Blog post #14

May 20^th, 2013

Time marches on here in Johannesburg, though sometimes it feels like it’s inching forward. All of us are very ready to return home! Each day is full of possibility, but it gets tiring to try to plan something fun & new each day for the girls. Have you ever been really ready to get back to regular life after a vacation? Well that is certainly how I feel, after this almost seven-week trip. Jamie’s & my new game is to come up with really mundane things we miss so much about our home: loading dishes in the dishwasher, walking around barefoot without getting super dirty feet, checking the mailbox.

After arriving in Joburg last Tuesday, we went to the medical center for the next three consecutive days to have Amahle’s immigration medical completed so that she can get a visa. The girls were truly good sports about it, and it wasn’t too difficult, all in all. This being my first medical appointment with Amahle, naturally I wanted to ask the doctor all kinds of little questions about her—that cut on her toe, what looks to be a cavity in her mouth, the scar on her leg—but it was clear that he was only interested in making sure she is not bringing any contagious diseases to the US. “Perfunctory” is the word I would use, but at least we didn’t get delayed in this part of the process. That is the most important thing.

The highlight of the week was going to the Lion Park! We drove through the park, spotting four prides of lions, cheetahs, antelopes, meerkats, and ostriches. We had the distinct pleasure of watching one ridiculous ostrich take an elaborate dust bath right next to our car. Nobody tell me God doesn’t have a sense of humor. We’ve noticed that rules in South Africa are more relaxed than at home, like Amahle not having to sit in any kind of a booster seat in the car. Those relaxed rules afforded us the opportunity to pet baby lions and feed giraffes at the lion park! Having worked at the Philadelphia Zoo, I can fully appreciate what a treasure this opportunity was. The girls were a little unsure about petting the lions at first. They gave quick, furtive little pats, but eventually got in there & really experienced it. The best part of the day was spending time feeding and petting the giraffes. They always seemed tall when I looked at them from the ground, but standing on a high platform, I realized how gigantic their heads are. Looking into a giraffes big brown eyes & seeing those long eyelashes—precious. Again, the girls were very tentative about this, and hardly had any direct contact with the giraffes, but Jamie & I relished our time with them.

Wednesday is the big day for our appointment at the Consulate to get Amahle’s visa. The unabridged birth certificates have been picked up in Durban & couriered to the Consulate, and the immigration medical & lab results should be there as well. If all goes smoothly at the appointment, we will have her visa on Thursday and be leaving for the US on Friday night. I will keep you all updated. Thanks so much for your prayers and support.