James Lie: October 10 through October 22 -- Tentative

Sunday, September 28, 2008

October 10 through October 22 -- Tentative

Hello,

We received confirmation Friday that our consulate appointment is October 20.

Thus, crazed travel planning has begun between our agency, the travel agency, the guides in China and ourselves.

Here's the tentative Itinerary thus far.

10/10/08 Depart JFK, fly to Beijing via Hong Kong

10/11/08 Land Beijing

10/12/08 Fly to Chengdu Sichuan

10/13/08 Family Day -- we meet and from this point forward care for James
10/19/08 Fly to Guangzhou China

10/20/08 Medical Exam, US Consulate Appointment10/22/08 Depart Guangzhou China, a short flight to Hong Kong and then we land at JFK.
(for all U2 Fans out there, Of course I am going to sing "We touch the ground at JFK......Angel, Angel of Harlem)

We get through customs, and we immediately get Fountain Sodas with ICE and Joseph and James FRESH MILK! Yes, priorities, we all have our priorities.

Right now our packing list is 175 rows and 5 columns in Excel. It's unbelievable. Like many adoptive families, we are taking far more medication and health stuff then we are clothes. Laundry is cheap and good in China.

We wanted to share another picture. We sent James another package through a great businesswoman Ann in Guangzhou. She runs http://redthreadchina.com/.

Love, Kelly, Joe and Joseph

8 comments:

Team Houston said...: Thank you for the invitation to view your blog, we are honored to follow along!!

Love your idea of the facts about Chungdu on the side.

Congrats!!!

xoxo Michele and Family; September 28, 2008 at 1:20 PM
storyscribe said...: Congrats, Kelly. It looks like it's finally happening.; September 28, 2008 at 3:15 PM
WriterChickNj said...: Hurray! This is exciting! I am so happy for you and can't wait to meet James. He is only 4 months younger than Nicholas. We can have playdates and swap clothes.
And tell Joseph he will make a great college student- his research is excellent.
Love Kathy Q and Nicholas too.; September 28, 2008 at 7:35 PM
JABster said...: I'm excited to meet up with you in Guangzhou. I'm also impressed by how much James looks like an Asian version of Joseph. Yay!!! We're all going to China, FINALLY!!!!

Jolie et al; September 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Erin said...: Hi Kelly,
What a cutie James is! I'm so happy for you and your family. Looking forward to following your journey to James.

Erin-Jill's mom; September 28, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Wonderfreda said...: sweet! I am glad that it's been smooth so far. Wish you all the best luck in Chengdu and Guangzhou. And btw, you should definitely try the dim sum in Guangzhou, it's the best of all!; September 28, 2008 at 11:58 PM
MicPhilly said...: Congrats! We can't wait to meet our new nephew. We are so happy for you! Patrick and Sean can't wait to meet their new cousin. Congrats!
Love,
Michele, Dan, Patrick and Sean; September 29, 2008 at 8:25 AM
Unknown said...: You know I love you guys. I'm happy that you are moving forward with your family plans. He looks cute. Good luck. I'll pray for you.

Tony.; September 29, 2008 at 9:59 AM

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province, the most populous province in China (map). Sichuan means “Four Rivers,” referring to four of the more than 80 mighty rivers spilling across the province. There is much diversity in the Sichuan landscape - the east supports one of the densest rural populations in the world, the west rises in giant steps to the Tibetan plateau where green tea shifts to the Tibetan staple po cha (butter tea) and Confucianism shifts to Buddhism. In fact, Chengdu provides the main inland city access to Tibet.The remote mountains of Sichuan, bordering Gansu and Qinghai provinces, are the natural habitat of the giant panda, the shy animal that has become synonymous with China. Visitors gravitate to the Panda Breeding and Research Center located in Chengdu, which houses the world's only giant panda breeding and research center.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty (35-330 AD), the imperial court appointed an official to supervise the fast-growing brocade industry in Chengdu, which was then known as Jincheng, or Brocade Town. When it was discovered that the brocade turned brighter and fresher after being washed in a nearby river, the river was given the name Jin Jiang, or Brocade River.

Since ancient times, Chengu, which is surrounded by mountains in all directions, has tried to reach out to the outside world. As early as the third century, Chengdu had already opened the famous Southern Silk Road that started in the city and continued to the ocean. The earliest paper currency, Jiaozi (not the dumpling!), was first printed in Chengdu.

During the Five Dynasties era (907-960 A. D.), Chengdu was for a time the capital of China, and hibiscus was planted all along the city wall. Because of this, Chengdu became known as the City of Furong or Hibiscus. Today, flowers and trees grace the wide streets and the city’s many parks.
Agriculture and light industry are the mainstays of the region and brocade is still manufactured along with other textiles and handicrafts.

An old adage says China is the place for food, but Sichuan is the place for flavor. In Chengdu, visits can enjoy delectable Sichuan (often spelled Szechuan in the west) cuisine, the hot and spicy food known all over the world. Common preparation techniques in Szechuan cuisine include stir frying, steaming and braising, but a complete list would include more than 20 distinct techniques.

Sichuan pepper and chili pepper are some of the ingredients in two of the region’s signature dishes: MaPo DoFu, which is a spicy tofu with a meat sauce; and Gong Bao JiDing (known in the west as Kung Pao chicken) named after a Qing dynasty government official named Ding Baozhen who is said to have particularly enjoyed it. There are many conflicting stories about why Ding Baozhen favored the dish, including one that claims that a chef invented the finely chopped dish because Baozhen had bad teeth.

In Chengdu, chili is as common at mealtime as rice is across the rest of China. So is Sichuan pepper, known in Chinese as huājiāo (花椒; literally "flower pepper.”) Despite its name, Sichuan pepper is not related to black pepper or chili peppers; it is the outer pod of the tiny fruit of a number of species in the genus Zanthoxylum.

Although many dishes live up to their spicy reputation, Sichuan cuisine also includes recipes that use little or no hot spices, including Tea Smoked Duck.

Despite its fiery cuisine, Sichuan is one of the most laid-back regions of China, where entire village populations lull about in teahouses, playing mahjong and gossiping. There is a saying that holds that the tea houses of Sichuan rank first in the world, while those in Chengdu rank first in Sichuan. Even in busy Chengdu, locals find time to shop, cook, eat, and spend hours relaxing and socializing in teahouses.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

October 10 through October 22 -- Tentative

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