From Harbin to Guangzhou, Day 17, February 20, 2008

We got up bright and early this morning to leave for the airport. We were down in the lobby at 6:45 to check out and Lynn was there to pick us up by 7:00 a.m. Thankfully she did have Bei Bei’s passport with her which we were expecting to be delivered to us yesterday. No worries with Lynn though.

We got to the airport in plenty of time and Lynn waived to us down the security area. Unfortunately in those chaotic moments when you are entering a new adventure, really a new chapter in our lives, you forget to take a breath to stop for moment to thank the person that helped get you there. But we were juggling luggage and a 51/2 year old and headed to security. I am not sure if we hugged Aunt Lynn goodbye or not. Ann says Lynn did give our daughter a hug and a kiss at that chaotic moment. We did have a chance to give her a gift and tell her how much we appreciated all she did for us in the van on the way to the airport. Hopefully we at least conveyed some of the gratitude we feel for her.

We tried to cover as much as possible through Lynn to Bei Bei about what to expect on her first airplane trip. We discovered the thing we forgot to talk about was being restrained by a seat belt. Not something she took to easily. Thank goodness the first two legs back to the states we will have Mandarin speaking flight attendants. Maybe by the final leg from Chicago to Dallas we will have it down. The flight from Harbin to Guangzhou was direct but had one stop. That got one more take off and landing under our belt. Fortunately we did have one very sweet flight attendant on the trip who would stop and talk to Bei Bei and reassure her. When restrained by the seatbelt Bei Bei would roll her head almost violently back and forth. No doubt a coping mechanism to soothe/distract her she picked up somewhere. Hospital stays? Who knows. The only times we have seen her do this is on the plane with the seat belt fastened or on one or two occasions after being put to bed and trying to fall asleep, or perhaps trying to stay awake. It is very hard to watch her go through this. She does not cry doing this, perhaps little whimpers. But there is no soothing her either. One of those heartbreaking moments for new parents I suppose. Not knowing how to comfort her. Once again she recovered quickly though.

Once in Guangzhou we were met by our guide Sampson and were promptly whisked off to get her photograph taken for her U.S. visa and then a quick medical examination also required for the adoption visa before being dropped off at our hotel. There was a quick moment of panic/confusion for our dear daughter when she saw the first person in a white medical jacket since leaving the orphanage approach her (most of the caregivers wore such attire). Sampson is also wonderful about talking with our sweet daughter though and calmed her quickly.

David later met with Sampson and one of the other Gladney moms to go over the visa paperwork. So far we felt pretty good about having our act together on the required paperwork. But alas, David forgot to get one document notarized stateside which basically attested to the fact that we would make sure to comply with all vaccinations requirements of the U.S. A simple document, but one you had to have to complete the visa process. Sampson said no worries though and we would take care of in the morning with a trip to the consulate to get the document certified/notarized there. Another document we seemed to lack was a home study update. Fortunately David had a copy of the original Home Study that already allowed for the adoption of a “special needs” child and that, hopefully, will suffice.

Once we finished with the paperwork we joined Sampson for dinner at a local Cantonese restaurant. A small family place but very good. Apparently renowned for their steamed chicken. We were also introduced to goose kidney which we must say we find superior to goose liver. Who knew? Certainly nothing goes to waste in a good Chinese restaurant. Coming home we walked past a place selling snake wine. Apparently good for vascular circulation. Once again, who knew?