Passport office

Micah did so great on the ride today. He was really curious about the car and intrigued when it was moving. I wonder how long he'll stay that occupied on the plane :)

I fell in love with him even more today. Being with him outside the orphanage gave me a glimpse of what life will really be like, and it was great!

Of course we had a lot of waiting to do once we got there. I really don't understand how a whole society can get away with not doing their jobs efficiently. But Niko took our money inside and came back about an hour or so later saying the kids' pictures would be taken after their lunch break. We got back at 2:30pm and he came back saying the lady wants us to come back to do pictures on Wednesday. We paid to expedite the passports, but there are holidays on Monday and Tuesday and today was a short day, so doing the photos Wednesday is not going to make the process take any longer than if she did them today. So why wait? Basically, she didn't want to do her job.The mentality here is exhausting. Niko tried to reason with her saying we were already there with the kids but she wouldn't budge. Oh, if we were only in America!

So I had a great day with the little man, and I get to do it all again on Wednesday morning. According to the passport employee, it takes three days to expedite a passport. I don't know if that means I can pick it up next Friday or the following Monday, July 4. Even if we had pictures done today I'd still have to wait as long.

Either way, it will take the 5th and 6th to get the visa process done at the embassy, so we'll be coming home July 7, and not earlier like I had hoped. Oh well... It is what it is and that's the realistic timeframe I set anyway.
It just frustrates me that not one government employee wants to be helpful or go out of their way for anyone. It's worse than a California DMV!

You would really think it is still a communist country where the gov't takes care of you no matter what, instead of a new society where working hard can pay off, not only for self worth, but because it's the right way to be to others! So glad I was raised by hard-working parents who instilled a work ethic into me.

I'm only sorry got Barry's hopes up like mine were. We all wanted me to come home before the 4th... Soon enough, soon enough.