Two weeks from now we will be about 8 hours into our almost 24 hours of travel to Beijing. Since Allie is living there now, we are choosing to go a few days early so we can visit her and her foster home before they bring her to us in Guangzhou for Gotcha Day. We will also do some touring in Beijing, which is somewhat just for fun but also a great way for us to get to know Allie's home country's culture and history better so that we can better teach her to appreciate her heritage.
We plan to of course see the Great Wall and maybe ride a big slide down part of it. We will be staying very close to the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square so we will visit there. We will also take a tour of traditional Chinese communities via bicycle rickshaw and we will go see an acrobat show. I'm excited that the country will still be in holiday mode from Chinese New Year this weekend, which is celebrated for awhile after too and we will be in Beijing for the Lantern Festival, so hoping for lots of pretty sights!
But of course the most exciting part will be meeting Allie for the first time on the 9th. It's so surreal that it's hard for me to even imagine what I will do or feel or say as we spend some time with her and the other toddlers and caregivers. Lots of emotions!!
So exciting! Are there a bunch of adoptive parents going now or are you on your own? I imagine your heart will melt when you see Allie for the first time.
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We will be on our own (with a guide) in Beijing, but do things with other families in Guangzhou. And one of our neighborhood families will be in Guangzhou already when we get there so it will be great to see them for a few days!
ReplyDeleteSo exciting! The plans are really coming together... and travel day will be here before you know it. Can't wait to read about your adventures in China and then meet Allie once you're home!
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