Day 17 in Colombia - La Mesa/Bogota, Wednesday, May 29, 2019

I must first say that today, the day we go to sign our adoption decree for Orlando Sebastian, May 29th is also Maria Marcela's and my 19th wedding anniversary. We didn't plan this; in fact, what is unusual, as earlier stated, we came to La Mesa with the full understanding that we were to establish 5 days residency. So obviously, that is not accurate and everything is at the discretion of the local judge.

Needless to say, our attorney and the paralegal driver picked up after having checked out from the hotel at around 7:45 a.m. to head down to the judge that opens at 8.

Before I describe all of that, I must mention my eventful night before being awoke at 11:30 p.m. by what sounded like screaming and bodies being drug down the staircase outside our room. Needless to say, I was a bit unnerved and thinking if our door was going to be kicked in. I got up and looked out the window to see 2 other guys using their phone flashlights to look at something from our second floor over on the roof of the lower level. I poked my head out to find out that the resident cat was protecting it's turf and feuding with another. Wow! What a commotion. I was relieved, to say the least. What's funny is Sebastian and Maria Marcela didn't even squirm at the noise, so they didn't know anything until the next morning.

This same cat, when we arrived on Monday was looking to want some attention and I got the most surprised welcome with him giving me a few good scratches on my arm and chin. I quickly put antibiotic cream on the remaining time, thankful that it didn't get infected. You never know where cats have been.

Anyway, back to our morning heading to the judge. I want to share with you a beautiful arrangement of flowers which are quite common here in Colombia.

We got to the office just as it was being unlocked and just as the judge was arriving awaiting for them to complete the paperwork and copies. We both signed the decree and then met with the judge in which she merely had a long conversation with Sebastian about his life.

Below is the view of the town square from the judge's office.

After meeting with the judge, we ran an errand to get some photos taken of Sebastian for his Colombian ID with his new name. 

We did, however, go straight to an office in which a registrar handles Cedulas and country IDs, unfortunately, he was in a training session, but had told our paralegal that he would be at his office by 9:30, then 10. We waited 5 hours before an assistant finally came and helped with the paperwork, but still required the registrar's signature who never showed up. Everyone was quite upset, as you can imagine.

The attorney finally came over to me to ask if I was alright given the circumstances and I said I was fine. Yes, frustrated, but I went on to illustrate to her my expectations when someone says they're going to do something. I compared this to her and my tense moment the evening before given she has not been able to follow through with what she tells us. The night before, there was a moment in which she was ugly with us and us demonstrating our impatience with her lack of clarity. But I was able to explain to her that just as she and her paralegal are upset at this registrar not being true to his word, it's just the same for us. "Say what you're going to do, and do what you say."

She said she understood my perspective and that it was helpful in knowing where my frustrations were rooted, because previously she thought I was just being impatient with a culture that is a little more relaxed at doing things and don't hold to schedules as we typically know to do.

We ended up filling out the forms and getting a temporary ID, but since the registrar never returned, our attorney would have to pick it up the next day.

This photo is of another family confirming the accuracy of names since they were with us, adopting an infant.

We started our trip back to Bogota around 1:30 and realized we were not going to make it to the passport office before it closed at 3, so our efforts to gain 2 days, we already lost one. So, on Thursday, we will wait for the return of the signed documents and then visit the passport office in the afternoon.

As we were driving back, Sebastian kept trying to persuade the driver to turn on the game between Colombia and Tahiti. Since we were in the mountains, the reception was terrible, but got better as we were closer to Bogota. We got home in time for him to see the final minute on television.

When we returned to Socoro's residence, she was not home, so we went to a healthy foods restaurant and had lunch around 4:30.