It's 9 days until wheels up now! Woohoo.......that's all I have to say about that.
Still sick but improving. I was HOT stuff on Valentine's night. Literally. Fever = 103.1F. It was great fun. Now I feel comparatively fab at just under 100.4. Off to work I go. I'm on antibiotics and they're kicking in. Can't miss a moment of work or it will cost me time with my girl and it isn't worth that.
Random questions:
1) I have a shopping list from others a mile long for China. I'm sure I'll have an entire bag of stuff if I complete these lists. One person is requesting 'high quality replica watches' in the vein of T*g or R*olex. I just love the phrase 'high quality replica watches' (roll of eyes). I think I just need to learn to say 'where are the decent fakes?' in Mandarin. I had no plans to purchase any 'replicas' so can any BTDT tell me where are the best places to find such 'replicas'?
2) I am a casual type of gal. I hear, from all accounts, that this trip is quite casual. Do I need to pack a dressier outfit that I really don't want to wear anyway? Remember, this COO gig requires all but the bare essentials to get chucked. There is no room for even a millimeter of excess. I am hoping to live casual the entire trip.
3) I have a really hard time sitting still for long. People who know me know this about me. I am a doer. Should I ask my SIL to pack a club to brain me with so I don't go squirrely on the flight? Then again, I suppose said club won't make it past security. I'm in trouble on that flight. It doesn't even have to do with fear of flying, it has to do with needing to MOVE.
Oh, and in only 13 days I will be a mama in action! Less than 2 weeks!!
Monday, February 16, 2009
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27 comments:
Glad to hear you are feeling better.
I say a big NO to anything dressy to wear; it just takes up space and you will not need it.
So you have a shopping list a mile long? Are you taking orders?
Cannot wait to hang out at Starbucks with J, T and C!!!!
OMW... you are getting soooo close.. this is sooo much more real...
SORRY to hear that you have been sick..
Hope those med's kick in soon..
Have a fast day at work..
Hurry up 13 days..
I'm imagining my Russian/Ukranian experience will be of absolutely NO help to you right now...but can I just say NINE days?!! That's awesome! :)
I have no advice for you about the dressy wear or the flight. I have a difficult time sitting for any length of time as well, so I understand your concern about the flight.
9 DAYS!!! I can't wait!
I think your SIL should bring duct tape! She can tape you to your seat if you get too wound up!!! Can't wait to see you as a momma in action! BTW, we didn't need anything dressy. We still wore nicer clothing (knit skirt w/ nice t-shirt) for Gotcha and the offical adoption day, but it was casual.
I'm counting down with ya!!
I just can't believe it is finally YOUR turn!!!!!
I am totally with you on the not being able to sit still. I am going to be doing a lot of pacing on that flight!
Hi - Wow! So close. It will be over in the blink of an eye too. I just wanted to say that I was really happy to have something nice to wear in China. I took a long cotton black dress that I could wear with a cardigan - it just rolled up in my bag and didn't take up much room. I wore it to a few nice dinners. I'm sure you would be fine without. It was just such a good feeling to fix my hair, put on a little make up and feel decent. But then again my clothes were pretty casual. Mostly all cotton - so I could roll it all and avoid wrinkles and pack it tightly. This dress worked with "flip flops" sort of. But I planned to take the flip flops - I can't live without them. They were fine in Guangzhou but I got a ton of stares in Hunan.
I didn't buy any "replicas" so I can't really help you there. Just be careful because they can get you into some legal trouble.
I wouldn't make any promises about what you can bring back. Unfortunately there is a huge rift in the local China adoption community because someone wasn't able to bring back the requested items. She ending up dealing with a lot of attachment issues. The mom who had asked for the stuff had adopted twice, you'd think she'd understand. Instead it turned very ugly. It's been over a year, and the rift is still there.
As for the plane ride, if you can sleep is always a good idea. I ended up watching a lot of movies. I usually like to read, but I was way too worked up to settle into a book. Magazines might work.
I am so excited for you!
1 - Shamian Island for "lovely" watches (see our 10/2006 trip for photos)
2 - Casual is fine the entire time
3 - Can you learn to knit in the next 9 days? If not, I think a club might be in order ;-)
Happy travels!
Deb M in MT
NINE!!!
Wow - it is coming so quick! It took so long and to get here and now it is coming so quick!
We were casual the entire time. Our travel was in October and we wore shorts and t-shirts or golf shirts every day (we were HOT though with the little 20-pound heaters strapped to us all day and night).
My hubby bought the fake R@lex outside of 7-11. Diagonally across from the white swan. I am so excited for you! The picture of your little one sitting outside is so cute. She is adorable. I bet you cant wait to hold her. The emotion involved in that moment can not even be described!!
Have a wonderful safe trip!
Carol
We were ubercasual the entire time, as were the rest of our group of 19 families! Actually, as long as your girl is lookin' cute, who cares?
I didn't even think of dressing in anything but sweats, t-shirts or yoga pants...still my go-to on casual days like today.
Have a Wonderful Time PIPO, it will fly by!
Hi! First of all, a huge huge congrats on your baby girl. She's stunning, and I hope the days fly by for you. I'm so incredibly excited for you.
I've made the flight to Asia many, many, many times (have family there, hubs travels there for work all the time). The good thing is lots of movies, so that helps the time fly. Also, when you need to move, just move! I get sore joints from sitting too long, so I walk around the aisles a lot. Also, we usually find a quiet place in the back of the plane to stretch (we usually do this for like 30 minutes at a tim). It's really not that bad. Everyone else will be moving around and the flight crew is usually totally cool about people standing around in the back as long as the seat belt sign is off.
We just flew to Hong Kong and Taipei a couple of weeks ago, and the flights really weren't that crowded. I hope this is the same for you, then you'll have some space to stretch out more.
Hope that helps!
I can't believe you are finally leaving so soon. YEAH!!!!!! I had something sundress-ish that was easy to pack and wore a lot. I didn't "need" it, but was glad I had it, as I felt better "dressing up" for a few things.
As for the items to buy.... skip it. I read that you could get into some trouble being caught with imposter stuff coming through customes. You have enough to worry about. You are a really nice person, but make this trip about you and not picking up stuff for others. Just my humble opinion.
I am so glad you are on meds and that you feeling a little better!!! I am so excited I just can't stand it!!!!
Love and blessings, Kristy
I can't believe it's so close...can't wait to see the first pictures of you and Claire!
I can't believe it's so close...can't wait to see the first pictures of you and Claire!
I can't believe it's so close...can't wait to see the first pictures of you and Claire!
Well you asked for advice, but you may not like what I have to say.
Let me start with the obvious: you are going to China to adopt your daughter, not on a shopping trip for other people. Anything you bring back COO should be for PIPA and you! If you cannot find a replica watch, so be it (although I am sure all the hotel shops will have them). It really peeves me when people impose this way, especially when they can probably get the same stupid replicas at any flea market. Now I know we all have people we want to buy a souvenir for, and that should come from your heart, not be requested. So if I am out of line pleasse feel free to delete my comment. I am just pissed that someone would have the gall to even ask, no matter what their relationship is to you. Especially since buying "replicas" may not be legal in the US!
I think your requested shopping list should suffer an unfortunate accident on the way to China and get lost somewhere. You need your precious time to bond with PIPA. And I still think your shopping should be limited to what you can bring back for her for when she is older: precious things you may not be able to get here that you can give to her from her home country.
Now that I got that off my chest, I am sorry to hear you are sick, but glad the antibiotics are working. I am sick too, so maybe my rant could be excused by my fever, but not really. It just pisses me off. When your family and friends where giving birth, did you ask them to stop at the hospital gift shop and pick you up something? Ugh.
Oops, maybe I was not done getting that off my chest. Sorry!
OMG.. single digits! I agree with everyone else here.
#1 ) Didn't find any replica anything.
#2) Casual is totally fine. We even went to a nice italian place in guangzhou and did not feel out of place at all in casual.
#3) You'll be able to get up and walk around on the plane. The Chinese folks heading back to China on our plane were constantly on the move, talking with others, playing cards etc. I don't think they ever sat down except on take off and landing. Drove me crazy. LOL.. :0)
I brought a dressy outfit and felt foolish that I did. So I vote for casual the entire way.
As to the flight, we got up and paced constantly. Well... I did... along with the Fish family. The husband slept the entire flight. Seriously. Before we even hit our hotel in Beijing, he became known as "the guy who slept the whole way on the plane."
So excited for you!
Go casual all the way.
If you need replica's come on up and see us in Shenzhen. Luohu Commercial Center is the the place, not that you need to be shopping for anyone during the most important moments of your new life!
Will be cheering you all the way : )
I don't know if I could handle shopping lists from others that are a mile long :-P I don't have a problem buying a few things for others but when it's our turn, it's going to be all about buying stuff for my girl. I hope you will be buying an extra suitcase to bring home all your goodies in.
Wow! I can't believe you are just over a week away from China. I can't believe how fast time has flown and I'm so excited for you. I'm sure you're just bouncing off the walls wishing you could sprint to the airport today!!
My advice on the plane, drink some liquor and then go to sleep. The one time I didn't sleep on a transcontinental flight from here to Germany I was a basket case when I got there and absolutely miserable. Maybe you can prescribe yourself a mild sedative to help you relax and nix the alcohol. I know how hard it is to sleep when your body is telling you it's too early but you know that where you're going people are sleeping.
When Doug and I were in China, a man on the street tried to sell us a "R*lex" watch. Doug chuckled and said to him, "So, it's a real R*lex, huh?". The man laughed really hard and said "No, it is a "Chinese R*lex". It was pretty dang funny!
Wheee! You are so close!!
For this over packing gal...are you able to post your COO list? I'm so impressed that not only are you going COO but are helping friends out by bringing things back for them. You're amazing!!
As for the plane? Not much help here! Is Adavan = big club? Soon friend...SINGLE DIGITS!!
Get in touch with anne who sent your care package...she also takes people on shopping trips and it will save you TONS of time! She is a t-tiny thang and walks about a 100 miles per hour but you won't waste time looking for the best price and quality she knows exactly where to go!
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