Visa Day - 2/1/2008

Today was an important day. We went to the Visa Department of the US Consulate to get the final paperwork done so that jenny will become a US citizen as soon as she sets her feet on American soil.

We started the day late with a brunch at Pizza Hut. We haven't had Pizza Hut in a long time in the US. The food here was just great – we are not sure if the Pizza was so much better than that in the US or we simply were ready for some Western food. Jenny first did not want to go; she wanted to have the food on the street (dumpling, lamb or beef on a stick etc.). One thing is different here in China; Pizza Hut is kind of upscale eating. Jenny had spaghetti. She ate the whole plate. The rest of the family shared two large pizzas. We had to take some home with us. They are huge.

After our brunch we went to the Visa Department and with the driving to and from the consulate, the whole afternoon was gone. We were not allowed to take any cameras or any electronic devices, like game boys or computers. We had to go through a security check point. We had our "interview" which really was nothing else than comparing our faces from a passport photocopy with our real faces. Bert was disappointed that he was not asking any questions during this interview. Afterwards they gave us (altogether 49 adopting families from various agencies) a little speech and we had to swear that everything we said in our documents is the truth "to the best of our knowledge". Then we got our brown envelope. This is the envelope we have been waiting for. This envelope contains all the required immigration paper work for Jenny. Without it, we could not take her out of the country or take her with us to USA. We have a little discrepancy with the case number in the passport and the paper on the "brown envelope". We questioned that and were told that this is normal – nothing to worry about. Okay, we heard this before – let's hope all will go well at Detroit Airport Immigration.

Jenny met the same boy from her orphanage – the same boy we met on the medical exam day. They spent quite some time playing together. Anna was a little bit jealous that Jenny had someone else to play with and she did not understand what they said to each other. She enjoyed her time with him. We exchanged our contact information with his new parents from OH and promised that we will keep in touch.

On a side note: We were told today that we should get the Certificate of Citizenship within 35 to 45 days – automatically. It would be nice if this works out. We heard through some of the e-groups that nowadays the Department of Homeland Security now makes parents that adopted a few years ago and never applied for the certificate now go in person to a USCIS office with all the adoption paperwork. It is all a formality but for some people it might mean a drive across a State. Some states are a little bigger than Rhode Island.

At night we dined in Style with Sue's family at Kentucky Fried Chicken. KFC is very popular here in China. The streets were crowded in the shopping district like it was the Friday after Thanksgiving and so was KFC. We had Fast Food in style and enjoyed it. But, we have to say, the Chinese often seem more practical. With your chicken, you get free thin plastic gloves. Sure, it might not be environmentally friendly, but it makes eating chicken a lot easier and cleaner.

Afterwards we joined the crowd and went a little more shopping along the busy streets, including going through a food alley where street vendors offers all kinds of food – just marvelous. Looking at the people shopping, the lights in the streets, the neon advertising, the loud music, the giant screens – who would know you are in China. The amount of neon advertising, light, music, people and merchandise can compete with cities like New York Time Square.

Kids are doing great today! Toby and Josh are wonderful as usual. Jenny and Anna were trying hard and got along very well today. No strollers! No fights except one small jealousy event at the consulate appointment. They did their entire walk with their own feet! We see the hope of that thing will work out over time. Today we realized that even Toby and Josh compete and fight at times. So are Mom and Dad! It is all normal part of our lives. We are happy and feel blessed that everything went so well so far. We can't wait to get back home and meet our friends including Anhui Adoption families to introduce Jenny.

We really can’t complain much about the weather here. It is cold, much colder than normal here. However, at least there is no snow. Back in Michigan, we have few feet of snow. Kids missed three snow days!! I think Jenny will feel right at home! One more day here. We will be home on Sunday!