Our Court Update

We left on the train to Taitung on Wednesday evening. It was a 4 hour train ride and we arrived in Taitung at 10:45pm. Our translator, Linda, was very kind to pick us up from the station and take us to a hotel where we spent the night. Keanu-Storm and Asia-Faith were with us and Willow-River and Talis-Rain spent the night (their first sleepover in Taiwan), with their friends, Sheldon and Clarice (and their parents of course, Kim and Colin).

Linda picked us up on Thursday morning and we headed for the courts. Jason and I were dressed up a bit (as I thought we should for court), only to find everyone else there was in jeans and sneakers! LOL

The birthmom was also there, and once again I had that bitter-sweet feeling. It is the word I use to describe our time with the birthmom as I have no other words to describe it.

We sat with Linda while we waited our turn (our case was delayed by 2 or 3 cases), and we discussed various questions that may come up with the judge, so that she was prepared with our answers, and then it was our turn to go in....

The courts are very efficient, with a computer monitor on each table so you can see exactly what is being typed up as you speak (although it wasn't much use to us because it was all in Chinese!) LOL

The judge asked us a few questions, like why do we want to adopt, can we afford it financially, how long do we plan on living in Taiwan and then also the basics like where we live and work, and then it went on to the "official" paperwork, wanting to know who translated the documents, and I told him a company in Taipei. Then on one of the documents from SA Department of Home Affairs, it was signed by an "Acting Director". Obviously when the word "acting" is translated into Chinese, it becomes questionable, because the judge asked us what we mean by "acting", so we had to explain that it means 2nd in charge. That seemed to satisfy him and he actually had a bit of a chuckle! LOL

Then he started asking the birthmom questions and Linda (our translator) told us that the father had not signed any documents, however the birthmom said he can't be found and gave the judge his last known address. I was a bit worried about this, but then the judge said that the next step is a Social Worker will visit us at our home (Homestudy), and then the relevant documents would be sent to us. I asked him if we would need to appear in court again, and he said no. Then we had to sign a document and that was that!

It was such a nerve-wrecking experience to be in court, and the birthmom kept saying how nervous she was too being questioned - it almost felt like I was in the principal's office in school! LOL

When we were leaving the courts, Jason mentioned that this would be the last time we would be seeing the birthmom, and of course, me being the emotional soul that I am, I started tearing up and then the birthmom asked Linda what was wrong and she told the birthmom that I was thankful to her for what she has done, and to that the birthmom replied that she is the one who is thankful to us!

After that Linda took us to a lovely restaurant for lunch and then to her parents business (they manufacture wood), and then it was time to catch the train back home...

I am just so relieved to finally have the court date behind us, and that all went well.

Enjoy the pics.....

The Tribe that Asia-Faith is from...

The view from our hotel balcony...

Can you see the ocean?

With Linda, our Translator...

We have a court date!!!

Well, we have finally received a court date! We got our notification from the courts on Monday that we are to appear in court next week Thursday, 15 November, at 11:20am. We are so thrilled to finally be entering the courts! Fortunately, during our Chinese tutoring on Tuesday evening, I asked our tutor to please translate the document from the court for us, and she told us that the court needs a copy of the South African adoption law AND translated into Chinese!!! This sent me into a tailspin...nosedive....panic attack....

So I had to go through my archives...files....emails......folders.....everything I have on record, and then I contacted a friend I met through my internet searches on adoption, who happens to be an adoption lawyer in the USA, but familiar with SA law, and she happened to have what I needed! Then it was trying to find a translator at such short notice - then the question - does it need to be a qualified/certified translator or not??? Well, lots of friends offered their support in finding people to translate and such, and then Deana mailed me with a contact in Taipei who is a certified translator and can get the document to me within 2 days! (at a fee of course), but at least it will be done in time for court!

So the headache I have is lifting and the knot in my stomach is slowly undoing itself!

I was so worried that the document would not be done in time and we might have had to postpone the date!

But, alas all is well, and we plan on leaving on Wednesday evening by train, which takes about 4 hours, and then we will be in court on Thursday at 11:20am. We also have a translator, Linda, who will be meeting us at the station and assisting us in court.

So please keep us in your prayers that all goes smoothly!

Enjoy the pics.....

Mommy did our nails....

Can you tell she has older brothers?