Synopsis

... of the day to remember forget blog about!

7:40 a.m. Join morning rush hour traffic to meet with missionary co-worker at his house.

8:05 a.m. Park car at co-worker’s house; walk several blocks to nearest Metro.

8:25 a.m. Push/shove/cram into crowded rush hour Metro car with three small children in tow. Peek down at your children to ensure they are not being suffocated between grown up bellies and legs (depending on child’s height.) Combine (ie., get off and on) between three different Metro lines to reach final destination.

9:00 a.m. Exit Metro; walk several blocks to immigration office. Try to decipher which floor is the appropriate one for your needs. Take number and wait. Observe others in the waiting room while they observe your 3-year old son’s antics. Answer questions from a young American woman attempting to decipher her own paperwork requirements.

9:45 a.m. Take number to the appropriate window. Listen as agent slowly and somewhat condescendingly explains your options and refuses to listen to your situation. Follow his directions to the floor below and get another number. Thank the Lord for a “preferential” room which has toys for families with children! Take the children for potty breaks. Thank the Lord for a clean bathroom!

10:00 a.m. Talk to new agent about your situation. Listen as she informs you that you have until the end of the business day today to gather all necessary documentation and apply for your permanent residency or you will lose that option for another year. Listen as she informs you that your other option is to apply by Tuesday at the latest for a year’s extension of your visa. Listen as she informs you that no matter what, you cannot travel as planned to Haiti without losing all documentation accumulated throughout this past year in Chile.

10:45 a.m. Call your sister; your mission’s legal rep; try to make a decision about your next step in the middle of a busy hallway with children getting more hyper by the minute.

To be continued …