September 15, 2011, was travel day and a long day it was. Terry, myself, and Grandma Sarah were driven to the Minneapolis Airport, by our son, Tyler. We were to fly from Minneapolis to Chicago and Chicago to Beijing.
We landed at the Beijing Airport on September 16th and needed to locate our guide in rows and rows of people waiting to connect with someone at the airport. What an experience! After a bit of looking and pushing my way back through the airport receiving line, I spotted our guide's sign and guide. We quickly exchanged pleasantries and headed to meet our driver. We located our driver, Mr. Lee, loaded the van, and proceeded to the Holiday Inn in Beijing, China. This was to be our home for the adoption process in Beijing. At the hotel, we met George, who would guide us through the adoption process and was our translator. George gave us some instructions and told us we would meet September 18 @8:30 AM in hotel lobby and depart for Orphanage 2. Then after Orphanage 2 we would go to Orphanage 1. We allowed ourselves a day of relaxing and sightseeing in and around Beijing before we started on our way to meet our sons. We spent the first day walking around town, taking in the new sights and sounds. For a city of the size and population of Beijing, we found it very friendly and easy to get around. Thanks to the abundance of bicycles and the resulting smaller numbers of cars, we found the traffic and street noise to be quite bearable.
Sunday, September 18, 2011 we were off to get our boys. We went to Orphanage 2 first. Upon arrival to Orphanage 2, we noticed it was surrounded by razor wire and a guard. Our guide talked to the guard and we were cleared to go in. Upon arrival, we were met by the Orphanage Director, a very friendly man. And very quickly, our son Trentyn was in front of us smiling.
We were hurried to a room for much paperwork and exchange of gifts. We met Trentyn’s nanny, who showed much care. We took photos and we were on our way to Orphanage 1. When traveling to Orphanage 1, our guide, George, received a call, letting us know we could not pick up Trey until the Director was there. That meant we needed to slow up and take a breather. We decided to stop for lunch. George ordered lunch for us and we managed to eat a bit with the only two forks they had in the whole big restaurant. Trentyn did not eat much. I’m sure he was nervous. After lunch we headed to Orphanage 1.
We were met by the Director and hurried into a room. We filled out paperwork and answered many questions before Trey came into the room. Trey was very sad and his eyes were filled with tears. We tried to console Trey and let him know everything is going to be OK. We are family. We finished with pictures and headed back to the hotel. Just like that we were parents to teenagers, again.
For the five days in Beijing, we worked with the local government officials to legally adopt Trey and Trentyn in China and obtain Chinese passports for them. Although seemingly slow at times, the officials were friendly, charming and helpful throughout the process. After 13 months of paperwork and close scrutiny at home, the Chinese "interviews" seemed cursory and simple. We took simple gifts for the officials and guides which they did not open in our presence.
We flew to Guangzhou for the last four days to run our last gauntlet, the exit interview and visa from the American embassy. We stayed at the five star Garden Hotel. The accommodations were beyond adequate! Guangzhou is bigger, hotter and more westernized than we had seen so far. The area around the Garden Hotel is very clean and upscale.
The services at the hotels were outstanding. Before you could think of what you needed someone was usually there with it and you didn’t have to open the door yourself or push your own elevator button. It was great to have that since we were focusing on the boys. During our free time we would go sightseeing, venture to stores and shop, swim, eat, or nap. Through all of this, the boys did great!
We boarded our flight for home a couple of days later than anticipated. Our flight home was delayed by typhoon Nesat. We were driven from Guanghzou to Hong Kong by a hired driver. Our drive to the airport was slowed by the border check in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. This took and hour due to October 1, National Day for China. The National Day is celebrated throughout mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau and it is at this time many Chinese travel. Once through the check point we were on our way and quickly arrived at the Hong Kong Airport. The driver dropped us off curbside and showed us were to go. Here we had to weave through the maze of yet another busy airport and check in system. We found our way to our gate and couldn’t wait to board the 747 for America! We arrived in Chicago, made it through customs, then on to immigration, checked the luggage again, and off to our gate. By now, we were tiring. We were met at the airport by Kurt, my brother-in-law, and a truck to haul us home. We stopped in Ellsworth for dinner at Dairy Queen. American food tasted good.
We have been home for several weeks and settling in as a family. Trey and Trentyn go to public school and are working hard to learn English. The boys have come a long way in a few shorts weeks and are no longer needing rice on a daily basis. Trey has a strong mechanical aptitude and Trey enjoys drawing and painting. They are good boys, with a desire to learn. We have a desire for Trey and Trentyn, and that is that they come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus.
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