September 7, 2008

This morning we left Beijing at 8:30AM. The airport in Beijing is shaped like a large turtle and is the biggest airport in the world. It is quite magnificant.

On the way to the airport we were able to see the Bird's Nest. The Bird's Nest was built for the 2008 Olympics and 40 thousand tons of steel was used to make it. All of the steel came from within China. The Birds Nest cost 3.2 billion dollars to construct.

We also saw the Water Cube nearby, which was quite spectacular, as well.

The flight to Kunming was about 3 1/2 hours long. It was a smooth flight ,and we are safely in Kunming. Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan Province. It is the place where we will meet Jade tomorrow. Jade is from an orphanage 4-5 hours away in Mengzi. This is pronounced Mun guh, so we are told. We meet the babies around 9AM tomorrow, and Jade must travel this long way before the meeting. She will need to be up very early in the morning, and I am sure she will be exhausted by the time she arrives. She will travel with 2 other children from her orphanage. The other babies belonging to our group members will come from two other orphanages.

We have learned a few things about Jade's Orphanage. There are approx 15 children and 8 caretakers. The babies are well taken care of and healthy. This is only the second group of babies to be adopted from this orphanage, and we are told the caretakers and nannies are very close to the children, and this will be very difficult for them, as well as for the children. Tomorrow we will take Jade from everything she has known in this world. For that I am sad. I hope we can comfort her and that the transition will be easy, but we expect that it will be very difficult for her. The children in our group range from age 6 months to 2.5 years.

We have spent quite a bit of time with the other families and have made some new friends. All are very friendly and supportive.

Bridge of Love Adoption Services donated the cutest strollers to each baby in our group. They are Mickey Mouse Strollers, and they even have a sun roof! We will need this ,as Kunming is very hot and often rainy. Bridge of Love Adoption Services is exceptional. They are always near to help translate, shop, obtain services, and offer a bottle of water! The service is impeccable - we certainly did not know this kind of care was available in the adoption process. This trip has brought back so many memories of my first adoption trip 12 years ago. This is totally the opposite experience, and we are very grateful.

Dillon International sent along one of their social workers - Julie Kline on the trip. She is the social worker who called me with news of Jade's referral on July 7th, so we were happy to meet her.

We have one family who is a bit under the weather, but most of us are healthy aside from feeling like the "boat" is moving once in a while. I do believe I've had the same feeling after getting off a cruise ship. Sometimes I am not very steady on my feet.

Our hotel in Kunming is called the Grand Park Hotel. It is very nice, and we have a large swimming pool outside.

Kunming is known for its beautiful plants and flowers. Kunming supplies all of China with flowers. Our hotel is decorated with the largest arrangement of lillies I have ever seen.

I have just met with all of those in our group to complete the paperwork for tomorrow and to compile the funds that will need to be paid. It all seems so overwhelming, and my hands shake a bit, but I completed it. One thing I do know is if you don't have a United States passport - get one! Treasure it as you would your own mother. We need it to check into hotels, take plane flights, even change money. Until you experience leaving your comfort zone in the USA, you will never know the value of your citizenship. We have so much to be thankful for. If I don't lose it before the departure date - you will see me again.

We will post our beautiful Jewel Jade tomorrow! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we experience this very emotional and life changing forever family day. Some call it gotcha day...We call it metcha day. We are so excited!

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