We made it! - Our last document was turned in at 5:00......

Matt had termed this our "hail Mary pass" which was befitting since the holiday that the embassy was closed for is for Mary. The pass was thrown and completed with zero seconds on the clock. Celebrate! Celebrate!

So we have to thank - the excellent embassy staff (including the switchboard operator who was very patient as she tried every person in the Visa section and eventually transferred me the the Chief getting a response rather quickly) and our driver for ensuring that this worked. Our translator had advised getting our Visa picture a week before and set up our medical appointment, unfortunately we had to ignore her other directions and follow our own instincts to get this process complete or we would be here for at least another week if not more. I'd go on, but it wouldn't be acceptable on a public blog.

Mason and Matt successfully caught their 5am train and made it to the embassy at 12:30. They are supposed to be closed from 12-3, but they were waiting for Matt and Mason and began processing the documents he brought immediately. I believe this involved getting soaked in a downpour as they figured out how to get in the embassy. With Matt's documents they were able to start processing Alissa's Visa. However, to print the Visa they needed the passport -----

To get the passport, Alissa and I took a taxi at 8am from Lebork to Slupsk and hung out in the passport office waiting for someone to decide to give it to us. This is where our taxi driver excelled. He knew the chief and many other people in the office. He very politely, nicely, encouraged them to get this done so that he could be successful in getting us to Warsaw. After an hour wait we were on our wait for our 6 hour drive to Warsaw. (Which was worth it, but pretty expensive and we were never told the cost by our translator even after asking several times.) Alissa did pretty well on the trip and we only had a few temper-tantrums. But being still in a car for 7 hours isn't easy and she did very well.

The embassy staff called our translator and us several times to find out where we were and if we were going to make it in time. They told me if we were going to be cutting it close to go to the embassy first so that they could get the computer work done first and print out the Visa, pending the delivery of the medical info. Our cab driver hit Warsaw at 4:15, had incorrect directions to the embassy, but since he was not afraid to ask for directions, we made it by 4:35. The embassy staff took our documents and we ran to the doctors office. We were there by 5:51. The doctor kept saying, "don't worry, you will make it" while we stared at the clock very nervous. Finally, he said, your appointment is tomorrow right---- and we said, no now in 5 minutes! We got our translation of vaccinations (good news she is up to date with her vaccinations) and we the taxi driver drove us back quickly.

Matt sprinted into the embassy, with me following with the kids. He submitted the medicals at 5:00. So we waited, and in a few minutes we had our Visa package and our original documents with translations that our translator submitted on time. Everyone at the embassy had waited for us including the two security guards before closing up and leaving. We owe them a huge thank you! In the rush Matt left his coat, but we made it out with everything else.

We should make our flight on Saturday! I have to say, in order for this to have worked you had to use American ingenuity, problem solve, take away the roadblocks, do things out of the typical order, and have people who want you to succeed involved. That had been very lacking the last few weeks with the people we had been working with. Yes there is a reason for procedures, but the only reason we got the Visa was that the embassy staff worked out that the road block was the computer systems shutting down thereby invalidating their ability to print the Visa even if they worked late (which makes a whole lot of sense from a security standpoint.) But the medical info didn't need to go into the computer....so a change up on the procedure.

Being on "American soil" at the embassy was so relieving that we went to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner to celebrate. Now I always frown on going to a foreign country and going to Hard Rock Cafe for an "American experience" - but in this case we were so excited. Matt and I had a nice glass of red wine, the kids had kids cups that not only didn't break when they hit the floor, but they had lids that didn't spill when they fell over, the kids had kid menus and Mason ordered cesar salad and mac & cheese. Matt and I had nachos and hamburgers - real hamburgers made out of meat. I have to say the french fries while good - weren't very exciting since they do make great french fries in Lebork. The waiters served the food in order of appetizers and main meals and the kids got balloons. When Alissa's balloon floated away, she received another one. Ahhh - customer service! We enjoyed our "American experience" and look forward to being home tomorrow.

As far as firsts she experienced her first escalator yesterday and she wants to run to one now every time she sees one. We are at the Warsaw downtown due to a wonderful donation of hotel miles from the new grandparents! Great hotel, they even had someone show up at the room last night to warm up Alissa's night time milk. Today we will walk around and our flight leaves tomorrow at 6am.

Good luck to the families that are in the middle of the process. I love following your blogs so we will continue to check in.