w00t w00t booyah

Busy is not enough word to describe this adaptation process.

Apologies for not being out here - you guys ROCK, BTW.

There are new updates at xanxanbell -

catsonmars came out for dinner last night - and we had the BEST Chinese food I never found in Taiwan. I remember sitting there making a pig of myself wondering what the hell was wrong that I could never find anything that just made me go WOW THIS IS GREAT while I was there.

Because dinner last night was just that good.

The kid gained half a pound between the endocrinologist visit on Tuesday and the pediatrician on Friday. I'm wondering if that's a true figure or not - but he's very much 2'6" tall and 25-26 lbs. Some of the 18 mos clothes fit - and some of the 24 mos are too big yet.

No snap crotches. All those clothes are being phased out as unsuitable. This kid is ready to rock!

I have a huge post to do on 'Here kid, have some privilege' - in the meantime, have this story on how someone has been teaching white people how to 'get it' - into her seventies.

Damn, I'd be pretty cranky about it too, if I were her.

Talk later!

Busy is not enough word to describe this adaptation process.

Apologies for not being out here - you guys ROCK, BTW.

There are new updates at xanxanbell -

catsonmars came out for dinner last night - and we had the BEST Chinese food I never found in Taiwan. I remember sitting there making a pig of myself wondering what the hell was wrong that I could never find anything that just made me go WOW THIS IS GREAT while I was there.

Because dinner last night was just that good.

The kid gained half a pound between the endocrinologist visit on Tuesday and the pediatrician on Friday. I'm wondering if that's a true figure or not - but he's very much 2'6" tall and 25-26 lbs. Some of the 18 mos clothes fit - and some of the 24 mos are too big yet.

No snap crotches. All those clothes are being phased out as unsuitable. This kid is ready to rock!

I have a huge post to do on 'Here kid, have some privilege' - in the meantime, have this story on how someone has been teaching white people how to 'get it' - into her seventies.

Damn, I'd be pretty cranky about it too, if I were her.

Talk later!

Anyone really trying to get their heads around Race Fail (and no, I haven't been by, won't be by, etc.) -

If you haven't been in a place where nobody - and I do mean NO ONE - looks like you, speaks your language like you, and you can't possibly catch up on their culture, their language...you don't know what it's like.

I think the idea that once you've open the discussion...taking 'a break' from it is absurd. It's not like I can take a break from being in Taiwan, the only one of me I can see anywhere. I can only imagine what it would be like to want to get away from this at home, and can't.

I am impressed with my hosts understanding of my needs, being so far away from home. They speak to me in English, they turn the radios to English stations, they have American and British television playing in the common areas.

It is blunt acknowledgment that the only common ground we have is the one I brought with me - my language, not theirs.

Also, in Taiwan, it is implicit that this is a place that depends on support from the outside world for survival. Everything is in Chinese, Japanese and English. Just about everything, all the time. Here, in my cozy incredibly posh hotel, of course. The hotel didn't suggest public transport to Donggang...they provided us with a driver and car of our own who took us there. Crazy things like that. Only movie stars get that kind of treatment at home, right?

Which is another thing. Nobody told me this was going to be so incredibly - affordable. It's nearly embarrassing. I've never stayed in a hotel this well-appointed, and it's a fraction of what I'd pay in San Diego. Not even half. Maybe a third. Maybe even a quarter.

We are rich people, and it's freaking me out. We're not, by our standards. So I say - we are incredibly privileged. By just dumb luck of birth. We're not special.

Oh my God, I'll be glad to be home again where I'm not.

And when all this settles down into routines and we all get sorted out

Time to Kiddo - T minus five hours and counting.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97086&id=588464198&l=cb1a8

Something of a gag essay - this is the bear the people at work gave me on Wednesday. Since at least one of my coworkers has a Facebook, I thought it would be a good thing to document with.

Still kind of shaking in my boots - but better. Cold enough to go get a jacket, which was an experience in itself. I ended up with a discount, a tote bag and wet to dry slippers gratis with it. And paperwork to file for VAT refund when I leave.

Wish desperately for my peeps. We'd be having such a good time right now - Jim is great to have, don't get me wrong. (He's been an absolute rock, to be blunt.) But the bakery goods are to die for, and while everything sounds strange (I confess, I prefer listening to Japanese than Chinese, hope that will change. Might not ever....) this place is easily as lovely as Japan, and friendlier. And much more accessible to folks like me.

Ah yes. Privilege showing. They see me, they speak English. No problem. I have not seen another blond head since leaving Los Angeles, either. This is working in my favor, so not knocking it. Have I been stared at? Of course. Mostly by the smaller kids, and we just engage and are friendly, and it's all good. We haven't made a secret of why we are here (it started on arrival at Taipei...waiting for Jim at a bathroom break, and taking pictures of the terminal lobby was the first one), everyone to a person has praised us for coming here to adopt, and complimented me. Last night was probably the sweetest one - our waitress was very kind and gracious, and said I 'would make a very good mother, you just have that feel about you' - yes, people can hold that level of conversation right away in English, and they do - and when we waited patiently for our check without getting impatient...well, why would we?...they sent us home with some extra cookies. Which reminds me....it's about 3:25 AM right now, and those cookies sound pretty good. We'll probably crash again this afternoon, right now we are slept out. So we both have the laptops out and updating things.

Oh, I want to come back. It may be some years, but I will come back. With peeps.

I have one more day to banish the butterflies. As soon as the front desk opens downstairs (probably after breakfast opens at 6:30), I'm going to see what I can do about getting to Donggang to take some pictures.

Going to go upload some more pictures under a different album - and try to catch up a bit.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97086&id=588464198&l=cb1a8

Something of a gag essay - this is the bear the people at work gave me on Wednesday. Since at least one of my coworkers has a Facebook, I thought it would be a good thing to document with.

Still kind of shaking in my boots - but better. Cold enough to go get a jacket, which was an experience in itself. I ended up with a discount, a tote bag and wet to dry slippers gratis with it. And paperwork to file for VAT refund when I leave.

Wish desperately for my peeps. We'd be having such a good time right now - Jim is great to have, don't get me wrong. (He's been an absolute rock, to be blunt.) But the bakery goods are to die for, and while everything sounds strange (I confess, I prefer listening to Japanese than Chinese, hope that will change. Might not ever....) this place is easily as lovely as Japan, and friendlier. And much more accessible to folks like me.

Ah yes. Privilege showing. They see me, they speak English. No problem. I have not seen another blond head since leaving Los Angeles, either. This is working in my favor, so not knocking it. Have I been stared at? Of course. Mostly by the smaller kids, and we just engage and are friendly, and it's all good. We haven't made a secret of why we are here (it started on arrival at Taipei...waiting for Jim at a bathroom break, and taking pictures of the terminal lobby was the first one), everyone to a person has praised us for coming here to adopt, and complimented me. Last night was probably the sweetest one - our waitress was very kind and gracious, and said I 'would make a very good mother, you just have that feel about you' - yes, people can hold that level of conversation right away in English, and they do - and when we waited patiently for our check without getting impatient...well, why would we?...they sent us home with some extra cookies. Which reminds me....it's about 3:25 AM right now, and those cookies sound pretty good. We'll probably crash again this afternoon, right now we are slept out. So we both have the laptops out and updating things.

Oh, I want to come back. It may be some years, but I will come back. With peeps.

I have one more day to banish the butterflies. As soon as the front desk opens downstairs (probably after breakfast opens at 6:30), I'm going to see what I can do about getting to Donggang to take some pictures.

Going to go upload some more pictures under a different album - and try to catch up a bit.

It's chilly and very wet. Not what I was expected - or packed for, but doubling up on the shirts is doing what is needful.

Now, if I could figure out how to sleep and stop shaking in my shoes. If there was anything that would give me a clue what Xander is facing leaving this culture and coming into mine, there isn't one I can think of. The bedding is familiar - they use duvets over fitted sheets here as well, that's exactly what he's got waiting at home.

Breakfast at the hotel here simply mind blowing. All included, and everything from congee to bacon and eggs. The coffee and bread reminds me of Switzerland. (caitlin, are the preserved eggs something I should attempt without a net? They put it with tofu as a breakfast food - thought it was mushroom before I read the description.)

We'll be back at this hotel Monday night for the last three nights - and it looks like this is a keeper.

And now, I go in search of a SIM for the loaner phone - Skype me if you need me.

Last minutes here. Breakfast eaten, dishes done. Toothbrush packed.

Female.

Yeah. Every time something VERY adoption-related has happened? Yeah. Surreal is very much the order of the day.

So I've packed THOSE supplies as well.

Jim is still filling out the last of the AIT forms. Yes, the shuttle will be here inside of two hours. He's on the phone with the agency now.

I'm trying to imagine what this is really going to be like...and nothing comes. I want to know - and I don't. I'm too much of a realist to get fanciful right now.

It's like getting married - only different. I suspect an arranged marriage might seem a lot like this.

The court paperwork answered some of the questions I had, which is good. Any other questions I have about his origins are going to be of a far more immediate nature (is he allergic to anything?) - he'll have coverage when he hits the ground, that's done.

I've even had a chance to talk to the Swiss consulate - and I know what they need, once the readoption is complete.

I'm looking forward to seeing the country. A great, grand adventure - and then the start of another one.

Burn the good stuff, guys. Here we go.

Last minutes here. Breakfast eaten, dishes done. Toothbrush packed.

Female.

Yeah. Every time something VERY adoption-related has happened? Yeah. Surreal is very much the order of the day.

So I've packed THOSE supplies as well.

Jim is still filling out the last of the AIT forms. Yes, the shuttle will be here inside of two hours. He's on the phone with the agency now.

I'm trying to imagine what this is really going to be like...and nothing comes. I want to know - and I don't. I'm too much of a realist to get fanciful right now.

It's like getting married - only different. I suspect an arranged marriage might seem a lot like this.

The court paperwork answered some of the questions I had, which is good. Any other questions I have about his origins are going to be of a far more immediate nature (is he allergic to anything?) - he'll have coverage when he hits the ground, that's done.

I've even had a chance to talk to the Swiss consulate - and I know what they need, once the readoption is complete.

I'm looking forward to seeing the country. A great, grand adventure - and then the start of another one.

Burn the good stuff, guys. Here we go.