Wednesday, June 8
Normally the update begins with the trip to the breakfast
bar or Isabelle waking us up
or something along that line but today's big event was too
special to relegate to the
middle or end of the update. Today Stefanie and I, at 10:15
a.m., took the oath that
allows Isabelle to get her US VISA, travel to the US, and become
a United States citizen. IT
IS OFFICIAL!
The swearing ceremony was not as big of an event as you would think
but the assistant
consular general did do an awesome job of explaining that the
Guangzhou consulate
processes more than one-third of all international US adoption VISA requests which
translated to over 7,000 last year and more than any other
country with Russia,
Guatemala, and South Korea following. It was cool with all the
families in there thinking
that there were so many new American citizens. When we left,
there were more people coming and that probably continues every day except on weekends
-- utterly fantastic.
The assistant also said, congratulations on making it through
the most paperwork
intensive process in the world.
We did wake up and we did eat at the breakfast bar; last time
for the french toast because we leave at 6 a.m. tomorrow.
Isabelle was in a great mood but that rapidly
disappeared because she got up too early so following breakfast
she drank her formula
and then went to sleep. It was perfect because she was able to
get a nap before our
consulate appointment. After the effects of the consulate
appointment wore off we came
back to the room and then I was off to the toy market. It
really is a mall that is 6 stories
tall and has everything imaginable. It is the wholesale market
and I was witness to
capitalism at its rawest. I actually was able to watch a woman
take her wares, package
them, display them, and sell them all right there. She placed
the goods in the plastic and
stapled it closed. It was really neat. I was able to get some
Gameboy Advance games that
the boys and Angie and Bob's girls should like. While I was
away at the toy market
Stefanie and Tori got everything separated so we could pack it
all up.
I came back and took an hour nap while Isabelle slept in
her crib. Then it was time to
head downstairs and get Isabelle's passport and visa. Grace
passed out the children's
visas and then I told the other families goodbye. We are staying through until tomorrow
but most families depart the same day that they get their
visas. The fact that we aren't
departing did cause one problem. The hotel keys did not work
and that issue was finally
resolved by the time we returned from dinner at Lucy's. Lucy's
was the first place we ate
dinner on Shamian Island so it seemed right to have our final
dinner there as well.
After dinner we needed to get a suitcase for all the
additional purchases we have been
able to make while in China. We finally decided on a medium
sized suitcase for 120 RmB
(about $15 USD). She wouldn't guarantee me that the suitcase
would last forever but I just
hope it lasts to Atlanta. While there Stefanie and Tori decided
that some DVDs for the
return trip would be a good purchase. Unfortunately we had run
out of money so the final
item for tonight before we turn in is to exchange some more US
dollars for RmB and then buy the movies. We are all packed except for the last pieces we
still need tonight or in the
morning.
We will wake up at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning so we can get
our bags out in the hall
by 5:50 a.m. and then check-out and depart at 6 a.m. We depart
for Tokyo at 8:20 a.m.
on the 9th then to Detroit (11 hour and 40 minute flight) and
finally into Atlanta still on
the 9th at 7:10 p.m. -- just a short 26 hour day.
Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement! Please
pray that our return trip will
go well also. God bless and a final good night from China. |
Tori keeps Isabelle company while we pack.
"What is your best price?"
Isabelle puckers up
Dinner? |
