We're off to Seoul tomorrow for Thanksgiving vacation. We're staying at the Dragon Hill Inn military lodge (see lobby photo.) Good neighbor Sam will be caring for the boys. We have a lot to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Fun post
Okay, that last post was boring, but necessary. Here are some fun pictures from today:
Our house (pumpkin) and nice neighbors (scarecrow)
Ralph & Doraemon
Ralph & me
Doraemon & me
Sleepy Boys
Friday, November 20, 2009
home study validity
A friend pointed this out to me (link is to the USCIS website.) I just wanted to put it in a safe place for future reference.
Validity of the Home Study
"The home study must be submitted within one year of the filing date of the I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition.
The home study, or most recent update to the home study, must not be more than 6 months old at the time it is submitted to USCIS.
If an update is submitted, a full copy of the original home study must accompany the update.
Once a home study is submitted, it will not have to be updated unless there is a significant change (including but not limited to) residence, marital status, criminal history, financial resources, and/or the addition of one or more children or other dependents to the family prior to the orphan’s immigration into the United States."
-USCIS Orphan Home Study Guidelines
Validity of the Home Study
"The home study must be submitted within one year of the filing date of the I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition.
The home study, or most recent update to the home study, must not be more than 6 months old at the time it is submitted to USCIS.
If an update is submitted, a full copy of the original home study must accompany the update.
Once a home study is submitted, it will not have to be updated unless there is a significant change (including but not limited to) residence, marital status, criminal history, financial resources, and/or the addition of one or more children or other dependents to the family prior to the orphan’s immigration into the United States."
-USCIS Orphan Home Study Guidelines
end of social week
This week was full of fun events: daytrip to Usabaro Kokeshi doll factory with friends, 2 spouse nights, lab, visit to Japanese school with friends to teach English, Thanksgiving feast with Jeff's office, Jeff's birthday & Ralph's adoption day, baby meal to friend (nice way to end the week.) And that's just my stuff! We're all ready for the weekend.
Our conference call with our agency is at 5 AM (I re-checked the time zone conversion - yippee, not 4 AM!)
It's pandemonium on Rumor Queen (we're used to it) regarding rumors about no referrals this month. As you can see, we're too busy to get a referral this month anyway.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Birthday Boy and Adoption Day Boy
Monday, November 16, 2009
Once again, mysterious delays
Where are the referrals? There's lots of discussion on Rumor Queen about the delay. Possible reasons are tossed about:
- New CCAA director wanting to delay and look at how things are done
- President Obama's visit to China
- Concerns about H1N1
- Trying to delay so March 2006 referrals are dragged out over all of 2009
We don't know, and there's nothing we can do. I was surprised by the lack of H1N1 concern during my China trip, but maybe other China regions are more concerned.
So now we just wait, play with the cats, enjoy the holidays, and wonder each day if Rumor Queen (or anyone on China Adopt Talk or Todo Adopcion - the "Spanish Rumor Queen") will throw us a bone.
On Saturday at 4 AM, we'll be in a conference call with our agency about what happens at referral time. At least that's something, or just more preparation to wait, wait, and wait, enjoy Japan, etc. By the way, the Japanese have amazing "winter illuminations" all around for nighttime sightseeing. Christmas music and decorations, too!
We don't have to update our home study after all. In networking all over the globe to find that answer, we've made some new friends, including other adoptive families here in Japan and Asia. All we can do at this point is help each other!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Packages in the air
First, a few sweet moments with Ralph and Doraemon:
Rumor is that packages are in the air. No one knows what the packages are, and probably nothing for us. But some families will no doubt be celebrating!
No matter who joins our family, Ralph will always be our tiny baby.
No matter who joins our family, Ralph will always be our tiny baby.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
First rumor
There's a vague rumor that all of March is assigned.
I uploaded all my China photos on Flickr, but haven't finished the descriptions yet. Now I have to email the friends I met there. That's Hai Ou (her name means seagull) by the camel in Nanjing. She spoke English well, and was very smart. She taught me all about the Ming Tomb and helped me ride the bus and find my hostel.
We've been busy figuring out our next home study update. This will be our fourth and hopefully final one!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Notes on Nanchang
This is for past, present, and future Jiangxi Province adoptive families. I recently traveled to Nanchang as a pre-adoption tourist (our agency gets lots of NSN Jiangxi referrals lately.) Thought I would check it out. Meeting adoptive families there made it all worthwhile!
My Nanchang photos are now up on Flickr (click link to see them.)
Airport
It was clean, but bathrooms were dirty. Be assertive to get into a stall.
Taxis
Overall, cheap and drivers nice.
My ride from the airport to Galactic Peace (GP) Hotel, however, was long and terrifying. In the front seat, I only had a metal headrest behind my head. My driver was fast, reckless, and the ride was long. Traffic can be chaotic: lanes are a "loose guideline"; pedestrians, bikes, motorbikes, cars everywhere. Have your destination written down in Chinese, or show the driver a photo/map of the place. Fare is about $1 between GP hotel and Wal-Mart Supercenter. Some taxis have seatbelts, some don't. The hotel bellman always gives you a little card with your taxi # written on it, in case you leave anything in it or need to report the driver. The card also has a list of "Take me to...." (places written in Chinese to show the driver.)
Hotel
I chose the Galactic Peace International Hotel (I'll abbreviate it "GP.") I know lots of adoptive families are staying there now. Indeed, I met a group from my agency the first morning at the breakfast buffet! They were so welcoming to me, despite being in shock from receiving their children in the lobby the previous day, before checking in. There were some other agencies' groups there, too. It was a nice hotel. A bit smoky in places. Staff were very young and polite. But be prepared with your phrase book and a few Mandarin words. Don't expect fluent English from them (I don't think they get much practice, but they try!) Bed slightly hard, but I got used to it. No Wi-fi in room, but a place to hookup to internet by cable. 2 small bottles of drinking water free everyday, and a little fruit basket each afternoon. TV had some American movie channels, Discovery, National Geographic channels. A hot water kettle was provided - I boiled tapwater in it for coffee and tea. I also brushed my teeth with the tapwater, and was fine. Laundry service cheap and good. Nice pool, gym, and business center. The "kiosk" (hotel gift shop) didn't have a lot, and no English reading material. China Daily (in English) delivered to room each day - nice. My room was non-smoking, but I could still smell cigarette smoke. Guess I got used to it after the first night. Adoptive families got cribs + bedding, baby bathtubs & potties. They said the hotel was very baby-friendly.
Hotel buffet
The Western Restaurant was open 24 hours. Breakfast buffet was 50 RMB (about $7.) Dinner 98 RMB (about $14.) Delicious, healthy, good mix of western and Chinese food. Cute high chairs, wait staff good with babies. Good idea to bring your own bottled water, as drinking water refills are scarce. There's a little shop across the street with bottled water, drinks, beer, and dried noodles. It's right by the sex toy shop.
Wal-Mart Supercenter
Had plenty of wipes & diapers in familiar brands (also Chinese brands.) I went twice, and couldn't find Cheerios, Gerber Puffs, or simliar baby snacks (so pack them!) Plenty of other baby supplies: bottles, nipples, clothes, toys, even front carriers. Cheap prices. Plenty of formula in grocery area (I saw Enfamil.) Get other good snacks & drinks there for your room - I couldn't find much near the hotel. "Pumpkin seed crunch" and yogurt drinks were my favorite snacks there. Pay for medicines and makeup in their respective departments on 3rd floor; otherwise take everything else to the main checkout on floor 2 (grocery floor.) Have produce weighed & labeled in produce section before taking it to checkout. Be assertive in line, or someone may cut in front of you. Now I see why RQ parents say bring what you need for first 48 hours w/ baby. You can get lots at Wal-Mart, but it might be a rushed, overwhelming trip there. It can be hot & crowded inside. The families I met were still in shock from having babies the day before. Later, some families went to "RT Mart", which they said was good.
ATMs
I had success with ATMs in China. There was one below Wal-Mart (outside on street level) that worked fine - I forgot the name. ICBC always worked for me. Maybe some of the more local bank ATMs rejected my card, but it was easy to find another ATM. If one doesn't work, try again. If "default account" is an option, select that over "chequing." 1000 RMB = ~$150, 2000RMB = ~$300. All my ATM transactions turned out fine.
Tengwang Pavilion
Nice, relaxing trip. The cab ride there was a little scary with traffic. You can take stairs or an elevator to the different levels for views of the city and river. Top level has a show throughout the day. Ground level has tranquil ponds and bonsai gardens.
People's Park
Another nice trip, not far from the GP hotel and Wal-Mart. Enjoy gardens, playgrounds, pedal boats, and a small amusement park. Try the running bubbles on the lake. Watch people playing Mah Jongg and drinking tea. I think there are a few food stands if you're hungry, but I didn't see drink machines. I didn't see any squirrels. Be prepared for "Hello!" from friendly people wanting to try their English.
Shengli Shopping Street
(Near Tengwang Pavilion & Gloria Hotel.) I don't think adoption groups generally go here, but I enjoyed it. It's a big pedestrian area with clothing stores, and fast food restaurants. Good place to get away from the scary traffic. I especially liked the Sanfu store, with its teeny-bopper goods (at this point, I needed acne medicine and a good facial!)
My Nanchang photos are now up on Flickr (click link to see them.)
Airport
It was clean, but bathrooms were dirty. Be assertive to get into a stall.
Taxis
Overall, cheap and drivers nice.
My ride from the airport to Galactic Peace (GP) Hotel, however, was long and terrifying. In the front seat, I only had a metal headrest behind my head. My driver was fast, reckless, and the ride was long. Traffic can be chaotic: lanes are a "loose guideline"; pedestrians, bikes, motorbikes, cars everywhere. Have your destination written down in Chinese, or show the driver a photo/map of the place. Fare is about $1 between GP hotel and Wal-Mart Supercenter. Some taxis have seatbelts, some don't. The hotel bellman always gives you a little card with your taxi # written on it, in case you leave anything in it or need to report the driver. The card also has a list of "Take me to...." (places written in Chinese to show the driver.)Hotel
I chose the Galactic Peace International Hotel (I'll abbreviate it "GP.") I know lots of adoptive families are staying there now. Indeed, I met a group from my agency the first morning at the breakfast buffet! They were so welcoming to me, despite being in shock from receiving their children in the lobby the previous day, before checking in. There were some other agencies' groups there, too. It was a nice hotel. A bit smoky in places. Staff were very young and polite. But be prepared with your phrase book and a few Mandarin words. Don't expect fluent English from them (I don't think they get much practice, but they try!) Bed slightly hard, but I got used to it. No Wi-fi in room, but a place to hookup to internet by cable. 2 small bottles of drinking water free everyday, and a little fruit basket each afternoon. TV had some American movie channels, Discovery, National Geographic channels. A hot water kettle was provided - I boiled tapwater in it for coffee and tea. I also brushed my teeth with the tapwater, and was fine. Laundry service cheap and good. Nice pool, gym, and business center. The "kiosk" (hotel gift shop) didn't have a lot, and no English reading material. China Daily (in English) delivered to room each day - nice. My room was non-smoking, but I could still smell cigarette smoke. Guess I got used to it after the first night. Adoptive families got cribs + bedding, baby bathtubs & potties. They said the hotel was very baby-friendly.
Hotel buffet
The Western Restaurant was open 24 hours. Breakfast buffet was 50 RMB (about $7.) Dinner 98 RMB (about $14.) Delicious, healthy, good mix of western and Chinese food. Cute high chairs, wait staff good with babies. Good idea to bring your own bottled water, as drinking water refills are scarce. There's a little shop across the street with bottled water, drinks, beer, and dried noodles. It's right by the sex toy shop.
Wal-Mart Supercenter
Had plenty of wipes & diapers in familiar brands (also Chinese brands.) I went twice, and couldn't find Cheerios, Gerber Puffs, or simliar baby snacks (so pack them!) Plenty of other baby supplies: bottles, nipples, clothes, toys, even front carriers. Cheap prices. Plenty of formula in grocery area (I saw Enfamil.) Get other good snacks & drinks there for your room - I couldn't find much near the hotel. "Pumpkin seed crunch" and yogurt drinks were my favorite snacks there. Pay for medicines and makeup in their respective departments on 3rd floor; otherwise take everything else to the main checkout on floor 2 (grocery floor.) Have produce weighed & labeled in produce section before taking it to checkout. Be assertive in line, or someone may cut in front of you. Now I see why RQ parents say bring what you need for first 48 hours w/ baby. You can get lots at Wal-Mart, but it might be a rushed, overwhelming trip there. It can be hot & crowded inside. The families I met were still in shock from having babies the day before. Later, some families went to "RT Mart", which they said was good.
ATMs
I had success with ATMs in China. There was one below Wal-Mart (outside on street level) that worked fine - I forgot the name. ICBC always worked for me. Maybe some of the more local bank ATMs rejected my card, but it was easy to find another ATM. If one doesn't work, try again. If "default account" is an option, select that over "chequing." 1000 RMB = ~$150, 2000RMB = ~$300. All my ATM transactions turned out fine.
Tengwang Pavilion
Nice, relaxing trip. The cab ride there was a little scary with traffic. You can take stairs or an elevator to the different levels for views of the city and river. Top level has a show throughout the day. Ground level has tranquil ponds and bonsai gardens.
People's Park
Another nice trip, not far from the GP hotel and Wal-Mart. Enjoy gardens, playgrounds, pedal boats, and a small amusement park. Try the running bubbles on the lake. Watch people playing Mah Jongg and drinking tea. I think there are a few food stands if you're hungry, but I didn't see drink machines. I didn't see any squirrels. Be prepared for "Hello!" from friendly people wanting to try their English.
Shengli Shopping Street
(Near Tengwang Pavilion & Gloria Hotel.) I don't think adoption groups generally go here, but I enjoyed it. It's a big pedestrian area with clothing stores, and fast food restaurants. Good place to get away from the scary traffic. I especially liked the Sanfu store, with its teeny-bopper goods (at this point, I needed acne medicine and a good facial!)
Toilets
Carry your own tissue for the toilets. Otherwise, sometimes there's a TP dispenser outside the stalls, but rarely inside. Put used TP in the trash can, not the toilet - it will clog the pipes, except in the nice hotels. Travel packs of tissues and wet wipes are easy to find in drugstores like Watson's and Mannings, as well as convenient stores.
H1N1
I didn't think they seemed too concerned about H1N1. Only a few people wore masks. A few locals I met weren't personally concerned and didn't care about getting the vaccine. A friend in China recommended bringing our own facemasks on the adoption trip (in case flu is a problem.) She said last spring when they adopted, facemasks were sold out.
Happy travels!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Any day now
We expect to see rumors on the next batch and cut-off date any day now. We'll be checking Rumor Queen a lot! It'd be nice if CCAA at least gets through March 31, 2006 (our LID is 4/6/06.) I'm still catching my breath from my China trip, and will definitely get my photos up on Flickr soon. For now, here are a few pics from Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.
Cereal selection at Wal-Mart Supercenter in Nanchang: mostly hot grain cereal, and 4 varieties of cold cereal (see top row)! No Cheerios, Gerber Puffs, or similar baby snacks to be found. And I spent a lot of time studying that Wal-Mart. Plenty of wipes and other non-food baby supplies, though.
Me at TengWeng Pavilion. I climbed to the top for a view of a somewhat ugly river & skyline (sorry, Nanchang.) There was a jovial group of businessmen who wanted pictures with the foreigner. The gardens and fish-turtle ponds were nice. It had an elaborate bonsai (miniature tree) garden. As I arrived, the America World group was leaving, so I got to see the families & babies briefly before they headed "home" for their naps. Afterwards, I explored the Gloria Hotel, and Shengli shopping street for teeny-bopper fashions and a shrimp sandwich at KFC.
Me at TengWeng Pavilion. I climbed to the top for a view of a somewhat ugly river & skyline (sorry, Nanchang.) There was a jovial group of businessmen who wanted pictures with the foreigner. The gardens and fish-turtle ponds were nice. It had an elaborate bonsai (miniature tree) garden. As I arrived, the America World group was leaving, so I got to see the families & babies briefly before they headed "home" for their naps. Afterwards, I explored the Gloria Hotel, and Shengli shopping street for teeny-bopper fashions and a shrimp sandwich at KFC.Sunday, November 1, 2009
I'm back!
I just got back from China. I think Jeff did a good job with his blog post, don't you?
My trip was eye-opening. I especially enjoyed meeting Shirley, Bridget, and the gang in Shanghai; meeting some wonderful adoptive families at the Galactic Peace Hotel in Nanchang; meeting Hai Ou, my friend & impromptu tour guide in Nanjing; and my super-fun roommates at Hangzhou Youth Hostel.
This is Hangzhou's West Lake at sunset.
My roomies in Hangzhou: Nancy, Winnie, Nadia, Echo, and me. We were all solo travelers bunking in the same room. Had lots of fun talking and laughing and doing some touring together.
My trip was eye-opening. I especially enjoyed meeting Shirley, Bridget, and the gang in Shanghai; meeting some wonderful adoptive families at the Galactic Peace Hotel in Nanchang; meeting Hai Ou, my friend & impromptu tour guide in Nanjing; and my super-fun roommates at Hangzhou Youth Hostel.
This is Hangzhou's West Lake at sunset.
My roomies in Hangzhou: Nancy, Winnie, Nadia, Echo, and me. We were all solo travelers bunking in the same room. Had lots of fun talking and laughing and doing some touring together.It'll take a while, but I'll load many photos on Flickr (our photo link is on right.) I'm so glad to be home to Jeff, Ralph, and Doraemon (who's on my lap now!)
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