What to Expect in China

We met with Xiaoqing today, along with one other adopting couple who will be following in our footsteps later in January. The pupose of the meeting was to tell us what to expect while in China. Here is the basic itinerary:

Sat-Mon 12/16-18: Fly to Guangzhou
Mon 12/18: Arrive in Guangzhou at 8:00 a.m.
Tue 12/19: Receive Keira in the afternoon. We have custody.
Wed 12/20: China adoption paperwork. She's ours!
Thu 12/21: Apply for passport, sightseeing
Fri 12/22: free day
Sat 12/23: free day
Sun 12/24: free day
Mon 12/25: Christmas! free day
Tues 12/26: free day
Wed 12/27: Medical check and take visa photo, get passport in afternoon
Thur 12/28: 10:30 a.m., U.S. Consulate Interview and final approval to enter U.S.
Fri 12/29: Pick up Keira's visa to enter U.S.
Sat 12/30: Fly home. Keira is U.S. citizen upon landing in L.A.

Actually, Xiaoqing told us we'd receive Keira on Monday, 12/18. But she got a scare when the guide service in China (China Women's Travel Service) told her the government registration office flatly refused to give us an apppointment on the 18th. In fact, they said they require 2 weeks notice! They begged and begged and finally they relented and gave us an appointment for Tuesday the 19th. But that puts the schedule in jeopardy. In order to make this timeline work, we have to get an exception to have her medical check-up done before we pick up her passport. We don't know if this will be possible. If not, we may be delayed until January 2 or 3.

Other notes from our meeting with Xiaoqing:

Gifts for people: cosmetics, vitamins (American made), vit. E, multi, ginsing
Give to orphanage director, caregiver, etc.
Guide: tips at the end. Make it about $100 total at end of trip.

Call Credit Card companies – let them know we’re traveling.

Permission to travel letter, pick up at agency; take both (2) original copies to China
Guide will meet us at the airport

Don’t take any long bus rides – train is OK
(crazy reckless drivers)

Can change $300-$500 at the hotel
($1 = 8 RMB)

Get $5000-6000 in really good bills (i.e. new money, sequential)
Call bank in advance, tell they you are coming and what you want

When shopping: haggle, haggle, haggle
Cut the price in at least half

Be prepared for a sick child, they often are

Upper respiratory infection = common; worst case = pneumonia

If child has a major problem (cerebral palsy, down’s, etc.), take to Dr. for evaluation

There is a Dr. at White Swan Hotel, if needed

Take a child’s thermometer

Be aware: They use scalp IV if they need to treat infection; it is not pleasant to see, but it's OK.

Don’t eat anything raw… even a salad in the hotel, don’t eat it.

Do not drink any tap water, anywhere; not even in your 5-star hotel
Don’t even brush your teeth with tap water.
Don’t get water in your mouth when you shower.
Hotel room as hot-pot for heating, boiling water.
Buy bottled water.

Feed baby warm formula; that’s what she is used to.

Chicken, pork, eggs – OK

Don’t eat anything from street stands.

80% of parents get sick

Improve your immune system by not worrying and not stressing-out
Sleep a lot, drink lots of (safe) water

Take along headache medicine

Baby easy to get constipated (from iron in U.S. formula)
gradually change the formula; mix with Chinese formula
Take Gerber rice cereal with you
Bring some Chinese formula home

You will need help the first week you get home;
You are jet lagged; the baby is jet lagged.