We're here in Colombia!

¡Hola from Bogotá! :-)

We arrived at the airport on schedule last night and we were met by an enthusiastic Andrés who brought us to El Rufugio via taxi. It was probably about 10:30 PM when we were finally getting settled into our room and trying to figure out where we were! ;-) Everyone has been so kind to us already and given us lots of information about things to do, etc.

Lucia called at about 9 AM this morning to let us know that the lawyer and translator will meet us with a taxi at 7 AM tomorrow morning to make the drive to Chiquinquirá to meet Andrea and Juan. Our appointment is at 11 AM, so apparently it's a bit of a drive! So today we are getting unpacked and settling into our room and thinking about what tomorrow will be like. It's an interesting realization that today is our last day as just the two of us, but we know it's a good thing and we are excited to see what the days ahead will hold. Nervous...but excited!

There are two other adoptive families here in the hotel. One from France with their new 5-month-old daughter, and the other from Puerto Rico who will meet thier 3-year-old twin girls on Tuesday. It seems this currently quiet hotel will be not-so-quiet in a few days with two 3-year-olds, and an 8- and 11-year old!!

I started the day feeling a little bit lost, especially with the language issue, and feeling really bad that I didn't work harder at learning Spanish before our trip. The staff here doesn't seem to speak English, so it's a bit of a challenge, although we can catch a word or three now and then and try to make ourselves understood. I accidentally ordered warm milk for cereal this morning because I misunderstood what she was asking. And don't ask me why the poor lady didn't understand when I asked for "dulce" (candy) for my coffee instead of "azúcar" (sugar)!! ;-) Jeff is doing pretty well at attempting to speak to them in Spanish; I feel like my brain just freezes up each time I want to try. :-( Thankfully, the two other couples also speak English or it would be even harder. But, as I said to Jeff after our experience this morning, we had a taste of what life will probably feel like for our children when everyone starts speaking to them in rapid-fire English. It's not very fun to have that "deer-in-the-headlights" feeling because you really have no clue what the person just said to you, and you know they feel bad because they can't make you understand. But we'll just keep working on it.

The weather is nice so far. A bit overcast on and off but pleasant enough outside with a little breeze that keeps it cool. No rain yet, but our new French friends tell us it rains every day so maybe later on?

Ok, we're off to get some money exchanged and then a bit later to go do a little shopping, I think. And tomorrow? Well, only God knows what's in store for us tomorrow so we're relying on Him to walk us through it.