And So It Begins

Beginning tomorrow morning, the next few weeks are loaded. For the record, I'll list the itinerary below. But the details are not the point. The daily changes and frequent interactions with new people will keep our entire family on our toes for quite some time.

This is good.

Everyone in our family does well with change. We enjoy exploring new places, and our new apartment is located in a very exciting part of town. There will be plenty of explore, beyond the challenging tasks of finding the nearest market, bank and post office. We will enjoy doing these explorations with our guests, as well as finding the best local retaurants, the best little dumpling stand, the best DVD stall. We're a family of explorers, and are looking forward to exploring a new part of town.

The girls need time to adjust to social change. But L-- has been looking forward to school for weeks now, and the social stability affording her from going to school every day should negate any challenges of meeting new friends and leaving old ones behind. S-- likes knowing her friends and having stability around her, but she's such a social creature that she'll enjoy any crowd of people and quickly be friends with them all.

All along, I've said that I'm sad to leave my friends. And it is upon leaving that I realize what good friends I have here. Even though we all have ayis, friends have offered to fix meals for our family, to watch my children, and even to help pack boxes. Much like in college, our friends have substituted for our family and we depend upon each other. I'll miss having such close friends within a few minutes walk. But I leave well assured that these women are truly close friends of mine, and will remain my friends even though the commute between homes may be a bit longer. And what a treat - not only to realize what good friends I have while they're still around, but to be afforded the opportunity to make even more in my new neighbors.

We leave feeling good.

The Itinerary:
Thursday, Aug. 21:
Open House at L--'s school. The whole family will attend, and then go out to a hotel / retreat center on the outskirts of town.
Friday, Aug. 22:
We'll enjoy the pool, the beach, the playroom and the large park nearby at the hotel. If its affordable, we'll stay another night.
Saturday, Aug. 23:
AM - We have our family physicals for our adoption paperwork
Midday - Mom arrives from America, I have my final cooking class, and we get the keys to the new place
PM - Dave and I collapse the girls' beds and pack a few boxes
Sunday, Aug. 24:
AM - Dave and I move the girls' beds and a few things into the new apartment. The family will sleep there tonight.
PM - Dave flies to America for the week
Monday, Aug. 25:
The first day of school!
Today we celebrate L-- and normalcy, aiming for as calm a day as possible.
Tuesday, Aug. 26:
After school, we'll head back to the old house to pack a few more boxes and hang out at the local playgroup. This is the first time it will be held anywhere besides our home!
Wednesday, Aug. 27:
The long-awaited haircut. Dare I dream?
Thursday, Aug. 28:
Movers come, and take everything from 1 home to the next. From packing to unpacking, they estimate it should take about 6 hours.
Friday, Aug. 29:
Unpacking! Plus, Dave arrives back in China, and we meet a friend at the airport. She'll stay with us for the next 2 weeks.

Here's where things slow down a bit. There's no longer something scheduled for every day, although plenty is going on.

Sep. 3-5:
If all goes well, our social worker will be in town these days to complete our home study. This means that amid the rest of this craziness, we're also assembling our dossier and preparing for the adoption.

Sep. 4:
L-- turns 3 years old! We hope to celebrate her birthday with family on Friday night, after the adoption is done. Then it'll be a big birthday party on Saturday afternoon.

Sep. 6:
Nana goes back to the states, after a really packed few weeks. I can't imagine a better time for her to be here! Not only will she help us a ton, but she'll be here for L--'s birthday, get to see our new home, and get to visit L--'s school. Win-Win!
We'll also have a big BBQ back at the old place with our friends. Not only will we celebrate L--'s birthday, but also having made it through the last two weeks. Move completed, homestudy completed, its time to relax with our friends.

Sep. 7:
Things start right up again, as good friends from Kansas City will visit for nearly 2 weeks. We look forward to exploring the city with them from our new out post, and seeing this new part of Shanghai through fresh eyes.

Sep. 27:
Our last set of guests arrive, just at the beginning of a 1 week federal holiday. Dave'll be off work and able to enjoy the visit from his brother and his wife. We look forward to nearly a week together with them, exploring our neighborhood some more and just spending time together.

And that leaves us empty for the foreseeable future. Check your calendars, and let us know when we can expect you! Our new guest room is quite large, with a sitting area, a luxurious bathroom, and its own tv and DVD player. We look forward to hosting you!