We're here! As I type this I hear deep, regular breathing sounds from each of the other three Atkins family members. It is only 7 pm Vietnam time, but I figured that the kids have missed approximately 16 hours of sleep that they would have had during the same time period at home, so we are really proud of how well that they held up.
We got here about noon today Vietnam time and got out of passport control/baggage claim/customs about an hour or so after that. We checked into the Lan Lan 2 hotel (we don't know much about the Lan Lan 1, but we're sure that this one is better). Barbie's dad and I went with an agency representative to shop for some bottled water, diapers, and Julia Binh An's formula of choice (Lactogen 2 - again...far superior to Lactogen 1.) When we got back we tried to have a supper at the hotel restaurant, but the kids were falling asleep at their places, so Barbie took them and put them to bed.
We learned today our schedule for the next couple of days. Tomorrow (wednesday) we will go to our agency's Saigon office at noon. From there we will travel to Ben Tre (province where Julia is). We will check into the hotel and have dinner, but we won't get to meet julia until the next day (thanksgiving). We will visit the orphanage morning and afternoon that day, and then again on Friday morning. Friday afternoon will be our Giving and Receiving ceremony and at that point, she will be our daughter. We are definitely excited, but it seems unreal that we will be meeting her in two days!
After the G&R we will come back to Saigon for maybe another week or so until we head up to Hanoi to hopefully receive Julia's visa in a timely fashion. At least today I received an email from the Consulate in Saigon confirming that they were in receipt of Julia's paperwork. Let's hope that the visa gets approved before we get to Hanoi!
A couple of impressions about Saigon...first, as soon as we walked out of the airport door, the hot, humid air hit us. It was like a muggy July day in southern Illinois. When we left Minnesota Sunday evening it was sleeting. Second...I heard that Vietnam had a lot of scooters on the road, but they have a lot of scooters on the road! It is pandemonium! Hundreds of scooters going down a busy street inches apart from each other. Throw in taxi cabs, trucks, buses, and pedestrians and it is incredible to watch. In taking a few cab rides to go shopping there had to be twenty times where I was SURE that someone was going to wreck/collide/smash someone else. There was not a single incident other than we saw two people knock their knees together. Incredible.
I'll try to keep posting, but we don't know the internet situation in Ben Tre.
Thanks for reading. I'm trying not to bore you.
Doug
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6 comments:
Are you kidding?! You are SO not boring! The Sitz Family has been playing the "what do you think they're doing now?" game all weekend. So happy to hear that you are there and that people are sleeping! Blog whenever you can and know that you are loved and thought of continuously!
Co-workers and friends of Pat's are enjoying your blog as well. We love hearing about Pat's new grandbaby! Thanks for the updates!
We are SOOOOOOOO excited to hear about all the "boring" things that are going on!!!! We are very glad all arrived safe and sound and that you are well. We too have been thinking about you all the time and have been wondering what you are experiencing. Thank you for sharing details of the upcoming days. We will be thinking of you throughout the whole process. Happy Thanksgiving, what a wonderful gift to remember.
Hello! Thanks so much for losing some sleep to update all of us about what's going on. We do think of you so often. We are all looking forward to reading about your adventures and seeing a picture of the family of five! With buying diapers and formula, it won't be long now!
Dear Doug :
First , please allow a quick intro of myself.My name is Paul , I am Viet-American , currently living in Houston.Just happen to come across your blog, and what a coincidence :Myself and a friend of mine(living in Boston)were discussing about working with an orphanage in VN .I guess you and your family did more than that , you are there !Wow !
Anyway , I am fluent in Vietnamese , and if you ever in need of some quick reference , please don't hesitate to Email me:startingover1962@gmail.com.
Please be safe (drinking water , mosquitoes,etc..)and best of luck.Spend 2 mins check out my blog if you like @bentrequetoi.wordpress.com.Thank.
Paul
What a wonderful gift you will be receiving this Thanksgiving. We were glad to hear you arrived safe and sound. Thanks for sharing your journey with us, it is so interesting. Our prayers for continued safe travels are with you all. Love from your St. Cloud cousins!
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