USVI-On-Line

Embassy date made. Reservations made. Hubby and son and DIL leaving on thanksgiving day to go to Addis Ababa to pick up our granddaughter. Flying Ethiopian Airlines (sounds scary doesn't it). US state dept site also sounds rather scary right now. It will be quite an adventure though, and I can't wait to see baby Lyra.

Wonderful! Wishing all a very safe and easy journey.

Are your son & DIL adopting? Somehow I missed out on the story here.

Wishing you all a good, safe and happy trip!

Our friends experience was that when they were out and about, which they actively tried to see as much as posssible, they had a driver or guide that was connected with orphanage.

Maybe it will be the same for your family?

Our friends just completed their paperwork for a second (or even 3rd if siblings can be placed together) so they hope to be headed back soon.

May they have a safe journey. Just in time for the holiday season!

Yes, son and dil are adopting.Everything that could go wrong has. 1st baby died of malnutrition before she came home. Current baby was abandoned, and right after her referral, the country put a hold on placing abandoned babies for about 3 months. While on hold, their home study and immigration papers and fingerprints all expired and had to be redone. (of course for a fee) When the hold was lifted it was time for the annual court closings in Ethiopia. Apparently all gov. offices and courts close from August to October every year. But since the courts reopened, she passed court in ethiopia and has a date at the us embassy to get her visa and she can come home. Less than 2 weeks now. Hubby is going with them because he's a more experienced international traveller, and they are feeling a little insecure.

WOW! What a story! This baby is very loved

Again, safe trip, and I hope you will post again (with pictures!) when you all get home again.

Congratulations! I hope that everything goes smoothly from here on out. I am glad your hubby is going - the extra experience, eyes and ears will help them to expend more of their energy on the baby and their feelings than being so worried about everything.

Report back when the family arrives home, please!

Oh, congratulations! I hope the trip goes so very well!

Ethiopia starts with an e (bump)

Thanks for the good wishes. I'll keep you updated as the trip progresses if anyone is interested. It's certainly not your typical travel spot.

I'm interested! Updates, please!

Congratulations to your family! I just got caught up on your story. I would love to hear about their travel experience and see pics of your new granddaugther. My husband and I are starting to seriously consider adoption and love hearing stories with a happy ending!!
Prayers for safe travel!

ethiopianadoption2008.blogspot.com This is the adoption blog my dil has kept. It tells all the details throughout the adoption. Very interesting read (Warning, there are tear jerker entries) Will keep you posted on travel excitement. Leave in 9 days. Dil has never flown and is absolutely terrified. What a way to start the flying experience. Hope the xanax the Dr gave her works well.

Apparently "island time" originated in Ethiopia, a land locked country. Much like rasta and reggae. Baby Lyra was assigned to them when she was 2 weeks old. She will be 71/2 months old when they pick her up. Due to processing times in Ethiopia. They cannot stay and Hilton or Sheraton in Ethiopia. Adoptive parents are no longer allowed to stay there due to bomb threats last year, so the stay in guest houses arranged by the orphanage. Most of these "guest houses" are surrounded by walls topped with razorwire, as are the large hotels. The large hotels also have guards with guns. Apparently they won't know where they are staying until they get there and are picked up from the airport. They were told to "not Worry" if no one was there to pick them up. There will be eventually. Sometimes there's car trouble. Easy for them to say. They're not the ones sitting in a foreign airport with no idea where to go or how to get there. Also told"not to worry, no problem " if they are late to their us embassy appt. to finalize the adoption. The country seems to operate on "island time". Maybe this is where island time started.

I hope your family will have a safe journey and hope you will take the time to tell us what happens.
Perhaps with a photo of baby Lyra?

Linne