Consulate day.

Wednesday May 13, 2015 Consulate Day

We started the day talking with the girls and then talked to mammaw (Forrest mom), Josh made some sounds for her over the phone.

Today was our Consulate appointment.  Much has changed since we were here 2 years ago.  The Consulate moved to a new location and it is very secure.  They had to drop us off across the street at the medical place and Jack met us and walked us to the security check point at the Consulate.  They do not let the guides in with the families so once you hit security you are on your own.   You can take nothing with you except your paperwork and passports. 

We followed another adoptive family in and made our way to the second floor and took our number.   The first wave of appointments were just finishing up.  They called us all up to give us the rundown on the brown envelope and how things would work we were 5^th in line for this batch.  We all took the oath that we told the truth on all of our paperwork.  We went up and reviewed our paperwork and were cleared and then had to wait our turn to be interviewed.   We went up and answered a few questions and it was done.    Our guide Jack will pick up the packet tomorrow and will bring it to us.  The paperwork and process is done.

After the Consulate appointment we met back up with Jack and he put us in the van and had the driver take us to the Pearl Market.   We walked around a bit just window shopping.  We then went to Pizza Hut for lunch.   This is the market where Robin got lost last trip so this time after lunch we made the trip to the restroom as a group.  This place has gotten nasty, the restrooms at the market were beyond nasty.   This place used to be much nicer and has really gone down hill.

After lunch I wanted to get a small piece of jade for Joshua as a keepsake.  We found very cheap / poor quality or VERY EXPENSIVE high quality.   After walking around and checking several stores we found the right piece.  Unbelievable how much jade has gone up in price the past few years.   

By now it was approaching nap time so we headed back to the hotel.   Our friend Shiyan stopped by to visit with us for a bit and brought us some goodies and a wonderful keepsake.  She looked at Joshua’s photo albums and showed him the photos of our house and his room and told him that is where he would be living, she pointed out Shaun’s bed and Joshua’s bed, she pointed out the swing set and the yard to play in, he seemed excited.

We started some packing to get ready for the trip home.   We are trying to condense things down and not add any luggage for the trip home.  We purchased a new suit case to replace one of ours that is pretty beaten up and we hope we can leave the old one behind.  We shall see how everything works out.

We met Shiyan for dinner in the executive lounge at the hotel.  It was great to spend time with her and catch up a bit.  One of the highlights of our trip has been getting to spend time with an old friend.

Tomorrow is our last day in China.   We have to go back to the island to pick something up that we ordered for Joshua and hope to walk around a bit and just enjoy the area.  We are sad to be leaving a place that we love but are anxious to get home to see our girls and our friends.

Friday morning we will take a van to Hong Kong and then fly out at 1:30 Friday afternoon for Dallas (15.5 hours later) and then on to Atlanta later that evening.   This is the first trip where we are not flying back to home, we are going to Atlanta to meet our son and get the girls back from him and then drive home on Saturday.  

So another adoption trip is coming to an end very soon.