Hello Bucharest!

We got up at 4:15 this morning and left for the airport at 5:00! We were detained for awhile in customs while they read the court decree that gave us custody of Hope. Natalia (a translator) was traveling with us, and we were so thankful. We arrived in Bucharest about 8:30 a.m. It is a very crowed and noisy city. Hope was fine with all of the activity. After checking into our hotel, we took a 30 min. walk to see the doctor. This visit took about 10 minutes! It was just a formality to get her past one more clearance. Then it was back to the hotel.

The paperwork from the doctor was to be ready at 12:00, so Natalia went back to the doctor’s office to get it. Our embassy appt. was at 1:00 and 12:50, Natalia still had not returned. We could not get in touch with her either. She walked in the hotel at 1:00, because she had to wait on the paperwork to be completed.

We ran into a big hurdle at the US Embassy. We were informed we had filed an application for a visa “out of sequence.” We tried to explain to the official that we had been in constant contact with US immigration and her office regarding the process. There had been no other way to proceed with the process due to Moldovan law. She insisted on calling Washington when their office opened at 3:00 Bucharest time. She asked Andy to return at 3:15. Needless to say, we were very frustrated! He returned at 5:50. He was not allowed to take a phone inside the embassy, so I had no idea what was going on. He still did not have an answer. He met with the consulate who had been in contact with the “legal dept.” in D.C. She was still waiting to hear from them to give a decision. She told Andy she would call him as soon as she heard. If we get a favorable decision, she will have someone meet us at the embassy and give us the visa and packet. There has been no mention of what our alternative plan would be.

At 10:30 pm, we received her call; we had been cleared to leave!!! I cried with relief. The consulate went above and beyond the call to make this possible. We are coming home tomorrow.