Lost in Translation

Its way more than the words and language--- the whole way of thinking is different.

We have an ongoing issue with a date on Israel's report, on the very first referral  it listed that he was admitted to the orphanage in august of 2009. We inquired and were told a number of times that it was a mistake, due to the difference in calendars. Seems plausible.

However, the same date appeared again in Israel's social report received two weeks ago, so we brought it up with the social worke Nazreht in our meeting(she is not Israel's worker, but Meron was double booked and offered to meet later). Nazreht said she thought the date was wrong, what it should have been august of 2010, but that she would confirm. The next day, talking with Meron after the birth other meeting, Meron brought it up and said she checked, and that  2009  date was right-- said Israel has been at Mussie in Hossana since then! We pushed back a little saying this is contrary to what we have been told, also pointing out that his metrics were only recorded starting in august 2010, why would they wait a year to start wishing and measuring him? To which Meron said wisely " I think instead of saying anything else we should go together to talk to Maarta" which we did.  Maarta pulls out a big file, goes to the earliest document, pulls up the Amharic date, then turns to her computer and does the translation software and comes up w August 2009 again. We go through our questions and she agrees something doesn't look right. Both Meron and Maarta say they think it's a mistake but cannot be sure.  Maarta calls Mussie to ask what the nannies remember-- has Israel been there going on two years or one year?
No answer. She promises to follow up with us.

Our biggest concern is that this discrepancy of dates will raise questions with the court, the passport or the embassy and cause further delays.

Here's the lost in translation part: whereas we Americans, having seen the
potential for a bigger issue would now start to take steps to reconcile and be proactive, the Ehtiopian response is don't worry it will be fine-- they think well we have these other documents with correct dates so it will be fine. And a seeming inability to foresee how problems could easily arise.

Another example-- leaving for court again this morning(second attempt) Maarta advised getting here first, so that the judge could start with yesterday's cases if we were here on time.
There is an Afro-Indian summit here which started Monday, we have seen major traffic issues because of it. SoOF COURSE we get stuck on the way to the court because the roads are blocked in order to let the Indian Prime Minister's caravan through.  We Americans would have factored in the Summit-- it does not seem to have occurred to any of our folks here.
Wundwassa wasn't here when we arrived. Other agencies had their people here already and had their people with them. So Frustrating.
It's going to be a long day.

Now in a 20 by 30 foot room crammed shoulder to shoulder with at least 150 people all here to see th judge. The hallways are crammed with all of today's appointments, while yesterday's have been ushered to the front. They have started calling people in, but not us. We hear from Tefera that they called us, but we were sitting on the bus because Wundwassa wasn't here. Uggh.
The judge,s office is in an adjacent room. We are separated by The Door.  A metal door, with no handle on our side. The whole room is turns every time it opens, and the clerk calls an agency. We watched many groups get called. Groups whose appointments were from today were even getting called. Wundwassa stood by the door and pleaded our case, I didn't have to know Amharic to understand her say " this is your problem, we called you, you were not here."

We are watching the faces of the adoptive parents as they come out. Sme smiles. Some tear of joy. Some tears of sad. One young woman comes out skipping and high fiving. Poor form.
We finally are in. Small office, two clerks and the judge. Three desks piled high with folders, all gray, no apparent filing system. Maybe by day? And maybe one pile for approved not approved.