We were hoping to get Elyas' passport in time to get over to the facility that does the TB test. Then all we would need is a brief medical exam and everything would be ready to submit to the embassy for a visa.
Things worked out well, but not in the way we expected. The local agent got to immigration to pick up the passport, but they told him to come back in the afternoon. The TB facility only operates until noon, so our plans were going to have to change. We asked several times if we could go do the medical exam today, after getting the passport, and it was clear that was not what anybody else was thinking. In fact, they suggested that we go to the medical exam Tuesday morning, then go get the TB injection. Sandy had a better idea and we finally all saw the wisdom in going to the medical exam today, so we could be at the TB facility (a different office from the medical exam) first thing Tuesday morning. We were at the hospital almost 2 hours today, so it would have been very stressful to try to fit both into Tuesday morning. And it's critical that we get the TB injection, of course, so we can wait the two days to get it read, and still have a chance to get all this material to the embassy by Thursday afternoon, which is important because....
[Inhale!]
Of course, this all involved much waiting. We waited in 3 different waiting areas in the hospital, and we visited three different offices, one of which involved waiting while the nurse went to figure out why Elyas' file did not exist yet.
And I'm still not as good at Just Waiting as I need to be.
All these details are important because we've asked the embassy if they could expedite the visa and give us a chance (slim though it is) to leave to be home in time for Christmas!
And if we don't make it this week, it's all the way to next Tuesday, since the embassy will observe the Christmas holiday on Monday.
After getting this done, we went over to a little shopping area. While Yosef took Sandy shopping for Ethiopic things, I took the boys to a barber. Elyas wanted a haircut--like Nani, a ManU player. Peter redid his coloring.
Elyas getting his Nani cut. He also got some very subtle coloring.
Peter getting his hair washed out.
This particular portion was probably my least favorite thing we've done so far. This group of onlookers wasn't just watching...they were sort of gawking. The young lady in the blue skirt sat for some time talking with Elyas, and I could tell she was asking him about Peter's hair...and mocking it. She was kind of loud (in voice and personality) and she drew others in as they passed by. Elyas confirmed that she didn't like Peter's hair, and her persistent staring and laughing became somewhat annoying. Ultimately, it was harmless--and Peter didn't mind, but I struggled with it all.
Oh...a cut and two colorings: $7, including tip.
2 comments:
JUST WAITING sounds awfully difficult! Praying for all of you as you go through this process! I think Peter's hair looks great! Woman laughing just doesn't understand our culture 😀
It has been difficult. It's a marvel to watch our African hosts and agents. They wait marvelously...I've been trying follow in their way.
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