Blog moved since China blocks access to WordPress.

Because China blocks access to WordPress.com sites we had to move our blog over to http://web.mac.com/cathalan which we were able to access throughout China.   Sorry for inconvenience.  

BYE!

Just for fun before we go, I consulted the famous ancient Chinese oracle of the I Ching about how our trip we go.  Since I didn’t have the traditional yarrow sticks or ancient Chinese coins, I just opened the book to a random page.   Maybe this throws off the accuracy;-)  

“You have met with difficulties. These difficulties are inherent an unavoidable in the path you have chosen, in your Tao.   They are not sudden, catastrophic, hostile phenomenon.  Things are only difficult because you consider them to be difficult.”

Guess the modern interpretation might be:  “just need to relax and take things in stride.”   It has been a long and some times difficult path we have choosen but it will be rewarding.  Time to go.  Next post from Beijing.  Bye.

Last Day before we go!

   Before:   After:  Everything fit except the table.

We are as ready as we are going to be!  Have all the baby’s various clothes, medications and necessities.  Packed all of our clothes and necessities, plus electronic gear and gadgets.  Then paperwork and various other items.  We were able to keep it to two checked bags of 37 lbs. each.  This is good since our target was under the 44lb domestic limit since we will have domestic flights in China.  We will be off to the airport tomorrow and then a long flight. 

Having all the various packing lists and suggested items from all the different sites seems to have made the packing that much more difficult.  Compiled five lists and had quite a pile.  Finally just went with the stuff most recently recommended from friends that recently went.   Should be able to buy most anything we need – hopefully.

Itinerary so far

I have updated this now with all the details of our schedule for our journey.  Much of the stress is gone now that we know dates and can see the end of our journey.  May 8th we will meet Josaphine!  She has had such a rough start to her young life.  Poor little girl will now lose her foster parent and have to get used to us.  We know this may take awhile and are ready for the ride. 

May 1st through May 7th many people in China have one week off celebrating the International Labor Day.

5/02 WED 2:35pm Flight: NW5 Departs: Portland, OR Duration: 10h20m
5/03 THR 4:55pm Arrive: Tokyo-Narita, Japan (NRT
5/03 THR 6:20pm Departs: Tokyo-Narita, Japan (NRT) Flight NW11 Duration:4h5m
5/03 THR 9:25pm Arrives: Beijing, China (PEK)  Check into Debao Hotel
5/04 FRI Visit the Summer Palace and Beijing Zoo.  Other families in our group arrive.
5/05 SAT Touring Beijing: Great wall and some Art Factories. 
5/06 SUN  Visit the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
 

5/07 MON  Travel to Nanchang.  Check in Galatic Peace Internaltional Hotel .
5/08 TUE  MEET JOSAPHINE AT CIVIL AFFAIRS IN THE MORNING. Registration and Notary.
5/09 WED  Our lives are changed forever.  Shopping if necessary.
5/10 THR  Visit People’s Park
5/11 FRI  Check notary documents, pick up passports
5/12 SAT  Visit Tengwangge
 

5/13 SUN  Travel to Guangzhou stay at White Swan.
5/14 MON  Picture taken; medical test; fill out visa paperwork
5/15 TUE  Consulate appointment AM.
5/16 WED  Family swears in at the consulate; Immigrant visa for Josaphine will be issued around 4 pm.
5/17 THR 8:20am  Depart Guangzhou to the US
5/17 THR 1:40PM  Arrives: Tokyo-Narita, Japan (NRT) Flight NW10 Duration:4h20m
5/17 THR 3:15PM  Departs: Tokyo-Narita, Japan (NRT)
5/17 THR 8:10AM  Arrives: Portland-Int’l, OR (PDX) Flight NW6 Duration:8h55m
Josaphine is an American citizen!

Jiangxi Province

 
Just next door and east of the Hunan province is the province of Jiangxi (pronounced Jee-ang-she).  This is the home province to Josaphine.  Jiangxi is known for great porcelain works and a revolutionary history.  The capital is Nanchang and this is where we will stay a few days and meet Josaphine.  Nanchang is in the northern part of the province and close to the largest fresh water lake in China.  This was the site of arguably the largest naval battle in history and this was over 600 years ago - the battle of Lake Poyang – with close to one million sailors involved!  I was hoping we might take a day trip up to Lake Poyang but that will most likely not happen this time. Will have to do this when we return with Josaphine to visit when she is little older. We would also like to visit the Lushan moutains which I have seen pictured in several published photos. Here is one example: Mount-Lushan-fog.jpg   

Mandarin Oranges are also from this area.  The mandarin oranges that are now grown in Florida and California came from the Jiangxi area via Britian, Italy and then New Orleans.

See more info about the Province at this link:chinaculture.org

Referral Pictures

 

Feng Xiao Bai

Our referral

 
This is the first page of our referral for your perusal. 

Happy Birthday!

 Happy Birthday party for Josaphine. She is one year old today 03/31/07.  A bit sad that we are not able to celebrate it with her but we made the best of it. The cake was good. And we had a couple of friends over and went out to dinner.  Cathy and I both wrote JoJo cards that she can open at some future date – maybe when she is 21! 

More about Xiao Bai

 
Here’s some more about Xiao Bai we learned from the translation of the referral documents we received:

On 4/2/06 (3 days old) she weighed 5.3 pounds and was 18.11 inches long.
On 12/21/06 (about 9 months) she weighed 14.5 pounds and was 25.6 inches.  
- Her main meal is rice cereal but she also enjoys, congee, noodles, steamed eggs, chopped vegetables, soup and fruits.  
- She is an active girl that loves music and colorful toys. 
- Her favorite activity is when her foster mom holds her arms and they play outside.
- Everyday around 5pm she will cry because she wants a bath.
- She likes to watch TV (sports I am sure).  She jumps up and down while she is watching cartoons and commercials (so do I!).
- She is also happy to lie quietly and listen to music.
- She doesn’t like hot weather. 
- She likes to play with other children.
- She makes different noises to identify different emotions.   When she is happy she screams.
- She likes to laugh and is also stubborn. 
- She has good head rotation, can follow sounds and can move toys from one hand to the other.  Also, she can sit up.

Her orphanage is called Fengcheng City Social Welfare Institute about 50 miles south of Nanchang in Jiangxi Province (Red Thread Maps – Jiangxi Province). Xiao Bai has lived with her foster family since 4/3/06.  For more about Jiangxi Province see chinaculture.org

Finally!

   

We got a call on Tuesday from Gabriel at JOH that he had good news for us!  After a 16+ month wait, we’re finally going to meet our daughter, Josaphine Xiao Bai.  We’re sure you’ll agree that she’s beautiful!  Josaphine was born March 31st, 2006 and is living in Jiangxi Province in foster care.  We’re very excited, happy, and scared. But, most of all we’re amazed and humbled by the idea that we are lucky enough to soon be Josaphine Xiao Bai’s parents.  So, hopefully, in 6-8 weeks we’ll be off to China!