Notes on Travel

Well, the best part so far is that the entire interface on my blogger account is now in Chinese. These things are way too smart for me.

So the trip into Guangzhou was great, but long. The first flight into Tokyo was delayed by an hour or so... and I arrived with basically no time for the transfer to the flight to GZ. Thankfully, I made the flight - and so did my luggage. I was able to sleep a big which was great. Sat next to another MS person who was headed to Beijing (BJ) for meetings, and we had a nice time talking. The flight from Tokyo was bumpy and long, and I was glad to be done with it.

When arriving in GZ I had to wait to get the stroller. When they opened the doors to the outside it was like getting hit with a blast from the oven. Gwenn & Ella - you would not believe how hot it was. Imagine if granma made cookies, and you opened the oven - that is how hot it felt.

I know that it was been a few days already for you, but for me it feels like only once since I had such long airplane rides. It is now Tuesday AM, and this afternoon I'll be in BJ.

I was a bit nervous about finding my way to the hotel, when leaving teh customs area, there was Anna waiting for me with my name on a sign! I have to say that the relief of having that waiting for me at 11p at night was comforting. And good thing - it would have been a 10 minute walk in the sauna of GZ, so I was glad for the ride.

The hotel here in GZ (Novotel) is stunning. The hotel has been open for 4 months, and it is spectacular. For $80 a night I can get one of the nicer rooms that I've had in Asia. However, one feature of the rooms is a bit too modern - especially since I was going to have a roomie along! The bathroom walls are glass, so you can see directly into the showers and tub! :-) I was quite glad that it was just me last night, instead of telling someone to turn around for the 20 minutes while I took my shower!

According to my laptop it is now 2:45p on Monday afternoon - but it is already 5:45a Tuesday morning here. I'm a bit too thick to do the math, but I think it is about a 15 hour difference...

I'll write more from BJ, along with some pictures. Miss everyone!

Leaving in a few hours

Well, last post until I'm in Beijing on Tuesday - I've got one big suitcase, my duffel bag, stroller and backpack. YIKES! I wish I could post the photo of it - but the camera is already packed! I'll try to get it later.

By Monday night I'll be in Guangzhou and spend the night at the hotel there, and then off to Beijing. Then a couple of days before Fuzhou and Lucy. I'll write more soon!

Packing and getting ready

Here is what I have so far:

Packing List for Infants

• Diapers -- purchase according to weight. Some parents bring just a few, some bring many. I brought enough for the whole trip, and when they were used, filled the space in the suitcases with gifts.
• Baby Wipes -- travel pack, or bring half of a big container, and you can pre-pack in Ziploc bags for smaller quantities that are ready to go!
• Formula -- talk with your pediatrician about milk or soy based. I brought a minimal amount, and after the first week slowly started to add it in with the Chinese formula that I bought there. By the time we returned to the US, she was adapted. This time around I'm bringing some to supplement, since it's fairly healthy and Lucy is young enough
• Sippy cups - bringing a bunch of disposable, and 2 of the nice ones...
• Clothes -- up to the parent. However, I brought 2 outfits that I thought would be too small, I brought 8 outfits (mix & match) that I thought would fit, and one outfit that I thought would be too big -- when I got there, I figured out what she wore, and donated the rest to the orphanage. (Also a great outlet for shower gifts that you are less than thrilled with...) We went through 1-2 outfits a day, and did laundry at the hotel -- it was inexpensive and good.
• Baby Bjorn or other carrier -- bring a chest carrier or backpack with you. Strollers can be purchased inexpensively, and rented from many hotels for about $1 a day. However, on my second trip I brought my own stroller, and I will do so again this time.
• Maclaren stroller - best that there is
• Ziploc bags in all sizes (great for stinky diapers that hang out in the hotel wastebaskets
• Cheerios or other baby snacks
• Duct tape (we used it to fix everything)
• Medicines -- see medical resources listed below, and talk with your pediatrician

Medical List of stuff to bring:

• Acetaminophen - Baby Tylenol
• Baby Motrin
• Antibiotic -- prescription, reconstitute in China only if needed
• Pediacare
• Elimite -- presciption creme for scabies
• Lotrimin -- for yeast infections & infected diaper rashes
• Vaseline -- for use with an anal thermometer
• Thermometer -- anal under age of 2 (yes, it works!)
• Dosage spoon or syringe -- ask your local pharmacist - they will often give them to you for free, especially when you tell them what it is for!
• Measuring cup for reconstituting medicaitons
• Band Aids
• Q-Tips
• Hydrocortizone Creme -- 1% under the age of 4; 2% okay over age of 4 (verify with your own pediatrician)
• Alcohol swabs -- for use with an injection
• Syringes -- Check your local laws if you can carry these in the US. (Lara's note: I brought a variety for both Gwenn and myself. My doctor gave me a handful in a variety of sizes -- I felt like an addict, but I was glad to have them -- I did see doc's re-using needles)
• Tongue Depressors -- some places still reuse these, although most medical clinics in
• Guangzhou now give each child a clean one (I brought a handful as well)
• Lice Treatments -- 1% Permethin (Dr. Borcher recommends!) -- others have used RidX
• Benadryl --
• Pediacare
• Neosporin
• Pedialyte -- there are brands that you can constitute yourself, and that makes your load lighter
• Cipro - for the parents
• Z-Pack -antibiotics for parents just in case

Packing list for older kids:

• Clothes -- 4-5 outfits that you think will fit, 2 outfits that you think will be too big, 2 outfits that you think will be too small -- and then buy more there!
• 1 pair of shoes that you think will fit, and buy the rest there
• Pull-Ups (there may be some regression with potty-trained kids) - Since Lucy is over two, I'll have both diapers and pull ups with me.
• Photo Album from home -- to start getting used to what it will look like!

Toys and Stuff:

• Little backpack for Lucy to put her own "stuff" in
• Coloring books (small) with little crayons
• Stickers
• Board books
• Soft ball
• Stuffed animal
• Nesting cups
• Blocks
• Bubbles

Other Stuff to consider:

• Dish liquid
• Oxy for washing clothes in the room
• Cheerios - and bowls to store in
• Books to read, and Sudoku
• Digital Camera, Digital Camcorder, Laptop
• Tide to go pen (to fix those little spots)
• All the documents you can carry
• Money (lots
• Gifts to bring for local officials and orphanage, foster family, etc (about 8)
• Something to put over your eyes so you can sleep when you need to
• Water bottle to keep bottled water in (buy a case in every city you go to on the first day)

My clothes packing list:

• It's in the upper 90's with high humidity. I have 5-6 pairs of capri pants, no shorts and one pair of long jeans for the trip.
• 3-4 pairs of comfy walking shoes. I'm a Privo fan and will have two pair on the trip
• I'm bringing 7-10 loose, comfy t-shirts and about 2 tank tops
• Bathing suit
• One medium weight sweater and two zip hoodies
• One skirt, with spanx... for walking comfort
• Travel Guide - if you don't want the huge book, tear out the section on the places that you will be visiting.

And, it all has to fit into one large suitcase and one small duffel to check, and the backpack to bring on board.

Cambodian version of the Bermuda Triangle

Sometimes, you have to travel where the road takes you. For the Evans family, it lead them to find the birth sibling of their adopted child in Cambodia, and now they are living in Cambodia trying to get permission to bring this unwanted birth sibling (orphaned, and living on the street) to their home in the US.

Read more at RainbowKids.com...

Please consider supporting the Evans' family by contacting Senator Pryor's office at http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/ and mentioning the John and Kerri Evans family and asking his help in bringing them, and their legally adopted children, back to Arkansas from Cambodia.

My Generation

Cool darn video

Natasha Graduates

Natasha standing out in the crowd...

Well, there are other things that do occur in my life, and one of them is Natasha's graduation. She is now a college graduate - Bachelors of Arts Degree - from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Here are some of the pictures!

Ella posing for the camera

Gwenn as the day started out!

Finally - a graduate!

It was hot and sunny. Thankfully, we had lots to drink and do while we waited. The band played, people walked in, there was lots to do and see. The speakers were fine, and moderately motiving. The day was great, but by the end of the day, Gwenn was tired and ready for a long nap! I'll post more graduation pics soon, but wanted to get some up.