Thursday, Sept 9. Oath Day

Pics

1.  playing on the bed.  2. All done at the Consulate.  3.  Nifty do not disturb.  Each room has one, you press a button to illuminate it.  4 & 5.. yum.. same stuff we had a few nights ago.  Deep fried bacon, and beef and veggie.  yum yum.. tho the longest ever to get as take out!

 

Well Chickie had a rough night.  Woke up coughing and coughing at one point.. After a quick does of cough medicine I just brought her up into the bed with us.  We have a king size bed in here so it was fine.

 

We didn't do much this morning.  After breakfast we dropped off more laundry to be done and did some last minute shopping for a few items.  Got back to the room in time to put her down for a nap.  While she was napping I started on our packing.  We bought a big duffle bag thing the day before last and it's a lifesaver!  I should be able to keep everything within the weight limits and it shouldn't be too hard for us to lug around.  I'm trying to get us to only 3 carry-ons.. (4^th is her).  There is plenty of food on this flight so we really don't need to bring much for us, just for her. 

 

We got her up, fed her some and off to the lobby to take the shuttle to the US Consulate.  Which used to be right next door to our hotel.. but with all the adoptions they had to move to a bigger office downtown.  And while we were there one of the Consulate employees mentioned that they would be moving again.  She said that they process on average 50,000 visas a year.  And the reason the Visa office is here in Guangzhou is because the bulk of the immigrants come from this region.. as well as the bulk of the orphans.

 

So we arrive, it's on the 5^th floor.  No cameras allowed.  There were 30 or so other families there.  After each of us presented our passports to a clerk the Consulate employee I mentioned told us some of those facts.  And what her office does, and that 67% of Chinese adoptions are now special needs compared to less than 50% just 3 years ago.  Then it was time for us to stand and repeat the oath.  And ya know there wasn't anything really special about it.  Just saying we swear we gave the most accurate information as we know, and stuff like that.  But both of us started to cry.. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room.  We all got choked up.  Well it is pretty much the end, or very close to, the end of a very long journey.

 

Speaking of long journey.. we are dreading the flight and thinking of strategies to do our best with her on it.  I think we are going to try to make sure she is tired when we get home.  If we keep her to China time she'll be all smiles and ready to party when we get home 9pm EDT.. when it'll be 9am here.  Ugh.  So we'll see how this works.  We never got to do the Benedryl test.  We tried one day and I don't know if it didn't work or I just gave her so little. Oh well… we'll do what we can.   Laps around the plane?!?!  We got some new toys and things to introduce to her.. and if all else fails.. the fastest way to this gals heart is her stomach.. sheesh.. a bottomless pit!

 

We have really seen a transformation.  She was a quiet unassuming child to this bundle of joy who is enjoying life!  She's singing now and lots and lots of babble.. Just so freakin cute!  We notice how many comment on her cuteness.  Me, I'm doing ok.. for those of you with weak stomachs.. turn way.  I've been coughing up green gak.  Still no voice and just feeling really crappy.  Having a cold in China is no fun. 

 

Not sure if we'll get to blog in Hong Kong.  Depends on how much the internet is at the hotel.  We will be at the Sky City Marriott right next to the airport.  Look it up online.. it's pretty.

 

We have to have our luggage out by 1:30pm (cruise flashbacks) then in the Lobby checked out and ready to leave by 2pm.  First we drive by the Consulate, which is a 30min ride.. when no traffic.  Grace is going to run in to get the girls' passports/visas (the other CCAI family is going too.. they are.. Mandy, Kevin, their older daughter Emma and their little girl is Emma).  So.. Grace runs in.. we go off to the train station, which is around the corner..  to get ourselves checked in and luggage scanned.  The other family heard we were doing the train to Hong Kong and not the plane and decided to go along.  So it'll be nice to have friendly faces with us!  And we can help each other out.  The train leaves Guangzhou at 4:12pm.. for arrival into Hong Kong around 6ish.  The most fabulous Grace helped us out in Hong Kong.. we have a driver with a van to take us to our hotel.  So that's a relief!

 

Then the next morning, Sat the 11^th.. we fly out of Hong Kong at 10:25am.. this time.. so that'll be 10:25pm for ya'll on Friday night.  Wish us luck and safe travels.  I have my cel phone and will turn it on once we get into Newark.  That is around 2pm EDT.  15.5hrs later… ew ew ewe w ew.. oh well.  We gotta do it.  And let me tell you, we are ready to come home.   Tired of living in one room!!! And eating out .. and well all that travel stuff.  

 

So there ya go!!  We'll be home soon…

 

Things to note.  Not sure if I mentioned this when we were in TianJin.. but MTV here.. plays videos!  Honest to goodness music videos.. unlike at home.  Also what the heck.. no freaking clocks in the last two hotels!!!  We have our travel one.. but seriously!  The Holiday Inn had one.. none here and some lousy one back in TIanJin..  argh..   Another thing, we are amazed at the number of Chinese who ask us if she's Chinese!?!?!?  Really?   I mean really.. um yea.  To me it seems like a duh answer.  I could see when we get home, but here?  Most interesting.

 

ZaiJian

~Donna