Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Embassy day

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Embassy day

Today was the day that we went to the US Embassy for our visa interview.  We entered through security and then sat in a waiting room of half Ethiopians and half adoptive families.  On our way there, we had picked up a social worker from Holt who was a white woman with a strong Southern accent, not exactly what I was expecting.  She went with us to the Embassy to help the families, should any problems occur.  So we waited about 2 hours in a waiting room. Bejigo slept for part of the time.  Our number was then called and we went up to a window that looked like a bank teller.  It took about  2 minutes total.  We were asked questions such as what do we know about the birthmother, what date did we go to court, etc.  For a moment the teller apologized for the delay in our case.  I got very nervous thinking that there was going to be another delay in our case but he just meant everything that we had previously waited on.  After all of the questioning, they told us that our adoption was “full and final” and that our paperwork would be delivered in 2 days. 

The rest of the day, we spent with Bejigo at the Guesthouse bonding and getting to know each other.  

 

Monday May 16, 2011, Awassa and the Goodbye ceremony

Monday May 16, 2011

We woke up this morning in Awassa, Ethiopia in the southern region after spending the night in a very nice hotel there.  We left the hotel around 8:30 a.m. and drove to a nearby resort on Lake Awassa called Lewi Resort.  This was a very beautiful place where we saw monkeys and a tortoise.  I asked how much it cost to stay there and all I was told was “a lot of money.” 

Check out the monkey

Lake Awassa

We then got back in the van and headed north back to Addis.  It was a rough 6 hour drive.  

Camels along the side of the road

After arriving in Addis in the early afternoon, we went to the Care Center for the farewell party.  I was not prepared for this at all.  When we arrived, they were preparing a coffee ceremony for us.  There was also incense burning.  There were most of the nannies and some other people in the room.  Four other children who were old enough to eat cake were sitting so politely at a little table saying “cake, cake.”  The nannies brought each child down separately dressed in their traditional Ethiopian outfit with a scarf that said I love Ethiopia.

  The nanny handed us Bejigo and we had our picture with him behind a table that had 2 beautiful chocolate cakes from Kaldi’s.  The cakes said “goodluck.”  Each family took their turn cutting the cake with their child.  

We were served coffee, popcorn, soda, and cake.  It was very funny at the time because here we were trying to hold Bejigo and juggle 3 pieces of cake, coffee, soda and constantly being served popcorn.  Before we ate Sister Sosena asked one of the families to read from the bible the story of Moses and to pray.  It was very emotional as we were holding back the tears.  Sister, the head nurse, also said some really special things like none of this would be possible without the adoptive families and that we were literally saving these children’s lives.  It was so sweet.  Sister Sosena told me that one of the nannies wanted to have her picture taken with Bejigo because she took care of him a lot and loved him.  She was so sweet and you could tell she was having a hard time saying goodbye.  She kept watching him the whole time we were there.  We were only at the care center for a very short time and then we were told it was time to go.  I felt so bad like we were taking him away from the people that loved him.  It was so sad.  The nannies were crying, a few of them even followed us to the van and actually got in the van with us, kissing and hugging all of the babies and crying.  It was heartbreaking.  Sister Sosena was riding in the back of the van with us crying.  She told us it is so hard for the nannies every time that they have to say goodbye.  She said that they try to give each child special attention and love them.  We held on tight to Bejigo as we drove away and he just watched the movement of the city out the window.  

It made me so sad to know that he would very soon be leaving his birth country for a whole new and completely different world.  After we arrived back at the guesthouse, they had prepared another party for us complete with a Congratulations sign, cake, and coffee.  They were so hospitable and kind!