That's right....I am a US Citizen!!!

Today I had to go to the US Embassy. I was a little nervous, mainly because it was a new experience for me - I have seen the Embassy from the street many times but never been in before. From all the movies I've seen - I have always thought of the Embassy as a place to go if I was in big trouble and was running from the authorities!! Exciting...but a little scary.

Well I needed to do a couple of things while I was there - 1. Get my fingerprints renewed because it doesn't look like we are going to make our July 7th deadline - which is when my fingerprints expire (yes, it has taken much much longer to get through this process as you all know) and 2. I had to be sure that they had documents that showed I was adopting a girl that is 5 years old. My friend Leigh Ellen went today to get her Visa to go home (finally) on Saturday and they had her down as adopting a 4 year old boy with special needs!! They are now scrambling to get everything corrected!!

Well, the girls and I arrived at 1:30 - they accept walk-in's from US citizens from 1 - 3. There were several people waiting outside - all Nicaraguans' - so I walked up to the door and knocked and the security guard immediately waved at me and started for the door. Then a man came and walked right in front of me in line - he was a local and quite rude. Let's call him Mr. Rudo!! When the security guard got to the door - Mr. Rudo tried to enter in front of me and the guard told him he had to wait to check his papers but let me walk right in. I, of course, realized that albeit I have a little bit of a tan since I have been here - it is obvious that I am not from Nicaragua and was ushered in without any precautions.

I then had to go through a security line - they went through my bag, the girls' bag and then I was ready to put my things on the conveyor belt and walk through the metal detector. Mr. Rudo was now in the building and again, cut in front of me and put his bag on the belt. Immediately, the guard told him to get behind me in line and let me go through first. I was like, "that's right buddy - I'm next!!!"

We then went through another security line and I was given a number and had to wait for it to be called - it looked a lot like a DMV office - it was very clean - great air-conditioning and Lucie said "I could stay in here for a long time Mommy"!!! And I thought, "me too"!!

We were called within 5 minutes and I was treated with respect and courtesy. I realized then how often in Nicaragua I am treated with disrespect - many times I am cut off - pushed around and when I don't understand what someone is saying - they often roll their eyes and laugh at me. I too, laugh because I know my Spanish is not good but I am doing the best I can. This attitude usually comes from men - it is my understanding that women are seriously looked down upon here - and I didn't realize how much of an impact it had on me until I was treated with respect.

Well, I got my fingerprints done very quickly and was assured that yes, I am adopting a 5 year old girl. So we made some real progress today. As I left the building - I looked back at the waiting area and Mr. Rudo was still waiting for his number to be called!!

I am very proud to be a US Citizen - I know our country has a bad reputation (sometimes rightly so) in many countries, but I am proud to live in a country that treats women with respect - that has processes that work and that looks at adoption as an act of love not distrust. I am walking a little taller today and look forward to my next experience at the Embassy - Hopefully, I will not be running away from the authorities!!