US Embassy

Well little Lolo doesn't love her stroller so much anymore - which explains the lack of photos because I'm holding this kiddo instead of the iPad. Without photos I seem to have a lot less to say... Yesterday was misty and rainy, we laid low at the hotel until lunchtime then went to a playground on the way to the Han river. It was pouring rain by the time we got out of dinner but we decided to make a run for the subway station. Tim got wet, Lolo and I stayed dry under the umbrella, Otto splashed in puddles ran around and got soaked.

Today we went to the US Embassy to get Lolo's travel visa. Here we are at the adoption agency ready to go:

Here she is with her social worker:

The foster mother was there to drop off some things she had forgotten and was sort of lurking in the background. She was keeping respectful distance but wanted to see her again. We drove to the Embassy but we were asked to leave our backpack in the car - it had the iPad so we didn't get to take any pictures. Getting her travel visa took about an hour and a half with a little paperwork and some oath's about truthfulness thrown in.(Otto raised his right hand, too) and now she is officially our little girl! The translator sat with us and Lolo spent about half an hour focused on looking through a book with her - it was so clear she was just so happy to be with someone who spoke Korean. Now we know the words for lots of different bugs! Back at ESWS a little more paperwork - foster mother watching us arrive and leave and has brought the heart shaped sleeping pillow (see below), a book, toys and sweet treats for Lolo. I am awed at how much this woman loved her but also trepidatious about Lolo seeing her and grieving for her again. We got back to the hotel and took these pictures with her travel visa - as you can see the momentousness is lost on Lolo.

YAY! The bad news is no leaving early - cost prohibitive. Maybe we'll go see the DMZ instead...