China Day 11: US Consulate Appointment

We had to get up early today, but it was to make it to the US Consulate for our final appointment in China! We were scheduled for the first time slot of the day so we had to leave the hotel at 7:40am.  The Consulate is in a different building now than when we came in 2012, and they are much more restrictive on what you can bring in (no cameras or phones, thus we have zero pictures of this part of our process).  We dressed Lucille in a little red, white, & blue dress to commemorate the occasion.

First we waited in line to get a number.  Then we waited for our number to be called and turned in Lucille's medical records, Chinese passport, adoption decree, and other papers.  Next one parent from each family had to take an oath.  Finally, we waited for our family name to be called to answer questions and confirm details about the adoption.  That's it!  Now we pray that there are no hiccups in the system that processes Lucille's visa.  We'll also be getting the coveted sealed-brown-envelope that we will hand to US Customs & Immigration Services once we land in Detroit.  At that moment, Lucille will become a citizen of the United States!

It was quite hot this morning (as usual) so we cooled off in the hotel pool after getting back from the Consulate.  Light lunch in the hotel room, a nap for Lucille, some silly time together, and then a quick stroll to the store for groceries took up the rest of our afternoon.  We met our travel group in the lobby at 5:30pm for a boat dinner cruise on the Pearl River.  Steve and another traveling dad got Pizza Hut takeout because we heard... stories... about the kinds of food they serve on the boat buffet.  It was a very good call, because other than fried rice and some noodles, everything else was authentic Chinese (NOT American-Chinese) food.  Uncut prawns, chicken feet, sweet & sour meat of some chewy sort, etc, were up for grabs.  Steve tried a bite of chicken foot because hey, free chicken foot!  It tasted like chicken skin with zero meat between it and the bone.  We think KFC in the US is missing a niche market here so maybe we'll write the corporate office when we get home.  Food did, however, continue to be a good bonding tool between Steve and Lucille (not chicken feet, but good things like fried rice).  She's warmed up to Steve much more today and he was able to hold her on several bus rides. 

After dusk the view from the boat was beautiful.  The Canton Tower and many other tall, lit up buildings made for spectacular scenery.  A performer put on a show for everyone that included juggling and antics with a soccer ball (including spinning it on Ella's finger).  The time on our boat ended with an impromptu balloon animal fight between many of the kids.  :-)  It was a relaxing evening and a good time just talking with some of our new friends.  It's a bummer that these other families live so far away from us in the US, but just like in 2012 we're making connections that are sure to last! 

Tomorrow is our last full day in China!!!  The only official action is to get Lucille's passport & visa when it's delivered to the hotel.  Please pray with us that there are no delays and that we can leave the country as scheduled Thursday morning!  We're going to miss China a lot, but not nearly as much as we're missing our other kiddos right now!

[Pictures we wish we could have taken from the US Consulate go here]