February 5 Update – An Epic Adoption Story
Here’s another update! Our trip to get medical testing at the International Office of Migration (IOM) was anything, but efficient. We arrived at the police check-in at 9:05 am, and ran a little late because our driver wasn’t sure of his destination and the Malaria meds along with the multiple U-turns and pot holes got the best of Tim. We were instructed that we should wait in an outdoor shelter for our names to be called. After sitting for an hour we asked a couple more people about where we should be and both told us we were in the right place. After three hours I finally went hunting for a Doctor or nurse. I arrived and explained who I was and where we had been and they apologized for the confusion. It turns out we could have come straight to medical. So, we only got the children weighed, made payment, and then the very painful TB test. Lucas went first. He was brave, but the pain was too much as he burst into tears. It took a while for Daddy to console him. Kamri is a lot like Shelbi Lynn. When she gets hurt she gets angry. She shed a few tears when she got the TB test done, but was just angry for a while afterward. Shelbi gets mad when she gets hurt too, but at least Shelbi will talk to you. Kamri says nothing. Lilli went last, and began to cry as soon as she realized it was her turn. It was hard to explain why this had to happen, and we felt like we were betraying them in some way. We go back Monday to get the TB tests read and to complete the physicals at 2:00 pm.
All was forgiven by lunch time. We went to Garden City. This is an area of Kampala frequented by foreigners. We went into the Oasis mall that had a Ugandan version of a Super Wal-Mart, an escalator, and a restaurant known for its hamburgers, “The Pizza Connection.” Of course they had pizza, and it looked pretty good, but good hamburgers are hard to find and these were good. The kids had “chicken and chips,” otherwise known as friend chicken breast fillets and French fries. The escalator, as with any kid, was like an amusement ride. As the ladies shopped we had to ride again.
Our last stop of the day was the Friday Market. Along the train tracks vendors set up tarps and lay out their merchandise to sell. The vendors we lay on the ground and try to sleep. They would wake up as soon as you passed by and ask you to shop. One lady stood in a drainage hole peddling her paper beaded jewelry. Items for sale included wood and soap stone carvings including masks, manger scenes, and animals; paper bead necklaces and bracelets; hand woven purses and handmade cards; African dress shirts and dresses; shoes; drums, and more. You ask for a price and then you try to barter. It’s easier to barter if you purchase more than one item. We may go back again in a week without kids. It’s a little rough and keeping an eye on them while trying to make deals was a little exhausting in the heat of the day, and maybe we can give a few hugs as well.
We ended the evening with a game of Uno with Lawrence and Junior. Lawrence predicted winning the whole evening, but, as usual, Kristi dominated winning five hands. Only two others won as many as two hands and I didn’t win a single hand. It is a part of Ugandan culture for the men to express confidence in just about anything.
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