May 29, 2004

Email from Joel:

We are traveling to Guangzhou today to prepare for our appointment at the U.S. Consolate where we will receive a Visa for Alaina to come to the U.S. We have now completed the initial phase of our travel. Alaina's adoption was registered here in Nanchang, making it final. We have also received her passport with her very cute picture in it. We have also received a number of other official documents to be used to obtain her Visa to U.S.

Our flight today is a short one-hour flight south. We fly at about 4pm here (4am Sat for you). The hotel there is the White Swan (phone number is 011-866-20-8188-6968) that caters to Americans very well. It will be a pleasant experience as well. Much shopping to do there.

Alaina is taking her morning nap after breakfast. She is beginning to be the life of the party (the party starts around dinner time!). She can always find food that she likes. She is a beautiful, healthy, happy girl. She can't wait to see her siblings, family and friends. The days are getting shorter and her arrival in VA is quickly approaching.

We say good-bye to Nanchang today. It is a somewhat somber occasion as some of us might never be able to return. Mixed feelings, though, as everyone is growing anxious to get home as well.

Our next report will be from Guangzhou, a little hotter there.

Love,

Trina, Joel and Alaina

At the airport, we were greeted by the same children from when we arrived. They posed for a picture with us and Joel gave them some candy. They were not shy. Alaina held her passport close by...with her cute picture in it.

Next Day...



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