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The Dommel's Adoption Journey |
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December 16, 1999: THE DOSSIER IS COMPLETE!!! |
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I can't believe it! It's Done It's Done!!! |
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We went to Harrisburg on Tuesday to get all of our documents certified. That went pretty well other than the weather. It was raining TORRENTS driving out and back (about 2-1/2 hours), driving wind and rain, close to zero visibility - and of course we pick the day that the Governor is lighting the state Christmas tree!! There was no parking anywhere near the government buildings so we had to walk blocks in the driving, blowing rain. UGH we were soaked to the bone by the time we made it to the office!! Then it took them 15 minutes to certify our documents and then 2-1/2 hours home ..... |
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Yesterday we went to New York City to the Chinese consulate for our authentications. What a day!! It was just horrible!! The public transit workers were threatening to strike and as a result, the city government was trying to limit the amount of cars coming into the city. They said that no cars would be allowed over the bridges or through the tunnels without at least three people in them. So we decide to take the bus. |
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Now the bus is a 3-1/2 hour trip, one way. We get an early bus and get to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC about 11:00 a.m. We get a cab to the Chinese Consulate and were there by about 11:30 a.m. We walk in to complete CHAOS!!! There were HUNDREDS of people waiting on line for document authentications, visas, passports, identity papers, etc. etc. etc. We finally figure out where to go (the signs were in Chinese) and we wait on line for our paperwork. We were trying to get a 1:00 bus which would put us home around 4:30 or so. |
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Well that didn't work!! They told us to come back at 2:50 for pickup (they close at 3:00). We get there around 2:45 and there were about 75 people on line in front of us!! AGH!! So much for the 3:30 bus .... |
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We finally get up there and get our papers. I count them to make sure they are all there and we get a cab -- just in time for the 4:15 bus. In the cab, I look at them more closely and there's a seal missing on one of the sheets!!! OMG - we got to the bus terminal and I burst into tears. After everything we went through the last two days it was just too much. The embassy is now CLOSED, we can't get back in and we are missing a seal on one of our documents. I'm standing in the middle of the bus terminal sobbing and Michael is on his cell phone, desperately trying to get someone at the embassy. He finally gets someone who tells him they are closed, come back tomorrow. He explains that we live several hours away, we can't come back and that we need this today. I think the man took pity on him (he was pretty desperate with a sobbing wife in the bus terminal!) and told us to come back and he would take care of it. So back to the embassy. |
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It's locked (of course) so we call and they come down, unlock the doors and take us in. They get our document fixed so we finally get a 4:40 bus out of New York. We got stuck in a huge traffic jam going out of the city so we didn't get home until after 9:00 last night. |
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But it's done!! And Michael was a hero persuading the embassy to fix our paperwork!! |
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I'm making copies today - the dossier gets FedExed to the agency TOMORROW!!! I am ecstatic!! |
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