POJ has assigned our Giving and Receiving date for Thursday, Oct 23rd. This will be the day we get custody of Gianna. As a wise woman once said, nothing is ever certain with international adoption until you are on the plane ride home. That being said, they are very certain this is our final confirmed itinerary. We have even purchased the tickets with real money this time. Even though Gianna will be a lap baby on the flight home, they are still charging us over $600 for her ticket. You don't even want to know how much the adult tickets cost...yeesh. Thanks to Mom and Dad Landis for their generous contribution to our travel expenses.
Sat Oct 18, 9PM: depart JFK for Hanoi Vietnam.
Mon Oct 20, 10AM: arrive Hanoi Vietnam. Check in at hotel (Somerset Grand) and apply for visa extensions.
Tues Oct 21: Free time/sightseeing in Hanoi.
Wed Oct 22: In the morning, go to the orphanage for a long visit. This is the first time we will meet Gianna and her caretakers. However, they will not let us take her with us as previously stated.
Thurs Oct 23: Giving and Receiving Ceremony at POJ in the afternoon. The orphanage workers will bring our kids to POJ via private car. We sign papers giving us full custody of Gianna and take her back to the hotel with us.
Fri Oct 24: In the afternoon, apply for Gianna's Vietnamese passport at Hanoi immigration office.
Sat/Sun Oct 25 & 26: Sightseeing in and around Hanoi
Mon Oct 27: In the morning, pick up Gianna's passport, then take her directly for US visa medical check-up.
Tues Oct 28: Sightseeing around Hanoi
Wed Oct 29: Visa interview at US Embassy in Hanoi
Thurs Oct 30: Pick up visa in AM; sightseeing around Hanoi, prepare for return home.
Fri Oct 31: Depart Hanoi 10:45 AM, arrive JFK in PM (longest Halloween ever).
The return home date is flexible if we run into trouble over there and have to extend the trip. I think I wasted all my excitement on the last travel date and just feel apathetic, not wanting to get my feelings hurt again if there is ANOTHER delay. We will keep our fingers crossed that there are no more problems with this adoption.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Date with Destiny
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4 comments:
Fingers are crossed for you. This will be the longest and best Halloween ever
Oh excited excited!!!!
I completely understand being a skeptic after all the delays, but I am hoping with all my might that this is FINALLY the real deal.
I'll be lighting up a sparkler for you three at the wedding :)
I am not sure what to say... I hope with all of my heart that this will finally all work out, but I understand your lack of wanting to throw yourself into this fully as things may change yet again. No one can blame you for feeling that way! But we can still have HOPE!
Halloween is your favorite holiday, so it seems fitting to bring your daughter home then. I will remain as optimistic as ever that 3 zombies will inhabit your home this fall.
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