said.
Bowman has been performing the naturalization ceremony for nine years.
"I've met so many wonderful people and just to embrace the new citizens and to welcome them, to be one of the first faces to welcome them as new citizens is really rewarding," Bowman said.
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