The calm before the storm

I think it's starting to get a little overwhelming... at this point a week from now (Saturday AM), we will already be in Beijing for a full day and we'll be off sightseeing. Our itinerary has us trying to see Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and the Great Wall - all in one day... Amazing!

We received our in-country travel package this week with the details around where we'll be and when certain things occur. Top of the list: GOTCHA DAY is scheduled for Sunday afternoon Nov. 4th!! What's even funnier is that I also learned that a nationwide/global event called Orphan Sunday is also scheduled for that Sunday too. Coincidence? I think not...

Here's our official itinerary schedule:

• Thursday 11/1 - fly out to Beijing via Chicago - arrive mid-day Friday
• Saturday 11/3 - sightseeing!!
• Sunday 11/4 - GOTCHA DAY!! AM travel to Guiyang, Guizhou; PM meet our daughter
• Monday 11/5 - Civil affairs appointment - adoption is official
• Tuesday-Friday - sightseeing and adoption appointments (obtaining Chinese passport)
• Friday afternoon - leave Guiyang for Guangzhou
• Saturday - Friday - appointments, sightseeing in Guangzhou
• Thursday 11/15 - US Consulate appointment
• Friday 11/16 - pick up US Visa - travel to Hong Kong
• Saturday 11/17 - travel home via Chicago to Columbus

So... in the midst of all this excitement and craziness, there just so happens to be this "storm of the century" about to hit the eastern US. While this will hopefully not impact our Thursday travel too much, it is having an impact on the travel plans for my parents to come out here to watch our sons. Things will work out one way or another... so no worries there.