Our US Consulate Appointment is
Monday, June 27th!!!
Monday, June 27th!!!
Flights booked!
Total travel hours:
* 19 hrs: Home - Chicago - Beijing
* 23 hrs: Guangzhou - Shanghai - Chicago - Home
Hotels booked!
* Crowne Plaza Wangfujing, Beijing
* The White Swan, Guangzhou
Following is our itinerary:
(sightseeing and activities will be
planned with our guide once in China)
planned with our guide once in China)
- Day 1: Thur. 6/9 Depart 3:10 PM
- Day 2: Fri. 6/10 Arrive Beijing 11:30 PM
- Day 3: Sat. 6/11 Free Day (sleep!!)
- Day 4: Sun. 6/12 MEET BENJAMIN!!!
- Day 5: Mon. 6/13 Civil Affairs (finalize adoption!)
- Day 6: Tue. 6/14 Free Day
- Day 7: Wed. 6/15 Ben's Passport Registration
- Day 8: Thur. 6/16 Free Day
- Day 9: Fri. 6/17 Free Day
- Day 10: Sat. 6/18 Free Day
- Day 11: Sun. 6/19 Free Day
- Day 12: Mon. 6/20 Free Day
- Day 13: Tue. 6/21 Fly to Guangzhou
- Day 14: Wed. 6/22 Ben's Medical Appt. (includes TB test)
- Day 15: Thur. 6/23 Free Day/Ben's Passport arrives
- Day 16: Fri. 6/24 Free Day (receive TB results)
- Day 17: Sat. 6/25 Free Day
- Day 18: Sun. 6/26 Free Day
- Day 19: Mon. 6/27 US Consulate Appt! (oath ceremony)
- Day 20: Tue. 6/28 Free Day (receive Ben's Visa)
- Day 21: Wed. 6/29 Fly/Arrive home 8:45 PM
** Benjamin will remain with us throughout the trip.
He will become an American citizen
He will become an American citizen
when we land in Chicago @ 5:00 PM on 6/29! **
A guide will be available to us throughout the trip!
That's a good thing!!!
Mandarin??...not so good.
It's going to be HOT!
We expect the weather, particularly in Guangzhou,
to be very hot (like 90+ and sticky humid).
Packing lots of sunscreen and hats!
21 days away from Ellie and Jack...
A guide will be available to us throughout the trip!
That's a good thing!!!
Mandarin??...not so good.
It's going to be HOT!
We expect the weather, particularly in Guangzhou,
to be very hot (like 90+ and sticky humid).
Packing lots of sunscreen and hats!
21 days away from Ellie and Jack...
It will be tough for all of us...but especially for me.
We've never left them a single overnight!
(maybe we'll Skype our goodnight kisses, songs & prayers?!)
Greg's mom will be staying with Ellie and Jack in our home
(maybe we'll Skype our goodnight kisses, songs & prayers?!)
Greg's mom will be staying with Ellie and Jack in our home
and they will continue in preschool...most days!
(gives Grammy time to recuperate and keeps
the kiddos in a normal routine).
We won't be out of touch!!
Greg and I are each taking an iPad2 and a Netbook...
with access to email, Facebook, Blogger & Skype!
We'll also have a phone for emergencies.
WE LEAVE 2 WEEKS FROM TODAY!!!
In a way, the journey has flown by...
8 mos. from submitting our agency application
to meeting our Benjamin!!!
In another way, it seems like forever!
We've watched him grow through photos and updates
and love him so much already.
The waiting has been hard but in the end,
we know he's our BenBen!!!
The waiting has been hard but in the end,
we know he's our BenBen!!!
Benjamin will be 2 yrs and 8 mos. when we meet him.
He has lived his entire life in an orphanage.
As far as we know, he has only left the orphanage
one time (@ 15 months of age) for surgery.
He has no concept of family, or parents, or siblings...
He is likely not prepared at all for our arrival.
We will look, smell and sound different than anything
he's ever experienced.
Can't imagine what he'll be thinking!
Shortly after meeting him (at the orphanage),
and signing the necessary paperwork,
we will whisk him away and he'll never return.
He'll likely never remember his life in China.
He will come only with the clothes on his back...
no link to his past or any personal belongings.
Everything in the orphanage is shared.
We do plan on visiting Benjamin's "finding spot"...
and this will be very emotional for me.
Benjamin was found on December 27th, 2008
in the Beijing West Railway Station...
It's an AMAZING place! The Tajmahal of train stations!!!
Jack would LOVE it!!!
Benjamin was found wrapped in a cotton quilt
at the gate of the 7th waiting room.
It is illegal to place a child for adoption in China.
Children are typically abandoned in high-traffic locations.
I don't presume to know the circumstances of
Benjamin's abandonment,
but I do know he was left to be found...
and presumably, lovingly cared for.
This we will ensure.
Wow! I had no idea that you were adopting from China. So excited for you! This is especially touching for me because I remember when you had no kids and always thought you would be such a good Mother. My counterpart, Stefanie Jamison, adopted Hannah from China at 18 months. She was an anchor at the time and chronicled her journey on channel 14. I will give you her number if you would like to speak with her. What an amazing journey.
ReplyDeleteWe will be in Guangzhou the same time! We don't fly out til June 16th but our CA is June 28th. We also will be at the White Swan! Have a wonderful trip!
ReplyDeleteTracey
Sooo exciting to see it all written out. I'll be praying Benjamin feels safe and secure with you guys quickly!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from Tera's and it looks like you leave in 1 week!!! How exciting!! We have been home for 4 months with our second child. China is very organized in the adoption process. I have some friends that are also leaving next Thursday from Evansville. Not sure if you are all going to be on the same flight or not. They are using a different agency but are going to Beijing first for a couple days. Here is her blog: www.thehamptonchronicles.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to follow your journey!
Let me start by saying, your little guy is so adorable. I can't believe we are both from the same area and will be in China the same time. Amazing. We are actually leaving Wednesday morning and will arrive in Beijing June 9. We will be there until we fly to Guangzhou on June 13. We will remain in Guangzhou until we leave for home on June 22.
ReplyDeleteIt would be really cool to hook up while in Beijing. You can email me at slhampton1@gmail.com