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Monday, April 13, 2009

Leaving on a Jet Plane..(well not quite yet!)




Our Travel Facilitator has begun booking our flights and hotel arrangements for our trip to China. While we are waiting for our Notice of Coming To China (also known as Travel Approval) to arrive, we have our travel dates. We know that we will be leaving on Friday, May 22 and returning on Friday, June 5.


We will travel to Vancouver, and then onto Shanghai on Friday morning, and arrive after a 11 hour flight sometime Saturday afternoon (taking into consideration time differences). We will stay overnight in Shanghai and leave the next day for Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. I have included a picture of an Air Canada Boeing 767 we will travel on.


The next few days, while not finalized, are general plans. We know that once in Guangxi we will meet Sylvie in Nanning, and that the children are brought to a hotel by an orphanage worker. There is a brief introduction and time for us to ask questions, before the nanny returns. This is a very short transition time and we are hoping that it goes smoothly, and Sylvie transitions well. The next few days are spent in Nanning completing adoption paperwork. Once this paperwork is completed, we travel to Beijing. We stay in Beijing for another few days completing immigration and sponsorship paperwork.


We will be returning on Friday June 5 on a direct flight from Beijing to Vancouver. We are excited because another Canadian family Joyanne has been talking too online will be on the same flight. It is a relief to know that we will not be the only ones on that flight with a crying baby! We will then catch a flight from Vancouver to home and hope to arrive in the afternoon.


We will let you know our itinerary as is progresses. Our plan is to update the blog during our time in China, and use SKYPE to communicate with friends and family back in Canada.


We have been busy trying to get all the little detailed organized and tidied around the trip and home. Joyanne has been busy working on a travel packing list, and Cory has been out shopping for car seats and strollers.



8 comments:

  1. How exciting!!! I am just about jumping off my chair!!!! YAY!!!!! This is so close; instead of talking years and months, you are now talking weeks and soon, just days and moments until you hold Sylvie in your arms as you now hold her in your heart.

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  2. It is coming fast and there is so much to do! I am having a hard time being patient! Hope we can meet in Beijing, before we get on that airplane home!

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  3. Yeah! That is wonderful news that you and Paige will come home with each other! I am so jealous! It's coming soon! I don't know how you sleep at night?????

    Kim

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  4. OMGosh! I am so so so thrilled for you guys! I cannot believe how quickly the ball is now rolling! I am jealous, too, but more so, just happy for you guys! Canada welcomes Sylvie!!

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  5. Wow - this is so amazing!!! It's so cool how fast everything is going!!!

    Rowan Family

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  6. Hi Cory and Joyanne,

    My name is Tracy Clark and I am a freelancer for Okanagan Life. I am doing an article for the magazine's June edition about families who have (or are in the process of adopting) either domestically or internationally.
    I understand that you are in the process of adopting a lovely young girl from China and would love to find out more about your journey.

    If you could get back to me as soon as possible and let me know if we could set up a time to do an interview that would be fantastic!

    Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

    Tracy Clark
    250-487-9330
    tracyannmichelleclark@hotmail.com

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  7. Hey Joyanne and Cory... found this poem today on one of my message boards (several of the members there are adopting internationally and one of them shared this...).. thought of you and Sylvie, so I thought I would share..

    The Chosen Heart

    Longing for a child to love,
    I'd wish upon the stars above.
    In my heart I always knew,
    A part of me was meant for you.
    I think how happy we will be,
    Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.


    I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
    Imagining even the littlest things.
    The way it will feel to hold you tight,
    And tuck you in every night.
    The drawings on the refrigerator door,
    And childhood toys across the floor.
    The favorite stories read again and again,
    And hours of games with make-believe friends.


    The day you took my outstretched hand,
    A journey ended, but our lives began.
    Still mesmerized by your sweet face,
    Still warmed inside by our first embrace.
    I promised to give you a happy home,
    And a loving family all your own.
    A house you've now made complete,
    With laughter, smiles, and tiny feet.


    A parent is one who guides the way,
    Know I will be there everyday.
    Rest easy as each night you sleep,
    A lifetime of love is yours to keep.


    Longing for a child to love,
    I'd wish upon the stars above.
    In my heart I always knew,
    A part of me belonged to you.

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  8. What an amazing journey Joyanne and Cory. Sylvie is beautiful. I hope that everything works out smoothly and that she is home with you soon. Rachelle

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