Ok, it has definitely been awhile since we've updated, but it seems that all our predecessors on this journey were absolutely right. Once that referral comes, you get hit with a whirlwind. All of a sudden you have 8 short weeks to prepare for the arrival of a baby and for international travel.As for us, we've been consumed. It started even before we got the referral. Building in our heads. Consuming our thoughts.
It was given life once the referral came and Kohji sat at the computer. Somewhere between a stream of counsciousness and ramblings, it took it's first breath. Now, we are slaves to it, unable to leave the house without consulting it or carrying it with us. We strike at sections of it, but like some sort of self-healing mutant organism, when you cut off a limb, it grows others. We're now convinced that it has passed the final hurdle to ultimate survival - it is self-replicating, growing on its own. It is... THE LIST ... The list of stores we need to go to, things we need to buy, things we need to organize, people we need to consult, things we need to pack, people we need to pick up things from... It's exhaustive and it has started to rule all our free time. In fact, it's even crept it's way to work, carried out at lunch to run a couple more of its devious errands. The list might expand and shrink, but it never goes away (and frankly probably won't for the next 18 years or so).
We have managed to fight off the list long enough for a couple of more interesting outings and activities - like visiting our friends Heather and Steve, and their beautiful daughters AJ and Charlotte (http://ying-er2006.blogspot.com/). Charlotte is from Guangdong province, and Heather, Steve and AJ were gracious enough to pass along helpful hints for our upcoming trip, as well as a bag of supplies and the biggest suitcase I've ever seen (I think Kohji can actually fit in it) . Very much appreciated.
We also had the opportunity to get together with a few people from our travel group -those of us here in Ottawa. It was nice to meet the people behind the email addresses and share some collective anxieties, questions and giggles. They're a lovely bunch of people, and there is something reassuring knowing that we've embarking on this journey together (especially for we first time parents who are still trying to figure out the difference between a soother and a teething ring!)
We also now have some pretty exciting stuff in hand - like the itinerary. We finally received the in-country itinerary yesterday, and it looks like we pick Kiyomi up on Sunday, July 2nd. A day earlier than we had initally thought. Here's how our time will be spent
Jun.28: Suzuki Family (that's us!) arrive in Beijing, guide will meet them at airport and transfer to International Hotel.
Jun.29 - July 1st - amuse ourselves in Beijing and get over jet-lag. Meet others in our travel group as they arrive.
Jul.02: Beijing to Nanchang (13:40-15:45), transfer to Gloria Plaza Hotel. Go to the Civil Affairs in the afternoon to meet the babies and sign the adoption agreement.
Jul.03: Go to Civil Affairs again for registration, notarization and applying passport.
Jul.04: Guide will bring the families to the local department store to buy some daily necessities for their children.
Jul.05: Visit the Temple of Teng Wang Ge.
Jul.06: Visit the resort for Ba Da ShanRen.
Jul.07: Pick up passport. Nanchang to Beijing on Flight(17:50-19:55), transfer to International Hotel.
Jul.08: Medical exam and take photo for babies.
Jul.09: Sightsee the Great Wall with lunch.
Jul.10: Go to Canadian Embassy for visa appointment.
Jul.11: Visit Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City.
Jul.12: Rest.
Jul.13: Hutong Tour. Pick up visa. Beijing Duck Dinner in the evening.
Jul.14: Fly home a family of 3!
Children's Bridge is also trying to - somewhere in that packed agenda - a day trip to the city of Wanzai, where the orphanage is actually located. It's an 8 hour round trip from Nanchang, so it's not likely that we'll take Kiyomi on the trip, but if it's at all possible, one of us will go to take pictures of the city and get a feel for the town where she spent the first year of her life. Unfortunately, it's not likely we'll be able to visit the orphanage itself. However, a trip to the city is better than nothing.
Kohji and Papa also spent some time this past weekend researching Kiyomi's name, including figuring out what the characters of her name mean in Mandarin. They even found a cool website that gives you a recording of the sound. We've still working on Jin - it's a tough one.
KIYOMI
清美
Japanese:
清 – Kiyoi – clear, pure
美 – Mi – beautiful
Mandarin:
qing mei (“chiung mei”)
清 – qing – same meaning - http://www.chinalanguage.com/CCDICT/Sounds/Mandarin/qing1.wav
美 – mei – same meaning
http://www.chinalanguage.com/CCDICT/Sounds/Mandarin/mei3.wav
JIN DIAN
錦淀
Mandarin:
錦 - Jin (exquisite tapestry, or brilliant and beautiful)
http://www.chinalanguage.com/CCDICT/Sounds/Mandarin/jin3.wav
淀 - Dian (“Dien”small pool of still water in a stream)
http://www.chinalanguage.com/CCDICT/Sounds/Mandarin/dian4.wav
Alas, there is no Chinese or Japanese version of Miller - go figure. Guess we'll just have to go with the literal meaning - person who operates a mill! Not very romantic or poetic I'm afraid.
Well, that's all the news I can think to bring you up to date on. I'll try to post a little more in the next couple of weeks. Two weeks today and we're on that plane (knock on wood)!
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