Yesterday (Tuesday) we experienced things we never anticipated. Then again, we never thought we'd have our passports stolen.
Our guide, Steed (that's right, as in horse), walked me to the local police precinct. It was the first required step in getting emergency replacement visas issued so we can leave this city. He explained our predicament to a police officer and filled out a report in a smoke-filled room while I sat on one of the two iron bunk beds in the 12-by-12 office. Turns out the beds are for the night-shift cops. After Steed filled out the report, the officer stamped it to make it official.
In the afternoon, all of us had to go Lanzhou's main station. Again we sat in an office while Steed showed our police report to the Foreign Affairs supervisor and explained the situation to him and three lower-ranking officers. I won't go into great depth, at least not while we're still stuck in Lanzhou, but let's just say the custom among investigators here is to treat crime victims like they are the criminals. Our answers to their questions didn't satisfy them, and they began asking questions about Abbey, hinting that they thought we were trying to steal her. One of the officers even spoke Abbey's Chinese name, Yu Zhou.
Thank God Gayle brought copies of Abbey's Chinese adoption certificate and her American citizenship documents! Unfortunately, they were still at the hotel, so Steed told the police officers we would return with them in 30 minutes. He and I drove back alone with the papers to the police station, but when we arrived, everyone in the foreign affairs office was gone. Steed has to return to the police department with those copies this morning. He seems confident this will be taken care of today, allowing us to leave for Guangzhou on Thursday.
Let our experience be a lesson to all future adopting families, whether traveling to China or somewhere else: Make sure to make copies of the passport information pages and visa pages (perhaps even keep the visa numbers in your wallet). And if you have adopted other children, make sure to bring their papers. I can't imagine what would have happened if Gayle hadn't done that.
We'll update later today when we get (hopefully) a resolution.
Tony
2 comments:
Hi guys, I just got my computer back i was having it worked on. Alex is sooo cute! I am so sorry for you problems with the passports, hopefully by tomorrow morning it will be worked out. We will say a prayer. Can't wait to see you guys we miss you. Take care. David and Darra Green
dang guys, that is harsh. any idea when they were stolen? how horrible. hope everything turns out alright.
mark kennedy
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