Home

Finally, we are home!!  Three days of travelling, 4 flights, two hotels and hours in airports.  Our first flight to Costa Rica was only 1 hours and 15 minutes but we spent a total of 6.5 hours between hotels either in lines at airports or waiting for the hotel bus.  Our flight from Costa Rica to Toronto was two and a half hours late which means we didn't get to the hotel until after midnight and then we had to get up at five.  However, the kids didn't seem tired at all.  Especially Ricardo.  I think he was so excited to finally be in Canada that it over took any feelings of being tired.  I was glad to get home and I was welcomed by flowers and balloons from my friends Sandra and John!



Ricardo and Ali did great through all the travelling.  I am sure that Ricardo was starting to think that we live in airports and hotels.  When we finally got home, he was so excited and ran around the house pulling out all of Ali's toys.  I only had a few toys for him in his room as I didn't want to over whelm him but I forgot about Ali's toys.  Actually, I had imagined that things would be calmer but it was crazy.  He was running wild and Ali was leading him along from place to place.  I was still coming up the stairs when he found his room.  Within half an hour, he had a costume on and it stayed on for the rest of the day.  The house looks like a bomb hit it.

One thing that I was worried about was the dog.  The foster mother told me that Ricardo was frightened by dogs.  And my dog will bark at strangers who are in our house.  But there was no problem.  The dogs never barked and Ricardo liked the dog.  In fact, he is very interested in her.  He keeps pointing at her and watching everything she does.  He thought it was very funny when she went and slept in her dog bed.  There were no pets in the foster home so it must seem odd to him to have a dog in the home. 

I am exhausted.  It is going to take me days to get organized.  And weeks to get over the stress of the trip.  I think a big crash is coming for all of us. 





Day 37

Today we visited the town of Antigua, about 40 minutes outside of Guatemala City.  It is a beautiful town surrounded by volcanos.  The town is colourful and behind some of the doors are beautiful courtyards.  There are also many ruins in the town from a earthquake in 1773.  The town was established by the Spanish in the mid-1550s and it was the capital of the central america area.  But there were several major earthquakes and in the 1700s the capital was moved to Guatemala City.  The site is now a world hertiage site. 

One of the many ruins in the town

Church near central park

The Central Park

A court yard

The arch of Santa Catalina built in 1663

A view of the buildings

View through the arch

Another view through the arch

A beautiful Church

All the windows in the town had these grates around them and were often full of flowers

A side street

Tomorrow we start our long journey home.  I can't believe that this adoption is final complete after 3 long years. 

Day 36

Ricardo with his visa at the Embassy

Ricardo has been granted Canadian Citizenship!!! We can come home!!!!! 

At 8:30 the phone rang.  It was the immigration officer and she let me know that she was going to grant Canadian Citizenship.  She said that I could come back to the Embassy at 11:00 with the other papers I had to fill out.  It was such a relief to get this phone call.  I was impressed that she followed through and called and first thing in the morning as well.  I thought I would have to wait all morning to get the call. 

At the Mall

So after breakfast and some resting up, we headed back to the Embassy.  We waited just a few moments for the immigration officer.  She took my papers and said to come back in two hours.  So we headed back to the mall.  At 1:00 we headed back again to the Embassy and a few moments later we had his passport back with the facilitation visa.  Although Ricardo was granted Citizenship, he is still travelling on a Honduran passport as it would take many weeks to get a Canadian passport here in Guatemala.  So, the extra papers we filled out were for a facilitation visa which will allow Ricardo to enter Canada with the Honduran passport. 

Yesterday the immigration officer took all my adoption papers including Ricardo's birth certficate.  She told me she was going to keep them.  I asked today about getting them back.  She responded that she needs to send them to Sydney, Nova Scotia where the Canadian Citizen Certificate would be issued.  When I returned in the afternoon, she gave me some copies of the documents with a stamp and her signature on them and a letter saying that citizenship was granted.  She said that if there were any issues entering Canada, to show the letter and the stamped documents.  She said that Ricardo was now entered as a Canadian Citizen in the immigration system so I shouldn't have any problem.  She went on to mention that she had included a letter with my file asking the staff in Sydney to return my original documents to me with the Citizenship Certificate.  So hopefully, I will get all my documents back. 

The rest of the day we spent in the pool.  This hotel has a nice pool and a kids pool which is one of the reasons I picked this hotel, the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel.  Plus the fact that it was only $75 and I got free breakfast.  I have to pay for the kids but it is a big buffet breakfast so we eat lots and then only need a small lunch.  The hotel is nice but a ten minute drive from the Embassy.  Our room looks out to the Pacaya Volcano which erupted in May of last year sending think ash all over the city.  It also causes small quakes.  I had just read this and we had a small quake making Ali sit up in bed and ask me why I was moving her bed.

Ricardo in the kid's pool

Ali in one of the hot tubs

The kids in the glass elevator. Great fun!

Lobby and inside of the hotel

Coming back from the pool

View from our window - Pacaya volcano

 

Tomorrow we might hire a taxi to go somewhere.  I would like to see something while I am in Guatemala and not just a mall.

Day 34 and 35

Final Picture in Honduras

It was a busy morning for me as I had to finish packing, confirm hotels and the flight.  I also met with the lawyer at 10:00.  She gave me all the documents I will need for immigration.  These include the court documents, old and new birth certificate, and the adoption order.  I then used these to finish filling out the forms for Canadian Immigration.  We did visit the roof one more time before the lawyer came back at 2:00 and we headed for the airport.

At the airport, the lawyer took me to the immigration room.  The officer looked at all the adoption papers and our passports.  It only took a few moments.  Then we checked in, paid the airport tax and went through to the gate. 

The plane was 50 minutes late leaving.  It was a tiny plane, like a Dash 8.  Ricardo was excited and was no problem during the flight.  I did have to tell him to leave his selt belt on as he kept undoing it. 

Ricardo on his first flight

When we landed in Guatemala, they pulled all our luggage onto the ground and we had to walk a long, long way with it.  Luckily I only have a small amount of luggage.  I am glad I didn't have big suitcases.  Once through immigration we headed out and waited for our shuttle to the hotel.  By the time we got there and had dinner, it was nine so it was a late night for the kids.  And I was tired too. 

In Guatemala with our small amount of luggage

Day 35

Today was immigration day.  I set the alarm for 6:30 so we would have time for breakfast and then could be at the Canadian Consulate by 8:00.  Just before we headed for breakfast I read an email asking me to call my agency but she was not available.  So after breakfast I tried again.  Still no answer so we headed off at 8:30. 

We arrived at 9:00 and met the other Canadian family there.  They arrived on the weekend and had spent Monday getting the visas.   They told me to head downstairs first and start there.  So I headed down to the main office and explained what I wanted and ten minutes they said to head back up stairs to start the process.  I waited there only a few minutes and they gave me some new forms and an example of an international cheque that I needed to get.  They instructed me to go to the bank across the street.  I did this but the bank would not do the cheque so we walked a kilometer down the road to a bank that would do it.  When we were back, the immigration officer came out and I gave her all my documents.  She told me she would call in the morning and I could go and bring the other forms back tomorrow.  

It was now lunch and the kids were tired.  I looked across the street and saw this in the mall. 

Ali and Ricardo are on the top so they are hard to see

Dinosaur at the Mall

So the kids had a ride and then we strolled around and got some lunch before heading back to the hotel.  Then I did what I have been doing for days.....tired to arrange all the flights home.  The travel agent was working on the last one from Toronto to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  However, the fare had gone up and it was going to cost me 1,200 more then expected.  So I discussed with my parents flying to Vancouver and then taking a bus and a ferry.  This will only add 5 hours to the trip that is going to take 3 days - Costa Rica, overnight, Toronto, overnight and then to Vancouver.  So my Mother spent the morning with the travel agent and they got the cost down by almost half with one option flying to the island.  I decided that it was worth taking the more expensive option - 160 more to fly to the island and save the five hours of time.  So now the flights are settled. 

Then it was a long discussion with the agency about immigration.  All I can say is that I am so thankful for Skype!  At least through all of this I could talk to agency when need and with my parents for hours when things were rough. 

Finally, we headed to the pool for a few hours and then dinner and bed.  We are all tired.  Tomorrow, I will wait for a call from immigration.  I am going to sleep with my fingers crossed that we get the visa!!

Day 33

Today was our last day in Honduras.  We didn't do much.  We spent some time in the sun on the roof and then headed to the Multi-Plex Mall.  We hadn't been to this mall yet and I needed a few things.  It is the biggest mall I have seen here so there was lots to look at.   Ali and Ricardo ran and ran which they needed to do.  Then we headed home to pack and fill out forms for Immigration. 

Ricardo and his picture

Ali in our room



The roof



While I am happy to leave Honduras, I am sad to leave this little apartment.  It has been so cosy. 

Waiting for the taxi

Tomorrow the lawyer is coming in the morning to give me all the documents for Immigration.  And then we will just wait until its time to go to the airport.  We leave at 4:35 and land in Guatemala City at 6:00. 

Day 32

What a wonderful day!  The first day where there hasn't been stress over strikes, directors begining fired, or constantly delayed meetings.  Its all done. 

We finally had a chance today to go Valle de Angeles.  This is one of the places I have wanted to visit while I was in Honduras.  I rented a taxi for the day and it took us about 50 minutes to get there.  Valle de Angeles is a little town in the mountains with lots of stores selling Honduran articles.  There was a market going on today so the town was busy and full of venders so there was lots to look at.  I was finally able to get some things from Honduras for Ricardo and a few things for myself.  The kids were really good and Ali enjoyed seeing the horses in the town. 

Town Square

Church

Street

Another street

Small store



A house along the way

Tomorrow is our last full day here.  I am not sure what we will do but we may just rest and get ready for the trip on Monday.  Ricardo is very happy that he is going on the plane although I don't think he understands that we have to go to Guatemala first before we can fly home to Canada.

Day 31



Ricardo with his passport

 AMAZING!!!  WE HAVE FINISHED EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY!!! WE CAN LEAVE HONDURAS!!!
I have our flights booked for Monday for Guatemala City.  We have a few days there to get the Canadian Visa and then start our trip home on Friday. 

The lawyer has been saying for the last week that she was working with everyone to get the registration and new birth certificate done quickly.  (Once the adoption is done they issue a new birth certificate with the child's new name).  It usually takes between two and three weeks after signing the adoption papers to get these two things done.  My lawyer said on Wednesday that she thought we would be done in a few days. Yesterday she told me that she was hoping to do the passports today but she would call and let me know.  She called last night and said that there was a problem but she would call by noon.  We stayed in all morning waiting just in case and at 12:30 she called and told me to get a taxi to immigration right away.  We were there half hour later. 

The passport was easy.  The other family went first and about 50 minutes later we went in.  I think it took 20 minutes for them to enter in Ricardo's information and to scan all the documents.  We then had to go and wait while the passport was made, about 45 minutes.  And we were done.  I had the final document in my hands. 

I am amazed that the lawyer got everything done so quickly.  I think this is because I am here with the other family.  They adopted three children and now are a family of seven, living in a hotel room.  And they needed to get home due to work issues.  I think she was working really hard to get everyone home.  And I am so thankful.

Just a few days left in Honduras now and we can enjoy them without worrying about signing dates and paperwork.  Just one step left in Guatemala! 

Day 30

FINALLY, WE HAVE SIGNED THE ADOPTION DECREE!!!!!!!!!  What a relief.  This has been such a difficult and stressful time.  The waiting and waiting at IHNFA has drained us all.  Ali has not been sleeping, is home sick and has been very difficult.  Ricardo is upset everytime we go to IHFNA.  I am just so thankful that this is now done.  I sincerely hope that no other family has to go through this. 

We were downstairs and waiting for the lawyer at 8:30 this morning.  At 9:00 she had not come so I decided to walk to IHNFA since it only takes 6 minutes.  The lawyer was there and I did not see the other family so I assumed that they were already signing the documents.  We played paper airplanes again for half an hour when Ali had to go to the bathroom.  We had to walk through the room where the other family was and they were sitting there.  They had not signed and they were not sure what was happening.  We went back to waiting in the lobby when the head of the adoption department walked by and told me in Spanish that we would sign today and gave me the thumbs up sign.  We waited until almost ten when the other family emerged.  They had signed!  What a relief! 

The "official" photo (taken by Ali)

It was my turn.  We went back to a room with a big table.  The head of the Commission was there and some other officials and my lawyer.  I signed one document and had to put a finger print on it.  They then checked my passport, read out a document in Spanish and then had me sign four copies of the decree.  We finished off with photos.  This all took less then 10 minutes.  All these weeks of waiting for 10 minutes.  The only emotion I felt was relief.  We can now start thinking about going home. 

Next, we went to get the photos done for the visa.  We drove there, had the photos done and were back before 12.  My lawyer discussed with me that they were working to get everything done quickly because we have waited so long.  I know that for week she has been discussing the issue with the other offices involved so that we can get the registration, birth certificates and passport done in record time.  We will know more by the end of tomorrow. 

The kids have been waiting all week to go to the children's museum, Chiminike so after lunch we took a cab and spent a couple of hours there.  The kids loved it and I was happy that they got to do something fun after the week we had.  It is a great museum full of hands on activities.  They both loved the giant nose that sneezes and the big operation game.  They were too fightened to try the bed of nails though. 




Tree house



Giant operation game



Big nose



Water room



Climbing

 

Fun with masks

I had arranged for the taxi to come and get us at 4:30 but after 20 minutes of waiting it hadn't come.  The museum was almost closing and I didn't want to waiting alone so we walked to the street where there was a beat up old taxi.  Smashed windows, ripped seats.  But it was our only option.  He didn't know where our hotel was (and of course I had forgot the card from the hotel) so in Spanish I had to direct him.  We got back fine and I was really glad that I knew how to find my way back to the hotel. 

Day 29

So, we waited all day.  We didn't go out this morning in case the President of the Committee could sign earlier.  We were down in the lobby just after 2:00.  The lawyer was stuck in traffic but got to the hotel at 2:30 and we were at IHNFA minutes later.  We sat in the lobby area for a while before the lawyer called the other family to go and sign the papers.  The kids played with paper air planes and did some colouring.  We moved outside and back in and then back out.  An hour later the other family emerged.  And it was my turn - NOT.  The president didn't show up!!!!  She was in another meeting regarding floods in the south of the country.  The other family had sat in an office somewhere, waiting, while I waited in the lobby.  I couldn't quite believe it but then I could believe it.  It is just so unbelieveable that it is laughable.  How many times are they going to cancel this meeting?  We don't care about any ceremony or photos just let us sign the papers.  It will only take minutes. 

We are SUPPOSED to sign tomorrow at 9:00 and once again I will put on the one dressy outfit I have and I will again put Ricardo into the shirt I bought him for the signing.

The sad part of all this is that Ricardo is getting upset everytime we go to IHNFA.  He thinks that we are going to the IHNFA he knows and that he will see his foster mother.  It has caused lots of tears everytime we come back.  I have tried to explain that it is a different IHNFA.  Today I think he is finally understanding a bit but everytime we go its like rubbing salt in his wounds.   And unfortunately, unless they sign the documents we are going to have to keep going back and going back.  And then he keeps asking "When are we going to Canada?".  I don't know what to say anymore.  And Ali spent half the time at IHFNA crying because she is homesick. 
When is this going to end???  Are they actually going to sign the papers tomorrow or do we have to spend another day sitting there waiting for someone to show up???? I am really not impressed.

Day 28

Ali and Ricardo at IHNFA

Today I had planned to do our usual homework routine in the morning and then go out to the Children's Museum for the afternoon.  That plan changed when I recieved an email first thing in the morning telling me that the lawyer would pick me up at 10:00 to go to IHNFA.  The email did not say we had a appointment only that the lawyer was trying to get one.  So at 9:30 the lawyer's son arrives to pick us up and we are soon at IHNFA.  The other family arrives shortly after.  And the waiting began. 

First, the lawyer was waiting for the President of the Commission to arrive.  She is the person who will now sign our papers.  We wait and wait.  Then the lawyer tells us that the president will come after lunch.  So I went back to the hotel for lunch and walked back at 1:00 and waited.  By 2:30 there is no sign of this women and Ali is hungry again so we walk back to the hotel and back to IHNFA again.  Still she is not there. At 3:30 we are told that the women is not coming to IHFNA so we decide to drive to another office where she is.  It took 25 minutes in traffic to get there.  We wait in the car while the lawyer goes inside.  Finally she calls and says that the women is in a meeting.  It is now after 4:00 and we have spent the whole day waiting for this one person.  We decide to go back to our hotels since we still might have to wait for hours.  The lawyer stays to wait for the women to see if she can meet her face to face and plead our case. 

We arrived back at the hotel sometime before 5.  The kids were tired from sitting and waiting all day.  I was tired too.  I had decided that I was not going to do this again.  It is just too unfair to the kids to sit for hours waiting.  But then the lawyer called at 7:30.  She had met the women and they made an appointment for 2:30 tomorrow.  That is good news but we have been here before so I am not getting my hopes up.  I am just goint to wait and see what happens tomorrow.  The good news is that I don't have to spend the morning sitting at IHNFA.

Day 27

Today was another quiet day.  Ali woke me up at 7:00 am with questions regarding her homework that she was already doing.  She was done everything quickly.  Ricardo can now operate the computer enough (point and click) to do the alphabet program himself.  He loves it. 

Today there was a little more sun so we spent more time upstairs.  The kids just played for a long time while I just relaxed.   I enjoy the view from the roof and it does get us outside. 

We headed to the mall in the late morning to pick up a few things.  I also went to a school supply store and bought Ricardo a printing book and Ali a book with maps of each area of Honduras and Central America.  The maps are black and white so we coloured in the areas of Honduras that visited.  Ricardo was very happy with his printing book and got right to work when we got back. 

Today was a holiday so IHNFA was not open.  Tomorrow the lawyer is going to IHNFA to see if she can get us an appointment.  I am just keeping my fingers crossed that we get something this week. 

Day 26

Today was a repeat of yesterday. Homework, some time on the roof, some time hanging out and dinner and bed.  This is our second day staying in and it has been very relaxing. 

The roof patio

The weather here has been rainy with the odd sunny break.  When the sun comes out we head to the roof.  Being on the roof reminds me of being in Kathmandu when I adopted Ali.  The patio is the same size, you can see the surrounding hills, you can hear the noise from the street and you can watch the planes landing and taking off from the airport.  When I was in Nepal I watched the planes everyday hoping that I would soon be on one.  I was desperate to leave and be on one of those planes.  I am looking forward to leaving Honduras and I am hoping that this week brings some good news.  There is a holiday tomorrow and I am not sure if IHNFA is working so we won't here anything until Tuesday. 

Ali and Ricardo enjoy the big chairs

A covered area on the roof

Another plane comes in to land

Ali has been very helpful during this trip and tonight she wanted to help with dinner by cutting up the vegetables and doing the dishes.  She is still homesick athought not as bad as last Monday and Tuesday.  She got to her homework even before I was up today and then did some more later on.  Ricardo likes learning and seems to enjoy the computer learning programs. 

Ali helps with dinner