August 31, 2006 - Atlanta to Home Sweet Home

After making it through immigration, we looked at the clock and realized we only had about 10 minutes before we needed to board our plane. If you have never been to the Atlanta airport, you board a train to go between terminals, we were at Terminal E and we needed to get to Terminal B. We had to wait for a few minutes just to catch the train and then it felt like forever to get to Terminal B. Well of course they decide we need to go through security again before we can even get to the gate. And what happens, we get stopped because I had a bottle of water to make Keere's bottle with me. So I told them fine, take the water but we are about to miss our plane. So of course our gate had to be almost the very last one in the terminal, so Mom, Keere and I took off running. We arrived there, checked in and they were starting to board. At that point Keere had, had enough, she was tired and hungry, so she had a little meltdown. Well the airline stewardess came over and says that she can put us in the back of the plane which is empty so that way we can spread out and be comfortable. You don't know how many Thank you's I muttered to her because at this point, we were exhausted. We started boarding the plane but on the sign it said we were delayed, which was strange. It wasn't until everyone was buckled in and ready to go that they Captain comes on the speaker and tells us that the we are delayed because of a tropical storm. He said we were 7th in line to take off as soon as the skies opened. Keere was asleep about 5 minutes after we boarded the plane. So about an 1/2 hour later the Captain comes on the speaker and says we are 6th in line to take off. Well here it is over an hour later when the Captain comes on the speaker yet again and says we are still 6th in line but we should be taking off at any time. By now Keere and I are asleep, we didn't even wake up when we finally got the go ahead to take off, we slept through it with out blinking an eye my Mom said. We both slept until about 10 minutes before we landed in Home Sweet Home. We changed and got Keere all cleaned up, we then made ourselves as presentable as you can be after 35+ hours of traveling. We landed and headed down the terminal. As we got closer to the end of the terminal there was my Grandma and Cousin C. They had come to pick us up from the Airport. I think from the minute Grandma spotted us, she didn't stop smiling. We collected our bags and headed out to Cousin C's truck for the ride home. Keere did great in her 1st time in a car seat, it didn't seem to phase her at all and she was asleep about half way into the trip home.

August 31, 2006 - Seoul to Atlanta

When we arrived in Seoul it was a little after 6am their time, we were so tired. Mom said she would watch Keere while I caught a catnap since I didn't sleep a wink on the flight from Hanoi. They weren't the most comfy set of chairs to lay on but I was out almost as soon as my head touched the seats. Keere also decided to catch a nap while we waited to board our flight which was a little more than 3 hour layover. When she woke up she was happy as can be. The 14 hour flight went ok, again we were given bulkhead seats and Keere got her bassinet. Keere was great on the flight with only about 3 occasions when she got upset and that was because the Stewardess woke her up from her deep sleep because of turbulence or they were serving food. The one Stewardess was so sorry that she woke her up and offered to take her. So the Stewardess picked her up and was going to walk with her, well I don't even think she had her for 30 seconds, when she walked back and placed Keere back in our arms and goes "She's really mad and tired". But even so those 3 times only lasted maybe 5-8 minutes before she was able to settle down.
We were so happy to arrive in Atlanta. We passed through Passport control and headed downstairs to claim our baggage so we could breeze though Customs. As we were headed towards the recheck baggage area which is Aisle 1, they noticed that I had Keere's brown envelope in hand and directed all of us to Aisle 2. We handed in the paperwork and took a seat. About 10 minutes later they called me up to the desk, again they asked about Corruption in the adoptions coming from there. I told him "Nope everything went great" and he seemed happy with my answers. He then goes as "soon as I stamp this, it makes Keere legal in the eyes of the US Government." WHOO HOO!!! I wish I could have gotten a picture of her feet touching the ground as soon as we landed since the minute she landed she became an American Citizen but she was asleep.

August 31, 2006 - Hanoi to Seoul

We arrived at the airport around 9pm on 8/30, our flight out was at 1230am on 8/31. Keere fell asleep on the taxi ride to the airport and slept soundly in the heat of the airport. She meet two traveling companions who were also making their journey home and eager to meet the rest of their Forever families waiting in the USA. We hope you had a safe trip the rest of the way home, Selah and Lucas (and their new parents). Once we were on the flight we found out that we were lucky enough to get bulkhead seats with the bassinet. Now I really didn't want bulkhead seats, the arm rests don't raise up and the tray table sucks but I have to say that being able to have the bassinet for Keere to sleep and play in was totally worth putting up with those minor annoying things. I guess the don't give wings anymore to first time fliers because instead Keere got a Monster Truck with the KAL logo on it.

August 30, 2006 - Last Day in Vietnam

The street leading to the market (note the fence we are standing next too)

A little closer to the Market remember its at the end of the fence

We found the Market, the door is behind the Ice cream cart

View from our hotel room

August 30, 2006 - Whoo Hoo!! We have her VISA!!

We were told we would hear from the Embassy by 2pm if her Visa paperwork was finished and ready to be picked up. So when 2pm came and went we started to get discouraged that we wouldn't be able to leave early in the morning (1230am). About 10 minutes before 3pm, the phone rings and it's the very sweet girl who works in the Adoption unit of the Embassy, she first apologized for not calling sooner but then asked if I turned in Keere's passport. I told her that yesterday when we were at the interview the guy giving us the interview handed it back to me (which I thought was strange because I knew they needed it but didn't want to make him mad by questioning his actions). She told me to be down there in 1/2 hr otherwise they wouldn't be able to get it done. So off we raced to the Embassy, thank goodness it was less than a 10 minute drive even in heavy traffic. I went upstairs to the Embassy (the entry is on the 2nd floor) while Mom and Keere hung out in the lobby. I took a seat in the room and waited for the lady (wish I had gotten her name). She passed by and waved to me and then came to the window and I handed her Keere's passport. She told me to take a seat and wait. So about 20 minutes after watching her go back and forth behind the glass windows, printing this and that. She came to the window and apologized yet again for their screw-up and in her hands was Keere's passport which contained her Visa and the Brown Envelope. The Brown Envelope is the paperwork that allows Keere to become an American citizen as soon as we land on American soil. It is sealed, stamped and signed and you are not allowed to open it. The only people who can open it is the Immigration officers at your first Entry into the United States. When she handed me Keere's Visa and Brown Envelope, I about bawled, I couldn't believe after months and months of the heartbreaks and disappointments we went through to get to this point and the last month of getting to know my daughter, adopting her and watching her blossom that we were done and heading home. The word "Home" never sounded so sweet.

August 30, 2006 - Waiting

Well here we are just waiting to pick up Keere's Visa from the embassy so we can head home. We have missed all of you and thank you for all your support. I can't wait for you all to meet this amazing little girl in less than 48 hours. Anyone who would like to meet us at the airport we would love to see you!!
We arrive at 1:57pm on Thursday.

August 29, 2006 - Visa Interview

We arrived at the US Embassy about 15 minutes before our scheduled appt. We sat in the big room by ourselves for quite awhile before other families started to come in, some where there to pick up their Visa's, the rest were there for interviews just like us. My first stop was the cashier because of course nothing is free. I paid our fees and off we went into the interview. The interview was alot different than the one we had on Friday. I answered the questions and finally he seemed satisfied and couldn't think of any other questions to ask. He goes "your approved" and said he hoped her Visa would be ready by tomorrow. I told him, "I really hope it will since our flight out is tomorrow night". He then joked about how all of us families really push it with our flights home being right after we pick up our Visas. I told him that's because we all wanted to get back to Good Ole' America.
Then we headed back to the Hotel, where we decided to find the market since Keere was in need of some diapers. Now everyone said take a left, than a left, than a left. So that's what Mom and I did. We got to the first street and turned Left, got to walk by the giant Soccer Stadium, we then got to the next street and turned Left yet again, we walked by all kinds of street restaurants. We then got to our next street so we turned Left again and it led us down a street with all kind of welding shops that were making fences, stair rails, some really beautiful stuff. But still no 4 story market and with the last left we ended up back at our hotel. Mom decided we were going to try this again while Keere and I decided to protest the decision. So Mom says "If we don't find it in the first block we will go back to the hotel." Still Keere and I weren't thrilled with the decision but we went along with it. So Keere and I decided to park ourselves on the sidewalk looking at the flowers and bushes, while Mom went and asked the armed guards where the Market was. Well Lo and Behold it was literally on the otherside of the fence. Had we not asked we would have walked by it yet again. This is also the building we see when we look out of our hotel window. So we got what we needed and stopped for some ice cream to try and cool down. Well Keere was so hot I thought maybe she would like something cool on her lips so I let her take a taste of my fruit popsicle. After that, Mommy only got a few bites, Keere loved it. Didn't quite get the grasp of not using her hands. And I have to say she was quite upset when it was all gone.

August 29, 2006 - Changing our Flight Home

Well today's adventure brings us to trying to get our flight home changed. Let me just say if you heading to Vietnam and don't know you exact return date, don't book through Delta Airlines because they don't have an office here in Vietnam and the only way you can change your tickets is by calling their closest office which is in Hong Kong. We only found this out after we took a taxi to KAL who partners with Delta to see if they could change our tickets.

So how our day went was we head to breakfast, again it was wonderful and so delicious. Ok, I know you are sick of hearing me talk about breakfast but the last hotel we stayed at the choices for breakfast was fried egg with liver paste, liver paste sandwich, liver paste noodles and our usual choice bread with butter and jam. So to be eating real food is very exciting! I then called KAL to make sure they could help us with our tickets, they said on the phone "Yes, Yes, come in we can help you". Off we went to the KAL office by taxi so they could change the tickets. When we arrived they promptly told us that they couldn't help us that we had to contact Delta. I tried to nicely explain to them that when I called they told me they could help us, they just shook their head and told me to call Delta. I asked them for the phone number and that is when the promptly told me that the nearest office is in Hong Kong. UGH!! Well we headed back to the hotel in hopes that maybe they could help us. After 45 minutes we got our answer that there was no way. So we made our only other option was to totally rebook our tickets. Which by some miracle they were able to get us 2 seats all the way back home.

We will arrive home at 157pm on August 31 on Delta Airlines as long as everything goes well at Keere's Visa interview today at the US Embassy.

August 28, 2006 - One Stone Pillar Pagoda

August 28, 2006 - US Embassy and Adventures in Siteseeing

We got up bright and early and headed to breakfast. Again it was wonderful. We then headed to the US Embassy to drop off all the paperwork for Keere's Visa application so she can come home. Once we got there we had to wait and wait and wait. But Keere didn't seem to mind since she slept through most of our waiting. Once they were finished with us we decided to head out and do some siteseeing. Armed with our map, money for the taxi and an idea of where we wanted to go with thought this would be a simple task. We flagged down a taxi in front of the Embassy pointed on the map that we wanted to go to the One Pillar Pagoda and off we went. Well it wasn't that simple, see he didn't understand any English, couldn't read a map and I'm not even sure spoke Vietnamese. So he took us to a building, Mom and I both shook our heads no and again tried to show him and tell him where we wanted to go. He drove us around some more, finally I saw the Hanoi flag tower, so we told him to stop. Again he will not respond, so at this point, Keere is unhappy and my Mom just finally yells "STOP" which he understands, so he pulls over. He goes "Here?" and we tell him Yes, he was so proud of himself because he really thought he had taken us to where we wanted to go. As you can see from the picture of Keere and the map, that is her telling everyone that she could have done a better job than the taxi driver getting us to where we needed to go.
So we got to see the Hanoi Flag Tower and we walked by the Army Museum. We were able to flag down another cab and I show him on the map where we want to go and he says in almost perfect English "No problem, I know where the One Stone Pillar Pagoda is". Off we went. The Pagoda is also right next door to the Ho Chi Minh Museum, so we also got to wander around there for awhile. Once we were done we headed back to the hotel, just to cool down and relax.
Also today, Keere turned 6 mos old. So Happy 6 months Birthday Keere!!!!!!!!!

August 27, 2006 - Misc Pictures of Hanoi

August 27, 2006 - Ngoc Son Pagoda and The Huc Bridge

August 27, 2006 - Monument of King Le Thai To

This is a cultural work in memory of the exploits of the National Hero Le Loi (1385-1433). Later King Le Thai To, the leader of the resistance against the invaders to liberate the country in the 15th century. Built in 1896, this monument is closely connected with the legend of the retrieving the magic sword on Lake Hoan Kiem.

August 27, 2006 - Exploring Hanoi

Well Keere decided today that she wanted to get up with the sunrise and she was back asleep before we headed to the buffet breakfast at the hotel. Like I said yesterday we don't need a 5-star hotel to stay in, we just need the basics, air conditioning, internet and beds. But I have to say that the breakfast buffet is winning me over. It had everything from regular American fare to Dim Sum. All of it was delicious, it was about the best food we have had since we got here in Vietnam.
We then decided to head out to explore Hanoi. So we hopped into a taxi and headed to what is called the Old Town. We walked around Ho Hoan Kiem lake and explored all the sites around there. We head tomorrow to drop off our paperwork at the Embassy bright and early in the morning and then it's just more waiting until our Visa interview on Tuesday afternoon.
PLEASE CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR MORE PICTURES, I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THESE 5 LOADED THIS EVENING THE INTERNET IN THE HOTEL IS SUPER SLOW

August 26, 2006 - Flight to Hanoi

We headed out of HCMC with the taxi ride from hell....sorry there is no way otherwise to put it. Instead of taking maybe a 1/2hr to 45min it should of we were heading into over an 1 1/2 hr. Then he tired to overcharge us the taxi fair, which I promptly pointed out that he was wrong, so instead he made me pay for the toll that they are charged for coming into the airport. Fine, whatever, just get away from me is how I felt. The flight from Hanoi was packed, every seat was taken. Keere was wide awake during take-off and it didn't phase her at all. She actually enjoyed looking out the window and watching the clouds and scenery go by. She then fell asleep and slept until we went to collect our luggage. The taxi ride to the hotel was nice. It started to down-pour as soon as we got into the taxi, my daughter was more amused at watching the rain drops as the rolled across the windows, she would put her hand up there and actually follow along.

We arrived at our hotel, again we are not at the hotel of our choice but it is the only 5 star hotel in Hanoi (like we really care about that) but it lacks one thing Internet Service in the room, so here we are in the business center having to pay by the half-hour. So sorry we won't be able to answer as many e-mails as we could do in HCMC.