Consulate Interview - Just Breathe

Finally, we had our U.S.  Consulate appointment today.  We, along with many other adoptive families, were interviewed so that our new family members might obtain their U.S. visa.  A must before we can leave China.

This morning, Crosse was too lazy to get up and get dressed for breakfast.  So, he and I stayed in the room.  It was a nice opportunity to try to communicate with him one-on-one to make sure he understood where we were going and why.  I also wanted to reiterate that we would be going to America in two days.  I showed him more photos of our home in Maryland because he has been referring to the hotel as our home.  Just wanted to make sure.
I told him we were going to a U.S. government building today to apply for his U.S. visa.  He told me "no".  I explained that we were going to fly to America in two days and, again, he told me "no". 

He says "no" A LOT!  He never wants to do anything or go anywhere if it involves him not sitting and playing on his Kindle. 
(We are going to have an electronics intervention once we get home.) 
(It's not going to be pretty.) 
(We really haven't had any choice but to let the kids spend too much time on their electronics here.)  (It's super boring sitting in a hotel room when it rains all day.) 
(Which it has done quite a bit!)

That being said, even though he said "no", I was unsure if he was just being lazy, and didn't to go anywhere today, or if he literally meant he did not want to go to America.  We are still trying to calculate his level of confusion/clarity.

So, we are at the Consulate and the officer told us that he would have to interview Crosse separately because he was over the age of 10.  Dallas and I just looked at each other wondering how that would work and what Crosse would say.

Due to his hearing loss, it was necessary to have an agent write the questions for Crosse in Chinese.  The questions were passed back and forth.

Question #1.  Do you understand that you are going to America?
Crosse studied the characters.  He picked up the pen and wrote, "I will fly to America in two days."
(Yes!)

Question #2.  Do you understand that these are your parents?
Crosse read and reread the question.  He shook his head.  He looked at Dallas and myself.
(Stomach dropped.)

I asked the officer if she could rephrase the question using the terms mama and baba (mom and dad) rather than the character for parents.
She rewrote the question.
Crosse read it again.  Again, he hesitated.
(Feeling nauseous.)
Finally, he wrote, "They are not my parents."
(Beginning to perspire.) (Cannot make eye contact with the agent.)

The agent quickly said, "I will accept that.  I am sure he is indicating that you are not his birth parents.  It was a very ambiguous question we asked him.  I am sure he understands."
(Sigh!!)

And with that, Crosse's visa application is now being processed.  It should be ready tomorrow afternoon so that we can fly HOME on Saturday morning. 

*Prayers please that it processes without complication or delay.*

So, what to do?  What to do on this overcast, rain threatening day?  The Guangzhou Zoo of course. 
No surprise, Crosse did not want to go.  "No!"  It is always fun to catch him enjoying something he really did not want to do.

So, this was our afternoon:

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By far, the highlight, aside for watching the cute pandas, was feeding the giraffes. 
Below is a link to the video of TLC (Tru, Lin-Ley, Crosse) feeding the giraffes.  The lady in charge was very kind and gave them many branches and invited our whole family to participate.

One.  More.  Day.