making-our-way-2-u.blogspot.com - Adoption Website Bookmarks

Our journey begins again Saturday, July 14, 2007 My last post here Remember I am posting on the Cannon Fishbowl so please follow us there. This was my second trip with two different agencies. The first my mom went and there were 2 other families. The second, I was all alone. My first agency was the best. I loved them and I think it was because of the guide in China that was the icing on the cake. The second agency was okay. Since I did all of the paperwork for Maddies adoption I knew what I was doing so I didnt need any hand holding. The in-country stuff was the biggest beef I have with them. The guide was not that great and so many things happened that it wasnt an enjoyable trip. I know that I was there to complete the adoption and that was my main focus, but I wish I could have seen more and done more. I didnt eat at any local restaurants because I wasnt that brave to go on my own. Im so glad that Sophie did so well. She was amazing. She adapted so well and we didnt have any problems. I think that really helped alot. So here it is. Here are some tips that I would like to pass along for those of you traveling soon. 1. Your guide is the most important person during this trip. Make sure you have a good one. Ask around and see if other families have had this same guide. I recommend my first agency to everyone who ask me about adopting because 1. they were great, but 2. Nelson was awesome! 2. Be flexible. As you may have read we had a lot of twist and turns along our journey. No hotel van, no hotel reservation, no flight reservation, passport procedure change, no flight reservation to Guangzhou and rushing to get everything done. Again it was a good thing that Sophie did so well because I dont think we could have made it during the trip. 3. I traveled with a check in suitcase, roll on suitcase and a backpack. I did fine lugging it all around with Sophie. I have had my suitcase lost way too many times no...