"Request for additional document"

That's how our response from the Embassy subject line read. Although they're really requesting more information not another document. But I won't go into the poor grammar in our email from the last week. That's the least of my complaints.

Let me make it clear - I support the transparent and ethical processing of adoption files. I am not suggesting that we be able to bring our son home in the event that there's any indication he has family in Ethiopia who want to, and are capable of, raising him. If in the event this second investigation did uncover that type of information, it would absolutely crush us, but we would do what we could to support him and help him get an education if possible.

Here's the thing. I have been on the phone much of the last 2 business days with our agency, various government offices, and finally, today - I talked to the "Country Officer for Ethiopia Policy Issues" in DC. What I have learned, boiled down and in my words, is that there is a misunderstanding of requirements for files being presented to Embassy. This Embassy contact - who was very nice - assured me they've done in-person training workshops in Ethiopia, with adoption agencies and care centers. Our agency says no new requirements have been communicated. Ummmm.....THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE PEOPLE. While the contact at the Embassy said there are not new requirements for these files, she did say "there is an additional layer of scrutiny" (i.e. new requirements!?!?). 

The math makes sense. A seemingly undefined "additional layer of scrutiny" + recent new staff at the Embassy in ET (i.e. people wanting to prove themselves, therefore asking, in many instances, for files to be completely re-assembled with information that may or may not have been originally required when the file was put together, and in some cases is already in the file) = BUREAUCRATIC BS KEEPING OUR SON, AND MANY CHILDREN IN AN ORPHANAGE FOR HOW MUCH LONGER??

The in-country agencies and care centers are now having to go back and get additional information on nearly every file. This is a resource strain on an already challenged infrastructure. Does this mean my child is held less because someone has to go dig up more information? Fed less, because they have to pay for the gas to drive to his birth town and get additional details? If you haven't been - telecommunications in Ethiopia are semi-existent in the best case scenario. So with this in mind, is it a leap to assume the care centers and agencies in Ethiopia, would, in their best interests, provide the required information the first time if they were crystal clear on what those requirements were? Maybe not. I don't know.

None of the cases that have been under the "additional layer of scrutiny" have been denied. That's good news. But. This is sounding more and more like NEPAL. And it makes me sick.

Once again: I support transparent, ethical adoptions, and children growing up in their families of origin. What I do not support is poor communication, finger-pointing and witch-hunts as the rule and not the exception - all resulting in children being institutionalized endlessly.

Ok (stepping off soapbox). I'll funnel this energy into something positive. Just had to vent.