Dreams of a Father

Journey for a Sister

2011-06-17T00:30:00.000-04:00

On American Thanksgiving Day, 26 November, we drove to Atlanta, stopping along the way for our turkey day celebration. We spent the night in a hotel near the Atlanta airport. Early Friday morning, we boarded a jet to fly to JFK airport in New York.

Around 1 PM we left JFK aboard China Air heading for Beijing, China and my new sister, Ma Hengxin, aged 9 years 11 months 24 days.

After a 13 hour flight we landed in Beijing, went through customs, claimed our luggage and rechecked it for the flight to Guangzhou. Three hours later we arrived in Guangzhou minus one of our two big bags. We spent the next hour filling out a claim form and trying to guess the value of stuff inside - all the presents we had for officials in China, plus ones for our daughter to be.

Our driver waited patiently for us, while we filled out all the forms. The Asian Games had had their closing ceremonies that night in Guangzhou so the road from the airport into the city was lined with many beautiful floral displays. We arrived at our hotel, which has two buildings, unloaded and found out we were at the wrong one. Back into the van we went, to go a couple of blocks to our building around 115 AM Sunday, after being up more or less since 7 pm local time Friday or about 30 hours after we got up in Atlanta.

We arrived at our hotel about 1 am Sunday morning. We had a few hours Sunday and Monday morning to explore the area and exchange money. The weather was delightful short sleeves weather. The island had changed quite a bit since we were there 2 and a half years before. Still there were neat shops to be seen, say hello to ones we had met before.

Last hours as a pair of siblings

Shamian Island, Guangzhou

Then it was off to Gotcha Day, 29 Nov 2010, for a new sister. She would be our middle child, one year younger than sister Tian and 13 months 2 days older than new brother Yu-Hsuan.

Shortly after Gotcha

new siblings

Tian, Hengxin, Yu-Hsuan

Sister and new best friend

Yu-Hsuan and baba taking picture for another family

Lady killer

Yu-Hsuan with his friend Megan Groat.

Our family of 5!

Close up of our family of five!

First days together.

Traditional White Swan photo op.

Eating ice cream at Lucy's restaurant.

Playground after food.

Exploring the island.

Baba and the children.

In the girls room at the hotel.

Back to exploring the island.

Visit to sister's orphanage.

Model family home,

where sister lived for two years.

Family we met from Spain - their first adoption.

Tian holding their new daughter.

This boy loves this shirt

and Otis of Milo and Otis.

Along the Pearl River in Guangzhou.

Visit to the Safari Zoo.

We moved through the park until we came to the elephants. At first there was a small baby elephant off by itself that we could go and the children could touch. The handler came over to the side where we were and got some bread out of a sack and gave some to Ellen who then gave pieces to the children. They had quite a time with the little elephant.

Baby pandas at play.

Yu-Hsuan, Star, Tian messing around on the plaza.

Did you want us to pose or something?

Reminds me of the three monkeys -

speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil.

Six Banyan Trees Temple

Some reknowned teacher.

Supposedly one will be a good student

if your picture is made with him.

Yu-Hsuan, Star and Tian

Christenberry and Stowell children

Stowell family

Miss Star in pink

Liu Hua Park

Stuff the kids could climb on and pose.

Yu-Hsuan taking a picture.

Then at last a roller coaster

Yu-Hsuan, Mr. Bean, Tian

Heritage visit to our first daughter's orphanage

Foshan-Nanhai, Guangdong

last day in China

10 Dec 2010

Tang, orphanage director on left,

Mr. Pang, social welfare director on right presented us with this wall hanging.

Meeting the director's daughter.

Back home

Brother tickled over something

Decked out in new coat

in first snow -

Gracie, Star, Yu-Hsuan

October 2010

2011-03-27T12:46:00.000-04:00

Springfield, Illinois zoo

Yu-Hsuan looking at horse

Feeding horse some leaves or grass

Yu-Hsuan and Tian hopping across benches

Cousin Benjamin Stowell, Tian and Yu-Hsuan

playing on odd shaped object

Tian and Yu-Hsuan at Lincoln's tomb

Eating a meal with Grandpa and Grandma

at their retirement home

Saying goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Stowell

Sporting bike helmet

Another see a truck day

Petting zoo - ram and Yu-Hsuan

Race car driver

Fire Engine

Big scoop

Teaching the children about sweet grass

Yu-Hsuan on river walk Tennesee River

and Lookout Mountain in the distance

Fall festival

Picking first pumpkin

Farm tractor

Hay bales

By the barn gate

Father and son

Halloween party

Working Man

2010-09-27T01:45:00.000-04:00

Saturday, 11 Sept 2010

Touch a Truck Day

Henry and me

Father and son day out

City Bus

18 wheeler!

Electric Utility Truck

Cement Mixer

Shriner's car

Bookmobile

Postal truck

Riding a Harley

Another truck

Public Works truck

Crane operator

Fire engine

Rescue boat

Crane truck

Lawn service

Farmer Yu-Hsuan

Inside 18 wheeler

School bus driver...

Aquariums - Friends - Makeup

2010-09-11T19:44:00.000-04:00

August started with a visit from Tian's former roommate and her mother.

Yu-Hsuan and a moray eel.

In the aquarium gift shop.

After lunch, in the salt water aquarium.

Penguins!

Watch out for the shark!

In the crab tank

Anemonees

Golden!

Yu-Hsuan and Selei

Selei and Yu-Hsuan

Yu-Hsuan and Selei

viewing aquarium from the bottom.

Tian, Yu-Hsuan, Selei

Lynette, Yu-Hsuan, Selei

Yu-Hsuan at River Park

Victim of sister's makeup

Thus ends early August, 2010

Camp - Siblings - Our Town - Re-adoption

2010-09-06T00:09:00.000-04:00

After two weeks in Minnesota, Mama and the children return home. Not in the witness protection program, just a poor photographer.

Getting ready for the first day of camp.

Cool and I know it.

Donations to a family adopting

It's this tall

How do you operate this?

This is fun!

I can do it too!

Dress the brother.

Sometimes we can be near.

Strutting my stuff

Come on cat

Speaks for itself

Erlanger Hospital - Yacht - Veteran's Bridge

Looking up river

Hunter Art Museum

Mama looking over park, riverboat, bridge, aquariums, Lookout Mountain

Closeup

Riverboat - Delta Queen

Re-adoption

Judge Williams signing papers of re-adoption

Courtroom appearance of judge, family, flags

Thus ends July, 2010.

Mother's Day - Innovation - Dress Up

2010-06-09T22:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day

Sorry I can't spell my brother's name correctly.

Package wrapped by Miss Tian herself!

Atop Wilder Tower, Chickamauga Battlefield
where the Confederates whupped the Yankees!

Our new summer home!

Grandma's!

When all else fails, innovate!

Four on the floor

the rolling hose container

Bungee cords for safety

Spring

Time for a road test
Passenger above, driver below.

Ok, already, let's get this show on the road.

Gathering speed.

Stepping aside at the last possible moment,
Whoosh!

Here we come again!

Move it!

Dress your brother in a scarf you found.

Selling the idea.

I'm cool!

Now what's she up to?

Nothing says love like a sticker on the nose.

Vegging.

That's Grandma's and Grandpa's stuff we have to find a home for.
Great great grandparents watching over us.
Left side, Civil War veteran - the South
Right side, post war Yankee - the North

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T02:59:00.000-04:00

Mom, I’m still happy here with Jesus.
Days like this though, I miss you.

Wonderful my China brother now is home.
He too, now has a forever Mom.

Hug my brothers and sister,
Hold them tight.

I love you Mom.
Happy Mother’s Day.

Love,

Chelsea
---------------------------------------
This post dedicated to my friend Kathy Tatakis.
Chelsea’s 5th Mother’s Day in heaven, gone too soon, January, 2006.

Fishing - Camping - First Haircut - Flowers

2010-05-09T02:12:00.000-04:00

Fishing!

Caught - blue gill

Zipping along.

Whee!

Another catch!

Red Ear

CAMPING!

Indoors and Bug free.

Her and His tents,

That's the way to go.

Henry!

Gracie!

Some concrete cat trying to sneak in.

Pre-hair cut,

serious business.

Decked out to be shorn.

The cutting begins.

Reverse image.

Some of Mama's flowers, front yard.

Hair cut results,

just a trim.

Fun Times - Worker - Transformed - Siblings

2010-05-07T19:14:00.000-04:00

Summer Fun at friend's church

Straw Boss

My Parents House Transformed

Ready to Farm

The front yard

Side of the house towards garage

A bed pulled out of storage. Salvageable?

Tian, cousin Alyssa, Yu-Hsuan,
in the dining room

A clear space. Quick fill it!

Picture of my grandfather and his two brothers.

Great grandparents on the wall -
one from the South,
one from the North.

In their new room.
Bed made up by yours truly.

Kids in Dad's old room.

Sister and Brother.

Easter - Defense - Friends - Play - Flowers and Fun

2010-04-17T23:17:00.000-04:00

Moving on with life and the continuing adventure of Yu-Hsuan in our lives. Easter morning rolled around and the children got to see what the Easter Bunny left for them. A new concept for Yu-Hsuan. The outdoor egg hunt began shortly afterward.

One of our cats - Chester Bob, checks out the basket.

A new shirt!

Defensive moves illustrated by Yu-Hsuan and Mama.

Yu-Hsuan and the eggs he colored.

Tian and the eggs she colored.

A friend telling Yu-Hsuan how he used to work with big cranes.

Yu-Hsuan with rapt attention.

Dick & Barb Jansen, Fella, Yu-Hsuan

Play Time

Momma's flowers in our yard.

Silly!

That's it for this showing.

Imperfect Father

2010-04-01T20:11:00.000-04:00

29 days home today and it is confirmed I am not the perfect father. After just showing in Chinese characters - 狗獨自離開 and saying for the upmteenth time, leave the dog alone, I had no sooner turned my back when the dog had had enough and bit him on the face. I could not protect my child from a dog who has never bitten anyone, who had patiently put up with our son poking and strangling him for the last four weeks. A couple of nips earlier, our son just couldn't seem learn.

Folks said later that they hoped he wasn't freaking out. He wasn't, he was crying, he was scared but I was the one having trouble keeping it together. Do you know how frustrating and worthless the Yellow Pages are in an emergency when you know the doctor's name but have to look at 101 categories of doctors to find Your doctor's phone number? Finally found by just looking in the white pages business section.

We had a previously arranged appointment to see his doctor after regular tests, so we got that moved up two hours and saw the doctor's husband at 130 pm. The wound cleaned, the area numbed. While the numbing process was going on I had Tian find a nurse to relieve me because I was about to pass out from it all, getting woozy. How silly of me not being able to hold it together, but there it was again, imperfection.

Two stitches later, we went to eat oriental food of some sort across the street owned / run by a family from Taiwan. The best food I've had since Taiwan. The family Ellen had met earlier came in later and was able to talk to our son telling him to leave the stitches alone and the dogs again....

Yu-Hsuan, wo ai ni - 我愛你,

Baba.

Spring Break!

2010-03-31T20:48:00.000-04:00

The question is asked - what did you do on Spring Break? Saturday afternoon we went to Grandma's house to do some cleaning. Sunday was more of the same but then Mama left to go home and back to work, taking the dogs Henry (the black lab mix) and Gracie (the corgi mix) home as well.

However, we went over to see our cousins who live up the road. Their daughter posed with Yu-Hsuan as he hopes to graduate from 3 wheels to 2.

The boy though being one who likes bigger is better has other ideas for vroom, vroom:

Cousin found a bike no longer in use so Tian could practice more. She found her balance and started riding all around Grandma and Granddad's place. An old Big Wheel was discovered for Yu-Hsuan which he used to explore around the grounds. Keeping both children out of the road kept baba busy.

We did manage to get some cleaning and sorting done and recycle material and trash separated. The trip was labeled as cleaning house and rest. Rest was no where to be found but exhaustion was available in large quantities by the time we returned home last night. Picture loading the car, having to unlock the doors between each trip to the car because some little person keeps shutting and locking the doors as so as baba's back is turned. What should have taken a few minutes to accomplish took about 3 hours to pack, because there was debris from 2 wild children scattered all over the house, yard and car.

However, all this was interspersed with children young and old having fun as cans and boxes of outdated food, medicine and various other potions was scattered about for the 'wildlife' to enjoy after we left. Yu-Hsuan has a partially very white head as the bottle of Maalox he was shaking came back down on his hair leaving a nice white smudge. Baba decided (foolishly) to show the children what Butch wax would do to one's hair which is one tight pile of greasy hair. I looked like Jim Carrey in A Series of Unfortunate Events. While there are pictures...don't expect them here.

School Days and Saturdays

2010-03-26T17:32:00.000-04:00

The first day of school was March 15th. Keeping up with the tradition we started with Tian, heading out for school pictures. Yu-Hsuan is in the 2nd grade at Chattanooga Christian School.

This past Saturday Momma went and bought sand for a sandbox. Yu-Hsuan and Tian assisted Mama in loading the wheel barrow to move the sand to the backyard.

Spring flowers.

Bicycle Time.

Daddy you walk the bike back.

See Daddy can still sit on a bike.

Riding solo, first time!

Photo shoot by Tian.

Self portraits.

Reaching Out

2010-03-19T00:04:00.000-04:00

I often wonder what inspired Poe in his writings, if he pondered while staring into the firelight, for we have so many stimuli today that finding a moment to ponder takes real work or concentration.

Anyway this little blurb came to mind through some stimuli that I cannot point to, as I can not attach something significant to the date it was written, 31 Oct 2006.

It seems fitting to post at this time.

Reaching Out

Reaching out across the strands of time
We seek the silvery threads of family
A memory here, a memory there,
Whispers on the wind, we grasp at these,
Slipping, slipping, slipping,
Down through the sands of time,
Here and there we catch a silvery thread,
A glimpse here, a glimpse there of some family member.

What were their dreams, their aspirations?
How has the world changed since "their time"?
What we would have of theirs?
O' to have a glimpse of their faces, to hear just once more the sound of their voices.
Lonely are we, lost without family.
Slipping, slipping, slipping,
Down through the sands of time.

Home - A New Beginning

2010-03-09T20:53:00.000-05:00

Home life begins. We arrived home Wednesday afternoon nearly 48 hours after getting up in Taipei on Monday evening our time, with about 4 hours sleep. With the time zone difference only 22.5 hours had passed but so had more than 8000 miles beneath us.

Presents that would have been given had our son been home by Christmas are brought out and fun ensues.

Yu-Hsuan gets into the groove quickly but sister drives too fast flying off the track more often than not and soon he is left to himself. Mama is the pit crew fixing the cars as they need it.

At Lake Chickamauga

Ready to Rumble

Cooking at the Makepeace kitchen
(he pushed in and took over)

Then there are the things that we don't have pictures for because the camera is not handy or it happens in a moment too fast to think of such.

Coming home from work Monday, when Yu-Hsuan heard me come home, at the top of his lungs - baba! baba! as he rushed to hug me tight. This happened again tonight as he shooed the dogs out of his way to get to me.

Monday night as we sat for supper and held hands to say our blessing our son indicated he wanted to pray. So he did. Only he and God knows what he said even though I did hear mama and baba and jiejie mentioned at least twice.

Tonight Ellen and the children came to my work for supper. Yu-Hsuan was hugging all the girls, saying hi to the boys and hugging some of them too. When he hugged on two little girls that were leaving, Tian, who was sitting behind me said - kill me now. I guess it was embarrassing to her.

Tomorrow is Tian's 2nd anniversary of Gotcha Day. I wonder what her brother has for her?

Mama's Taiwan Pictures

2010-03-09T15:41:00.000-05:00

Mama also took Taiwan pictures that did not get uploaded as we went through our trip.

Tainan Park

A woman appears.

Poof, she's gone!

Another Tainan Park
multiple views of our princess,
last days as an only child

Views from the Shangri-la

Gotcha Day!

High Speed Rail to Taipei

Goodbye Taiwan - Hello Chattanooga

2010-03-04T12:11:00.000-05:00

2 March 2010, Tuesday - Our last day in Taipei and Taiwan. We got up at 6 pm, Monday morning Eastern Standard Time. This morning the coolest since we've been here. Rainy, overcast and breezy. Temps in the mid 60s and noticeably cooler. After breakfast, our last delight, packing ensued. Going out for lunch, our new favorite restaurant was closed so we walked to another part of town. Hmm, this tower looks like a giant Ipod.

After lunch shots of a street corner.

At the airport Tian poses.

Excellent food fare at the Taipei airport – vegetable dumplings, noodles and stew.

On the airplane from Taipei to San Francisco.

Our agency liaison, Leanne, the children and Ellen.

In San Francisco, getting ready to fly to Dallas.

On the plane from Dallas to Atlanta.

Welcome to your new home!

Toys and meeting Gracie!

We arrived here at 415 pm Wednesday EST, including 3 hours driving time, 1 hour bus time, 10 hours waiting in airports and 16 hours flying time with maybe 4 hours sleep out of 22.5 hours clock time and over 8200 miles traveled.

Good night Gracie!

Taipei - At the Edge of Change

2010-03-03T19:06:00.000-05:00

Continuation of 1 March 2010 pictures, Taipei, as I ran out of time to post them.

Taipei - March 1st

2010-03-02T04:40:00.000-05:00

1 March 2010 – Hot and muggy in Taipei once again. I thought Taipei was going to be in the 60s and 70s but with the humidity it seems closer to 80. A banner along the street down from the hotel with a nice park splitting the road.

Another trip to Daan Forest Park with playground for the children.

Next a visit to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial.

A short taxi drive back to the hotel. Tian and I walk 3 long blocks to Burger King to gather supper and stop at the 7-11 on the way back for drinks and candy before returning to the hotel. After supper and candy the children get so rowdy that we get a knock on the door to 'keep it quiet'. Guess who is mortified? Finally peace and quiet, even if I do feel like I've been caned by two children, sore from head to foot.

Banzai!

2010-02-28T18:54:00.000-05:00

28 February 2010 – This morning a few shots of our hotel lobby and eating area. As for the title of this post - read to the end to find out.

Early this morning though we had front row seats to a multi-alarm fire at the building directly across from our hotel. I finally captured one of the trains going by on the elevated track and then the family rescuing what possessions they could from their home after the firemen left.

This afternoon we got to spend a few minutes at the ER with our son. Fortunately the hospital is only about 200 yards away, across a major street and then two buildings down from our hotel. We walked into the ER, got registered, handed over his Taiwan health card to the cashier, met with the pediatrician ER doctor, got diagnosis, another appointment, medicine and out in about 30 minutes for $12.50. I sure would like to bring that ER home with us.

Our son has impacted wax and they could not even see his ear drum so we go to a specialist on Monday, to see if he can fly without pain. We do not want him hurting or miserable for the 11 hour flight to San Francisco.

After lunch and medicine we went for a walk, first to the flower market which is underneath a rapid rail line and stretched for a couple of blocks. It was rather large but hot in places under the bridge. Next we visited a large city park – Daan Forest Park where the children could play on various things.

Taipei Tower

A few sights on the return to the hotel and another little park with things to do.

Then back in our room, our son, decided to dress in his native garb. While trying to speak with him, chatter back to him since we hardly understand one another, I happened upon a word that I said off the cuff to him – banzai! He loves it and just laughs with delight upon hearing it and giggles and cries out Banzai! Banzai! With great glee!

Our Son!

Banzai!

Taipei

2010-02-28T17:09:00.000-05:00

28 February 2010 – Three days since my last post and a very busy three days it has been. It seems we are going to eat, thinking about going to eat, eating, coming back from eating with a little TV movies, MTV thrown in in Chinese, Haiti relief songs, sleeping, trying to sleep, tossing and turning.

McDonald's seems to be our choice for cheap eats and is about ½ mile away – 1 big block down and 2 big ones over – and then back. Carrying 42 pounds on ones hip or back gets old quick and I've learned new areas of my back and the associated soreness.

Breakfast at the hotel has been fabulous after we moved from western fare to Chinese / Japanese fare. The latter has a much larger selection of delights to choose from, many of which we've never seen or heard of or thought of as food sources from little tiny pickled fish that we ate all but the heads, to extremely salty pickled something or other. Pickled radishes are a crunchers delight, tasting like much of nothing but lots of crunch. The bean paste little biscuit like things are delicious and I could eat several at one sitting. Tian and Yu-Hsuan are tearing through seaweed like kids and sugar eating packet after packet. It tastes nasty to me, smelling like antifreeze.

Since we've traveled much the same paths here since arrival it doesn't take long to find ones way around but Taipei is a city of bustling people. Nearly everywhere one looks, there is something being done differently from home. While bigger than Tainan there seem to be less mopeds mainly because there are so many more cars and buses. Like Tainan there a hundreds of taxis and it is somewhat amusing to see the makes of these from Toyotas and Nissans to unknown kinds and Mercedes. Cars come in colors that I have yet to see in the US. Yesterday a pinkish, burgundy color VW bug was seen as well.

Views from our 10th floor room.

Yes, it is a Fun House, now!

Our hotel room and the children playing while Mama uses laptop.

Gotcha Day

2010-02-26T09:22:00.000-05:00

25 February 2010 – Gotcha day dawned and of course nerves were on edge, while trying to remain calm, it was an exercise in control, doing what needs doing, leaving feelings, pushed back until nearer the time of meeting.

Ellen had a gift for the foster mother, a exact match of one she wears with our family pictures inside, this one with a picture of Yu-Hsuan inside. Tian made a paper heart to go on the outside.

Since this was the last day at our hotel in Tainan, we made sure we took advantage of all the wonderful items from the breakfast bar, and they were wonderful – ham and cheese omelet made to order, fresh yogurt, juices, muffins, wonderful country bacon with more meat than fat, sapodilla, which we used as a jelly, and many Chinese delights for Tian.

Breakfast finished we returned to our room to pack it up to check out. The things that strike one upon leaving a hotel, the furniture, one last picture of Tian, pictures in the lobby.

Then off we go to check out and make arrangements to leave the bags while we are gone. A taxi ride ensues with the orphanage a scant 2 miles away, the driver gets lost 3 times, stopping to ask for directions of people in the street until we finally arrive at St. Lucy's about 30 minutes early.

We were shown to a room, where we waited for our son and his foster family to arrive. I took these pictures while waiting and then...my camera died. The battery had run out of juice. What a bummer, on this most important day.

While waiting, we were informed that not only would Yu-Hsuan's foster family be there to meet us, but also his biological mother, step brother and step father. We also learned that his name was not pronounced U-Swan but U-Shin.

Yu-Hsuan's foster parents are both from aboriginal tribes of Taiwan. Unfortunately at this time I do not have a picture of our actual meeting only subsequent pictures.

His foster mom presented us with a hand made hat for me, a cap for Tian with Yu-Hsuan also wearing a hat. The three of us each received a handmade necklace made with beads of specific meaning.

Presentation of necklaces to us with Yu-Hsuan in aboriginal garb.

Our family of four!

Foster family and us.

Biological mom, step brother, Yu-Hsuan.

Brother and sister.

Foster family and us.

Biological mother, foster family and us.

Step father, biological mom, step brother.

Tian and Yu-Hsuan.

Foster mom, Tian and Yu-Hsuan.

Tian, foster mom telling about Yu-Hsuan's shoulder bag, Mei-Chun, interpreter.

First impressions – he is tiny. Then again, so did Tian seem when we adopted her two years ago. He weighs around 42 pounds.

Today

2010-02-24T18:05:00.000-05:00

    Today
    Today, I meet my son
    Today

    Today
    Today, a journey begins
    Today

    Today
    Today, dream becomes reality
    Today

    Today
    Today,

I meet my son, a journey begins,
dream becomes reality,
our son gains a forever family,
our son loses a foster family,
a foster family loses a child,
loss and gain, bittersweet.

Joy, sadness all wrapped in one.
Happiness, sadness,
crying of joy, crying of sadness,
parting, joining.
Change for all concerned.

A home empty, a home filled.
A empty heart, a full heart.

Emotional on so many levels for all involved.

A Family of Three

2010-02-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

24 Feb 2010 – Today begins our last day as a family of three. We are now less than 27 hours to Gotcha time.

After breakfast, we came back to the room so Tian could get some school work done. Amazing how much her homework is stretching us as well as we scratch our heads over her math homework using words we've not used in many a year, much less think of them.

Next came a lunch, after which we took our first taxi ride to a Carrefour store, which is a department store here – much like Walmart at home, but different, being a mix of groceries and other items but of about equal size. We picked up a variety of things and on checking out one does not get a bag automatically to place one's purchases in, rather if one wants one, it has to be purchased as well, about 60 cents.

Here we encountered a most interesting selection of what is this?

Back at the hotel after discovering how to call a taxi, find someone who can do it for you! We had another ride of extremely economic cost, about $4. Next we went down to the 7th floor where Tian enjoyed the outdoor rooftop pool for a while. I got in up to my knees and held her so she could do some somersaults in the water but it was too cold for me to immerse further. Ellen decided to just sit it out on a cabana and watched us.

By then it was time to get ready for dinner, across town, where another family with the same Gotcha date, at the same orphanage had made reservations at Fu Lou Restaurant - fulou.com.tw. It was an interesting ride because it didn't take us long to know where we were, streets that we had traversed on foot in the last couple of days.

Dinner was nice, a hodge podge of Chinese food, including fried squid (which I ordered), roast beef, rice, chicken, tea, desert on the house – tea jelly. It was quite good. The five us ate for $1130 NT, which was amazingly inexpensive.

Now back at the hotel, just about 13 hours to Gotcha, we prepare to leave our home for the last few days, and become a family of four tomorrow.

Tainan Walkabout #2

2010-02-23T23:39:00.000-05:00

23 Feb 2010 – While I awoke at 1230 am again, I rolled over and stayed in bed until a more normal wakeup period of 545 local time. Ambling down to breakfast about 930, we had a nice breakfast with even more taste buds tantalized.

Snapping a photo of the local train yard, I spied these colorful cars:

After breakfast it was back to the room where Tian got some homework in. Around 2 pm we went down to the hotel basement to the food court to once again visit cheap eats at McDonald's. Afterwards, we started our second walk about Tainan going in a different direction from the hotel this time heading south.

The maps we had were less than descriptive of where we were so it took looking at two maps, figuring where to walk from the street, the what passes for sidewalks, to moped trails to continue down each street. Presently off the grid because the maps didn't seem to follow the streets even in rudimentary form, Tian became stressed out and had to be calmed by mama that while we might be somewhat lost, we were on a busy street, in daylight and as long as we kept moving like we knew where we were going we should be ok.

On the theory that continuing in a more or less straight line we would at some point intersect a known point on the map, we did in fact do that and turning back towards our hotel more or less walked along this street until we came to a gate / fort from older times which we entered and took several pictures in the quiet away from the street noise.

Leaving there we proceeded back to the hotel as Ellen's feet were once again bothering her. Apparently she did not bring the right footwear to walk long distances.

Photos from our room showing the northern part of the city:

In for the evening, Tian and I went down to the grocery store and bought bandaids, seaweed and candy for Tian and a couple of pastries at another store for Ellen and I to munch on.

Early to bed, ended this day.

Tainan Walkabout

2010-02-23T06:07:00.000-05:00

22 Feb 2010 – Up at 1230 having slept nearly 9 hours, I started writing for the blog, reading email. After about an hour Tian woke up and we watched a couple of movies together with Mandarin subtitles.

By 730, Ellen was up and we got ready for and went down to breakfast a few floors below. A series of discoveries in palate delight awaited us – chestnut rolls, wonderful meaty bacon, a mint like jelly, fresh juices – squeezed much better than American 'fresh' juices.

After breakfast back to our hotel room to figure out what to do next. Around 11 we left on a walking tour of the streets around the hotel, going first back through the train station to get to the big circle we had traversed with luggage the day before.

We walked along various streets, sometimes in the street when the sidewalks were covered with mopeds. Sidewalks being a term loosely used as most were just pathways in front of buildings, building to building. Even the most narrow corridors have a sign on them with an address of this or that lane. Amazing to see in the nearly 80 degree heat was how many were walking around in heavy coats with fur lining.

Now the smells were another thing and thankfully it was no more warm than it was because much more and it would have been unbearable. We walked by many food stalls with who know what in them, some could be identified and others it was probably best not to know what it was we were looking at.

We saw one form of home on our trip – a Starbucks but at that time Ellen was not hungry so on we went coming shortly to the Chihkan Tower, historic for some reason. We did not stop but moved on after a few pictures.

Tian saw some wedding dresses she wanted to look at and they were fabulous and most likely pricey. Next she saw various items in gold or platinum – one being 35,000 NT or a bit over $1000. Tian does not like walking, would rather come halfway around the world to watch TV....

On we went taking pictures from time to time as things caught our eyes. We were again walking along a main road but in the land for mopeds, zipping past us as we dodged them. I was reminded of the time we walked out in the middle of Beijing traffic down lines of cars at rush hour to cross the street.

We turned a corner after several blocks to head back to the hotel passing Tainan Park. This is not a particularly large park but it does have beautiful flowers and a lake and pavilion in it. We saw a person who either had a lot of dogs or was a dog sitter bring about 10 dachshunds to the park and let them run around, cuter because many were wearing little sweaters of different colors.

Ellen had developed a blister on her foot so I scouted out what I thought was the best route that would eliminate going up and down stairs but alas I was wrong. We went down under the tracks again, meeting some poor soul trying to get up with his luggage.

The picture below is one I could not pass up taking of a moped along the road.

Getting back to the hotel Ellen found some relief for her foot by changing shoes. Then we went for home finding in the basement of the shopping area, a McDonald's, even if the menu had pictures for us to point at – still it was home. The ice tea left much to be desired but the rest was yummy. After supper we went to a grocery store nearby which offered Shrimp Chips as one item for sale.

Exhausted from a day of walking on uneven surfaces, by 730 Tian was already asleep in bed. I turned in shortly after leaving Ellen and the TV to share company.

We Arrive

2010-02-22T19:18:00.000-05:00

20 Feb 2010 - Finally around 1230 we boarded the 747 we would be taking to Taiwan. Flying EVA Airlines, we left around 1 AM. The flight was to be 13.5 hours and 6074 miles. It turned out to be 6199 miles but we arrived an hour and 20 minutes early - at 5 AM.

21 Feb 2010 - Since we were literally at the back of the plane with just one row behind us, we were near the end in getting off the plane. Our next stop was immigration where we had to fill out a form for each of us according to an example. Even with that, much was a guess as to what to put where. That took just a handful of minutes to get through and then on to baggage pickup. There we waited a long time as Tian started counting how many times bags went round and round and round.

Finally though our bags arrived and off we went to go through customs which was basically walk through this door that said 'Nothing to Declare' and then we were faced with the next mall with Information right in front of us. It being 630 Sunday morning it was not open. Next we moved to where I saw Foreign Exchange open. Since we needed money for the bus to the High Speed Rail and for the train itself I decided to convert $300 US to Taiwanese currency known as NT. I received about 9900 NT in the exchange plus a handful of coins that I had no idea what they were worth.

Tian was amazed to see me coming back with 1000 dollar bills until I told her that each 1000 NT bill was only about $30. Even knowing the exchange rate, still one has to calculate and then decide if things are a good bargain or not. Instead of using the rate of 1 US dollar equal to 32 NT, I just divide the marked price by 30 which is easier math and still gives me a rough approximation of the cost.

After that we proceeded down the hallways to the bus transportation to various areas. There we could purchase the bus tickets to the HSR station. I got in line, the longest one, in the place which was only for the HSR and in a few minutes had tickets – or so I thought. Out we went with our luggage to stand in line only to discover we only had two tickets. Leaving Ellen and Tian with the luggage I went back in to a much shortened line and when I got to the counter, trying to ask the attendant if what I had was for two adults and a child was going no where until a nice lady stepped up and offered to assist.

The first exchange and this one were the same that when I was quoted a price I wasn't sure what to give them so gave them the biggest bill or the closest bill to what I thought they said. Each time another handful of money came back my way so that I now have a true handful of coins to drag around. I suppose I can use some for souvenirs but others for tips.

Third ticket in hand I rejoined Ellen and Tian as we waited again in the longest line for the bus. By then dawn had broken and we found the weather to be partly cloudy with temperature to be about 60, which was so nice. We watched cars and buses come and go, people dropped off, the police come squawking by with their sirens blaring and in the tunnel like atmosphere we were in having it magnified to almost hurting status.

Presently we were able to get to a bus. Luggage goes underneath but then the interesting thing of climbing to the second floor of the bus which while not a ladder might as well have been one. We got the last 3 seats on the bus, Tian sitting near the back with someone and at a window, and the two of us directed to the very front, sitting high but with most of our view blocked by some black shade they had across the front window. The bus windows had these huge draped curtains on either side that covered each 10 feet or so of window space. Ellen commented that she did not like these curtains. They like the bus were green and being a bit frilly just looked weird to us.

After a ride of about 20 minutes we arrived at the HSR terminal after bumping over numerous potholes as we went through the construction zone where they are extending the HSR to the airport. I saw my first mechanical flagman who looks like a little short man waving his flag of warning.

Purchasing tickets was straightforward the only decision I had to make was what train I wanted. I chose the one about one half hour away versus the one leaving in about 10 minutes to give us time to get our bearings, use the facilities and see what there was there to eat. After finding something for Tian to munch on, we took the elevator down to the platform. The platform is divided by car number one is assigned to and thus we went to the one marked '3'.

After a few minutes the train was announced and came gliding into the station at a rather nice clip and stopped with precision just where the cars were labeled. Each car has about 20 rows of seats 3 and 2 across. We were in seats 15 ABC which was near the back of our car. Since I was trying to roll two pieces of luggage down the narrow aisle I kept getting hung up on someone's seat, and thus spent about as much time apologizing as I did making my way down the aisle.

Seated and situated with luggage above us and in the space between us and the next row of seats we plopped into our seats for the journey south. Tainan was said to be an hour and fifteen minutes south. Whether it was or not I do not know. What I do know is it was the smoothest trip I have ever had on a train and rivaled any bus I've ever journeyed on.

We pulled out of the station and the first thing Tian said was this train isn't moving fast. I had to tell her that vehicles need time to gain speed. We hadn't gone far when we made a stop at a smaller station for just about a minute or so it seemed before proceeding. This train can move. Afterwards I learned that they go up to 186 mph at full throttle and while I don't know how fast we were going, I know we were flying on the ground as the scenery flew by. One had to just point out the window and click away for there was not time for second guessing what you wanted to take a picture of for it was gone in a flash.

We zipped from station to station going through a multitude of tunnels, some very short and others quite long. The real surprise came when looking out the window there was a sudden whoosh as a bright orange line came across our view as another train and ours met. Those meetings and passings only took seconds and then we were back to our view.

In a little over an hour we reached Tainan station and then stopped to figure out where our hotel was and how we needed to proceed to it. We went to information booth and asked if they knew where the Shangri-la Hotel was located. The lady there produced a map and informed us that there was a free shuttle from the HSR to the regular train station, which was right across the street from our hotel.

Thus we proceeded to our next bus, with luggage underneath and our hand held items with us. Our stop was the next to the last stop on this particular route. We left the terminal, again in one of these double decker buses this time though above and to the right of the driver so we got a somewhat better view. This bus had golden curtains again frilly and odd to us.

We wound our way through various streets but with map in hand I could tell just about where we were as we turned various corners. There are signs everywhere. The first item of note here is that there are thousands of mopeds with every available space covered with them parked. They have their special lane to drive in and at one cross street to our right as we went by there must have been 50 of them waiting on the green light. While most of these held only one person, many had two or three persons on them with children, with no helmets but with a face mask on were standing between two adults zipping here and there.

After passing public housing, the university and numerous businesses, we arrived at the train station stop which looked nothing like a train station. In fact it was not, but only on a great circle near the train station. While we could see our hotel, rising 38 floors above the city, getting there was another trick.
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/tainan/fareasternplaza

Off the bus, with Ellen first, we told the driver we had luggage underneath, upon getting the last piece of luggage out, I looked and asked where the rest was. That's when true horror set in as we realized they were still on the bus, the bus door closed, the bus bays closed and the bus starting away. Banging on the side of the bus with the help of some man standing there, the bus stopped, I got to the front and banged on the door and upon opening climbed quickly to retrieve items Tian and I both had left behind.

With our hearts out of our throats, having narrowly avoided disaster, we proceeded down the street to make our way to the hotel. We had to climb down a long flight of stairs to go under the street to make it to the train station, which was of course up another flight of stairs. This was not a fun feat having traveled over 18 hours, thousands of miles, to carry 50 pounds of luggage in two unequal amounts down and up stairs, so I had to rest mid flights going up. This was coupled with passing a couple of street people laid out in their sleeping quarters with the associated smells of such to assail our nostrils.

The temperatures here were in the 70s. Getting to the station and wandering back and forth, Ellen finally found someone who could tell us where to go next which of course was another tunnel down and up more stairs. Finally across the street we could see our hotel and went in an entrance. This happened to be the shopping mall attached to the office so here we go dragging our luggage through the ladies fine cosmetic section to find how to get to the hotel which we finally get direction to.

Arriving at the front desk, we were greeted by a friendly lady who asked for our passports and we also handed over our confirmation number for our reservation. Presently we learned that we were winners! Not the kind you want to be. The lady said, we have confirmation for 1 person. This stunned us because here we are three people looking at her and she says one of us can stay. So Ellen proceeds with but there are three of us. Are you saying we can't stay here? The lady says you need to contact your travel agent since the reservation was made by a travel agent and they can fix it. Being as it is around 10 pm where our agent is and we have no way other than the Internet, which we don't have in the lobby we are dumbfounded.

Ellen says aside to me, one bed, one person or three persons what's the difference? She proceeds to tell the lady, we've been traveling 19 hours all the way from Seattle and thousands of miles, can she help us? The lady made two calls and said, ok, we can change your reservation to 3 people....but check in is not until 3, it being 11 now you can wait here in the lobby. That was fine with us and so leaving Ellen in the lobby I proceeded to find the restrooms for Tian and myself. Upon returning, I found the lady talking to Ellen who informed me that the lady had decided to rush and get us into a room now.

We were given a room on the 28th floor. Since we were hungry the lady made reservations for us in the restaurant on the top floor – 38 – and we had a spectacular view of the city. At first we were the only customers, at 1130 am, but after a bit more people came. We ordered lightly but were surprised with what we got being on able to identify my dish since it had beef in it. The beef was very tender. Ellen had something with sea cucumber in it and Tian a dish with shrimp. Still hungry as we were we cleaned our plates eating God knows what for identified or unidentified it went down the red road.

Returning to our hotel room, I got hooked up to the Internet we unpacked a bit and by 330 local time I was in bed, with Ellen in bed even sooner. I woke up at 1230 am local time after nearly 9 hours of sleep and then said, now what? Tian had fallen asleep on the floor and spent the night there.

The Journey Continues

2010-02-21T23:39:00.000-05:00

19 Feb 2010 – The day around Gig Harbor was lovely. It was so nice to move around in a light jacket without freezing. Uncle Wayne showed me around their lake place gardens and out buildings and I saw many things I knew Ellen would be interested in from a kiln to a waterfall and a potting shed.

We had a late brunch cooked by Aunt Helen assisted by Tian, consisting of eggs, bacon, toast with raspberry preserves, juices, coffee and a beautiful view of Puget Sound and Vashon island across the way from us.

Afterwards Uncle Wayne and I went into his office overlooking the harbor, a spectacular view. After a quick Skype session with another adoptive parent for Taiwan, back in Ohio, we went to take a look at their new boat at anchor in the harbor.

On the return to the parking garage, seeing Mt. Ranier in the distance was picturesque and thus needed recording!

Wayne and I returned to the beach house and Helen, Ellen and Tian returned a bit later after picking up items we had forgotten. They also did the tour Wayne and I had done that morning. This was followed by walks up the beach, while the tide was still out but not finding many shells they returned. Later in the afternoon, near sundown, I too took a walk along the beach.

Supper ensued around 630. Nearing the end of supper a cousin of Ellen's, Gretchen, stopped by. We had not seen her since the summer of 2000 so it was nice to see her again and briefly catch up before we left for the airport.

We arrived at the airport around 9 pm to discover once through security, which was a comparative breeze after Atlanta, that our flight would not leave until 12:50 am. Setting up station on a row of seats I was able after some frustration able to send off a couple of emails before boarding. While doing so though we saw a family who was going on the same flight. Tian wondered if they were adopting also, as I believe she thought if they were American going overseas, why else would they be traveling to Taiwan? So I struck up a conversation with them. They were flying with their daughter to Taiwan enroute to the Philippines to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. He is a network engineer for the Federal government.

The Trip Begins

2010-02-19T16:00:00.000-05:00

18 Feb 2010 – the adventure begins. We left home about 130, only 30 minutes after our desired time to leave. Traffic was so so but heavy with truck traffic about 35 miles north of Atlanta's perimeter highway.

This route though is so familiar as I've traveled it often in the last few months going to and from my parents home. So familiar that I can drive it without thinking much about it, knowing each curve, hill and turn and where Smokey is likely hiding.

We arrived at ATL around 4 pm, long term parking, no bus in sight to take us to the terminal so trudge, trudge. Not too bad. The terminal has changed a lot since I last flew through there. It seems it has been many a year for me and it would stretch my memory to recall when last that was.

Security, while a hassle was much better than Chicago coming home from China in March, 2008. We are about an hour into our 5 hour flight to Seattle on Alaska Air. For once the intro to the safety devices, exits and all that stuff was entertaining.

We are flying on a Boeing B737-900, which I guess means something to someone. This journey is 2182 miles and 5.25 hours.

Tian is full of questions and has the window seat. It is dark now as we head towards St. Louis, Lincoln, NE, Cheyenne, Montana in its vast expanse, briefly over Idaho, then across Washington into Seattle.

Ellen's aunt will be meeting us at the airport. We'll spend the night with them at their beach house near Gig Harbor. This will be Tian's first beach adventure. It is not an ocean beach but part of Puget Sound.

We arrived a few minutes early at Seattle and after baggage claim went to passenger pickup where Ellen's aunt met us.

From there we rode several miles south to Gig Harbor. The drive from the airport took perhaps 45 minutes and talk turned to the Olympics just a few miles north up the road and plans to take in some of the events by Aunt Helen's family. Bone tired, there were still some moments of smiles as Tian informed us why Chinese ice skaters were better than American ice skaters.

Candy. In America we have too much candy. Candy makes one fat. All that weight pressing down on the ice slows one down. In China not much candy thus the skaters can move faster since they weigh less!

Aunt Helen told us the ocean is about 60 miles away but the tides flow in and out of here as this is salt water. We saw Gig Harbor's commercial salmon fishing fleet on the drive in. Tian declared at this point she was on a field trip for this journey as she'll be learning lots. So while not physically at school, she will be learning many things.

From there we rode out into the country until arriving at this lovely spot on a hillside overlooking this leg of the sound. We arrived here about 1 am eastern time, bone tired. A quick view of the house and the sound below. It is a beautiful star studded evening. Then off to bed where I was asleep by the time Ellen made it to bed. Even though I was dead tired, dreams crept in, real seeming but preposterous in real life. Or at least I hope so.

19 Feb 2010 – 0530 local time. A new day begins. Already time zones are messing with me for while it is nearly 6 am here it is nearly 9 am at home, too long to stay in bed, when one has such excitement ahead – seeing a new area, watching Tian look at wonder with so many new things, exploring, asking endless questions, still we can see her brain processing all this information, coming up with her own explanations or asking further clarifying questions.

Dawn is now breaking over the sound, the water becoming visible.

Later today, early Saturday, we board Eva airlines, the Taiwanese national carrier, for a 6074 mile, 13.5 hour flight to Taipei, arriving early Sunday morning, 2/21.

Home

2009-12-26T02:30:00.000-05:00

Home. It means so much.
A physical location but oh much more.
Shelter, comfortable, a destination.
This is the known.

Home. What once was, now lost?
Home. A dream unfulfilled?
Home. A foreign concept?
Home. What is that?
Home. Where ones heart is?

Where you and I are sheltered. Home.
When you are comfortable. Home.
When you are safe with me. Home.
Together in our house, wrapped in my arms,
Home you are dear child.

Someday

2009-10-20T11:37:00.000-04:00

Someday my son will ask.
Daddy who is this pictured here?
Who is this in the picture you carry?
Someday my son will ask.

Someday when my son asks
I will say, Son, this is your brother of my heart.
Someday my son will ask.

Someday my son will ask.
Daddy where is he?
I will say, he lives with another family.

Someday my son will ask.

Discovery

2009-10-08T22:18:00.000-04:00

While my wife was talking with our first agency, IAAP, I was inquiring of a handful of agencies that worked in Taiwan to see if they had any children available in the age range we were seeking.

I got responses from 3 or 4 agencies with pictures to review. Knowing that few children were adopted out of Taiwan in the last year or so compared to China, I thought I would not have that many children to review bios on.

On one particular web site I saw a little boy that intrigued me because his bio indicated no issue that I thought would be a problem.

After contacting our first agency again, my wife was directed to a particular web site to review children's bios. Call it what you will but she was directed to the same site I had viewed a few days earlier and found the same boy.

I show first contact with this agency by me on 19 Jan 2009. Then our kick off date as 26 Jan began with a call to Heartsent, the agency of our adoption of Yu-Hsuan.

Showing the world his referral picture.

A son

2009-10-08T03:05:00.000-04:00

Before we adopted our daughter in March, 2008 we had decided to get her a sibling so she would not be an only child. First we looked for a sister for her, someone that would be a little younger. As we had aged out of China, we thought Vietnam would be a good fit since we had friends who adopted from there 20 years before.

Alas as we returned from China, Vietnam was closing. Next we turned to Taiwan but nothing popped for us. A situation locally seemed to be a good fit and we started pursuing that a few months after we came home. That door closed as well as the child in question was having major issues.

Finally in January of this year, we turned to our first adoption agency, IAAP, to see if they could give us an idea of how to proceed. The lady there asked if we would consider a boy since she could testify that boys were ok as she had 3 of them.

We decided to think about this and get back with them. After thinking about the for 2 days, it occurred to me that I had found the extreme joy of being the father of a daughter. If I bypassed the opportunity to parent a son, I'd always wonder what it would have been like. Not wishing to miss opportunity laid before me, I said yes, let's pursue a son.