shopping in Chongqing

We thought about Big Dan on the airplane- when they gave out the snacks and on the bag of peanuts- it said, “Aviation Food”. Someone across the aisle was eating something out of a bag that looked like pig rinds with legs…We are amazed at the funny things we see here. Oh, and I have a photo of something at the grocery store that looks like a body part- you make the call…

catching up on posts

Saturday, we hung out at the hotel, packed and then took a taxi to the Train station in Hong Kong. Plane left around 6:30pm. Got to Chongqing around 9pm.
I am sooo impressed with Jann’s travel skills.
Without him, we’d have still been walking around the train station wondering where to go and when the plane would take off since we don’t use train stations in Texas on a regular basis. It is second nature to him, living in Denmark so many years.
We just followed behind him. I do no think I could have looked up at the signs and down at where Mei Li was at the same time.
Mei Li managed to crack her head on the marble floor at the airport. She was doing some stretching and tipped over on her head. Got ice on it ASAP. That would have been terrible to show up with a huge goose egg for our 2nd adoption.
Is it just me, or are the seats on China Air smaller than in the US?
And who are the people who sound like they are yelling at each other when they are just talking regular? Mei Li fell asleep but kept waking up all startled because she was exhausted- she has done so much walking for her 2 little legs.

this is a test

we are here

Waking to the Ferry

Bird's Nest for soup etc.
Alan at the Peak
Ask, Don't Tell :}

Old Friends are the best!

Jann, Mei Li and I started our day walking everywhere.
We walked from the Hong Kong side (Garden Plaza Hotel) to the underground.
We went up and down at least 5000 sets of stairs and escalators and made several transfers and got to the Star Ferry to go to Kowloon. The ride was great. That area is quite crowded.
jann took us by Ned Kelly's Last Stand and Jimmy's Kitchen- where he spent many an evening back in the late 70's-80's. Oh! and the most impressionable thing we saw was an old Chinese man- way old- almost dead- except that he growled once at apparently nobody and frightened everyone around. He suddenly got up and walked across the sidewalk towards the trash can and was pulling at his pants to apparently get ready to pee in the trash can- or perhaps look for something in it....We high tailed it out of there. Lots of questions later, Mei Li decided she liked the old man when he was sitting down, not peeing in the trash can. (sorry no photo)
We did catch up with Jann's old friend, Alan Kwok- he is a sweetheart and treats us like royalty when we come to town. They have known each other over 28 years!
He picked us up in his new Lexus 460!!! Now, THAT was a good smell! He treated us to dinner up on the Peak and we got photos over Hong Kong. The funiest moment ever was when Alan ordered dessert for he and Jann. Mei Li had been asleep all through dinner and I did not want dessert. The waiter asked him a question and he motioned back and forth that the dessert was for he and Jann. The waiter asked again to be sure if it was not for Jann and Me.
When the waiter brought out a Huge bowl of ice cream with a giant white heart on top, for Jann and Alan to share- we all died laughing.

fish photos

More Lantau Island photos

Something's fishy in Hong Kong

Visited the Po Lin Monestary, went up the Ngong Ping Sky Rail and visited the Tai O fishing village- Nice smells!

Why all of 'dere's so many Pizza huts?

We took a walk last night after dinner to figure out where we were.
Bus smell, vendor smells, hmm, well....smells.
Learned to not walk on a portion of the sidewalk where the water from AC units- we think, fell.
Mei Li has made several observations:
Why all a dem have toilet paper on der?- when she saw a parade of elderly go by- some had rolls of TP on their walkers- not a bad idea!
She also kept talking about Pizza huts all over the place- we couldn't see one
I figured out that she meant the Hong Kong Cabs with the lights on top. She though they were the Pizza delivery men!-hehehehhhe

Austin-Hong Kong/ thank God for business class

We took off around 4:30 am from Austin to the airport. I was nervous and excited I drank water- Jann had a coffee that Tyla would have been proud of!

Bamse (teddy) was a great comfort and a great traveler.

In the lounge, Jann had a few minutes so he worked (no way!)

3 hours to San Francisco then 3 hours lay over (ish) and we were on our way to Hong Kong.

About 7 hours into the flight Jann took a good nap- didn't even move- but this photo is the one of me actually sleeping. Couldn't get comfortable- and when I did- "MOMMY".....argh!

We drank so much water, we had to use the airplane toilets at least 600 times in the 14 hour flight.

Safely in Hong Kong at the City Garden Hotel.

Ate, slept and now Mei Li and I are going to the Buddhist Temple and Jann will met his friend Alan Kwok.

We're outta here

Not sure if the last update made it, but we leave tomorrow very dark and early.

Not a moment too soon! We are packed with one suitcase for Jann, One for Mei Li and me and one for Ying Li's stuff.

We also will bring a carry on roll on for Mei Li's teddy bear etc.

See ya!

Oh, a photo of Jann and Mei Li last year bade it in the new Love Without Boundaries book 2.

Almost have Travel approval to go to CHINA!!!!

I am posting this so I can keep track of the process and how much coordination goes into planning an adoption trip.

Mind you, our agency has one big group of families with Referrals" dated 2-1-07. They got referrals for several areas (provinces) in China.

Our daughter is from Liangping SWI and it is closest to the main city Chongqing. We just found out that another family has their daughter from the same SWI. There are 8 families going to Chongqing at the same time.

4 from one orphanage and 2 from ours and 2 from another orphanage. But we will all stay in Chongqing for official paperwork reasons.

Many of the bigger group- those going to other provinces, will go and tour Beijing. We will not because we will have Mei Li with us and she and I can go to Hong Kong Disney (:})while Jann plays business with his old buddies there.

Here is the email we got on Feb 28th.

Still can't book flights until we are sure.....

Dear Families,

Our staff in BJ went to the CCAA last night and asked about your travel approvals. They were told, "The Director of the Administration Office has not given permission to release our 2/1 referral Travel Approvals." We have to remember, they just returned from a week long holiday and are just getting back into the groove. Normally it takes about 4 weeks from the referral date for the travel approvals to be mailed. We hope they will be mailed shortly, since today is Feb 28th and tomorrow will be 4 weeks from referral date. We will do whatever possible to have you travel and complete the adoption process before the spring trade fair in Guangzhou (trade fair dates are: April 14-30).

Due to the information received from the CCAA, we are adjusting the tentative travel dates. I am very sorry our original estimated dates didn't work out.

What will happen when a) the travel approvals are received, b) ACS appts are requested and c) travel dates are confirmed:

1) I will send you an email to let you know that your travel approval has been received and I have requested your appt with the American Consulate (ACS).
2) When the ACS notifies me with the confirmed appt. (which can take several days), I will send you an email and ask you to arrange your US domestic and international flights. Specifics on how to make your international flight arrangements are below and also listed on our CHI website under China Travel.3) You will email me all your flight information (you can just forward your itinerary from your airline or travel agent). I will forward the groups international travel info to our staff in BJ.4) Our staff in BJ will work on the inside China arrangements in coordination with your international flights.5) The itineraries will be finalized with hotel and flight information and the BJ staff will send me the cost of the inside trip.6) I will then email to you: your detailed itinerary & your fee summary. You may receive this just prior to your departure date.7) You will send me your final travel payment in the form of a bank or certified check or money order. I will need to have this fee before you travel.

Due to the information received from the CCAA, we are adjusting the TENTATIVE TRAVEL DATES.Chongqing, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, and Yunnan Groups
Thurs, March 29: Leave the US
Fri, March 30: Arrive in BJ (The Radisson SAS hotel is not available so you will be staying at the Wangfujing Grand Hotel: a 5 star hotel; Address: No. 57 Wangfujing Avenue, Beijing 100006, China ; Phone: 86-10-65221188 )
Sat, March 31: Sightseeing in BJ
Sun, April 1: travel to province
Mon, April 2: meet your children
Tues, April 3: adoption process (notary and registration)
Wed, April 4 - Fri, April 6: Sightseeing and free days in province
Sat, April 7: fly to GZ
Sun, April 8th: free day (Easter)
Mon, April 9th: medical exam for the children
Tues, April 10: ACS appt -first choice; (second choice: April 11th, 3rd choice: April 9th) & farewell dinner
Wed, April 11: get visa back and return home after 8:00pm OR return home Thurs, April 12th.
Your departure from Guangzhou: If flying to Beijing or Hong Kong, please allow enough time in the morning to get to your city of departure in order to catch the international flight. (Earliest flight GZ to HK is CZ301 at 8:25am/9:20am, and earliest flight from GZ to BJ is CA1310 at 8:05am/11:00am.) There are other later flights available also on those days if needed.If you need a return flight to BJ (cost is approx. $490 for 2 adults and infant lap seat) OR if you need to fly to Hong Kong (cost is approx. $270 for 2 adults and infant lap ticket) to catch your international flight, CHI can make those flight arrangements for you to fly on the morning after you receive your child's visa OR you can have your travel agent make these arrangements for you.If arriving or departing between the hours of 6:30am - 11: 00pm, CHI will arrange the hotel/airport transfer for you.Normally there is one day of sightseeing in BJ. If you want to arrive earlier than the group schedule, our staff in BJ will arrange additional touring. If you want to join in, tell your Coordinator when you arrive. Payment (in cash) for the tour will be given to our CHI office in Beijing. Additional (optional) tours are:Thursday: Summer Palace (Half day, lunch is not included) Cost: $ 30 per adult, $ 20 per child;Friday: Temple of Heaven in the morning; Lunch at Dai Jia Cun Restaurant; Hutong Tour and the Chinese Acrobat Show in the afternoon (Dinner is not included). Cost: $60 per adult, $40 per childHere is some basic information for booking flights if you would like to do some research:-Do not book a flight that will land in Canada (Cathay Pacific, etc.), even if you won’t get off the plane. The airline will not allow your child on the flight because she/he will be traveling on a Chinese Passport. A layover to catch another flight via Tokyo is permitted, but your child will not be able to leave the airport. -Note about return ticket for your adopted child:A return international ticket for your child in his/her Chinese Name is required even if your child is under the age of two. You do not have to purchase a seat ticket, but a lap ticket is required, and the cost is a percentage of your adult ticket. The ticket must be in your child’s Chinese Name, because that is the name that will appear on his/her Chinese passport. In China, the last name is always listed first, the next one or two names is considered to be your child’s first name-see child’s name as listed on referral document. All names on tickets must match the names on the passports.- VERY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION FROM FAMILIES THAT RECENTLY TRAVELED: When you book flights, make sure your ticket is the type where you have a seat assignment booked at the time of ticket purchase. (Many people, including those that made their reservations directly with United did not.) With seat assignments, you are confirmed and much less likely to get bumped unless you volunteer to do so. If you don't receive them until you get to the airport, you are taking a chance... FYI-The Chinese Airlines (China Southern, China Air, etc) will not give a seat assignments until you check into the desk at the airport.-Where you live will indicate (if you wish) your travel departure city:East coast families-most convenient to leave from NY or Newark (Continental, Northwest)Midwest families- most convenient to leave from Chicago or Detroit (United or Northwest)West coast families - most convenient to leave from SF or LA (United, China Air or China Southern)But you can use any airline you wish from any city in the US to get to China.-

Announcing Liang Xiao Ying!!!

A Ladybug visited us in Mexico- believe it or not! That has got to be a SIGN for sure! (later I found that referrals had been mailed!!!)

We came home Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, we got our referral call!!! Jann got home around 7pm so he was surprised when he landed from Europe to get at least 4 voice mails from me.....

Words can not express how thrilled we are and how, with a little effort, the world can become a better place for everyone.

Here are the referral photos of our daughter. Her name will be Ying Li Bonfils-Rasmussen! She is 10 mos old and she is waiting for us in Liangping SWI in Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan Province.

After our experience with Mei Li being so tiny, Ying Li looks very well nourished :) I love her big eyes and beautiful mouth! Mei Li wants to play on the toys in the photos.

R&R in Mexico- Come on Referrals

This is my friend Michele with Mei Li in the garden of her vacation home-"Las Hamacas" in Akumal Mexico!

Well, Mei Li and I had the opportunity of a lifetime to go to a house on the beach in Akumal Mexico.

What a better way to spend one of the most stressful weeks?

Of course, she had a BLAST and after all that digging and dancing, she totally relaxed.

Mei Li got to see her first sand, beach, waves, and has dug in the sand for several days- each revealing something more interesting.
Every piece has beauty I discovered.
Every piece of coral can be magical- one became lip liner! another piece became a blackberry! as she used a stick of coral to tap in a message to the CCAA!:}

What a girl wants

Santa treated Mei Li very well this Christmas. Since she told everybody that she wanted "dress ups", she got more than 12 pairs of high heel shoes!

Jann's son Anders was in town from Denmark. In Denmark they have a typical meal that consists of lots of roast duck and pork roast wrapped in a layer of rind and fat. Those who know me will understand why we did not have that for dinner. In Denmark they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Since it was not raining, cold and dark, (like in Denmark), he wanted to go for something different- SUSHI.

He actually paid his brother (who does not eat fish at all) to eat a piece of raw fish- and he said it was worth every krone. Here is a photo of his first bite of real sushi. (it ended up in a napkin I think). Jann is the only one who eats the raw fish, Mei Li loves Unagi and can eat it with chopsticks like a pro.

Just as we were sitting down for dinner, we heard a knock at the door!!!

Who could it be on Christmas Eve???

SANTA!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never seen Mei Li climb up on daddy's head so fast.

After a little re-assurance, she told him what she wanted for Christmas.

She never took her eyes off him though. It was a very special Christmas indeed.

Another full moon goes by...

And we still have no referral. 14 months and counting from our Log In Date.
Well, the longer the wait, the more chance she'll be born in the year of the Dog.
Mei Li and I were driving home yesterday evening. It was light outside and she said- "Hey, mama, the moon's out!"
It was one of those days with a moon and sun in opposite horizons.
Later that night when we were outside, I said something like "When I see the Full Moon, I think of all the people that I know and I think of your birth parents."
Her response was, "I don't."
Hm! ok, honest answer- she's fine and that is so good.

Grandma how do you hang this on the tree? & Treasures in the attic.

My sister Sandra and I went to mom and dad's house today to get the Christmas stuff down from the attic and to decorate the house.
Dad poured us our traditional Mud Slides (2 years in the tradition so far) and we toured the marvelous world of "treasures in the attic". We both ended up finding cool stuff to take home ;} She got a Christmas tree- they had 4 up there- I came across a bag of old slides, well, they were slides of me as a kiddo so they were quite old. There are"old fashioned" reel type movies too that we will have to keep in a safer place than the attic.
Sandra and I had to keep telling our dad to not help us- he just had his pacemaker batteries changed yesterday!! They actually used a screwdriver?

I guess you had to be there, but as I made progress to the back darker corners of the attic, I saw so many garbage bags that I said to my sister- "This is where they hide the bodies!" then I went to move a bag- it felt wierd, kind of soft and furry and bony....!!!!

I took it to the lighted area and had Sandra check it out and she said- "Oh, yeah, it's the Ram Head" EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK! I was right. I took it back to where I found it- next to the Boar's head and some other animal's head in a bag.

One Very old thing we found in the attic- other than the charcoal drawing of mom and dad where dad looks like Burt Reynolds- hehehe- was a pair of old hunting boots- my Pap Pap's. Dad said there are movies and photos of him wearing those boots. I said he should give them to my brother Joe for Christmas this year.

It was nice to get rid of lots of empty boxes and to help straighten up mom and dad's attic- we did not get to everything. Have to save some for the years to come.

We freed Willie- the pool sweeper thing that had OD'ed on leaves. We froze our arms off digging those leaves out of the skimmer.

A moment I will never forget was when Mei Li asked Grandma, "Grandma, how do you hang this on the tree?" and mom showed her how.

It was the first time she got to help decorate grandma and Pa Pa's tree.