The journey to China is over yet the journey of our lifetime awaits. Aliyah made her first plane trip from Guangzhou to Hong Kong with no problems. This was a very short flight about 30 minutes, but we were very worried about her ears with the altitude changes. We had a bottle ready that we had held off so once she saw the bottle she started to put up a fuss. As we taxied we started the bottle and were counting the seconds until the plane headed down the runway; since she tends to finish her bottle in under five minutes. She had no problems with her ears on this flight or the long flight home.
Hong Kong is a beautiful place. We stayed at the airport hotel and Brandy, Debbie and Emerson had a hotel in the Kowloon section of the city. Once we got Aliyah settled and a nap under her belt we headed down to Kowloon to meet up for dinner. Brandy had made arrangements for dinner overlooking the harbor and Hong Kong. The skyline of Hong Kong is absolutely beautiful with the water, boats, skyscrapers and mountains just behind all of this. We would say this is one of the most beautiful skylines we have ever seen. As this was the start of the celebrations for China's national day we were treated to fireworks and laser light show (Fantastic compliment to the beauty that was already there). We got to and from Kowloon using the MTR best mass transit system train/subway system we have used quiet, smooth, fast, easy to use, and good price. Hong Kong is much different than mainland China. This is a big efficient international city with the prices to match. We wished we had more time to explore this beautiful city. Or course, it's much different toting a child who needs naps and meals.
The moment of truth was upon us. How would an active 8 month old handle a 14 hour plane ride. The answer was not bad at all. By the end of the flight our cabin neighbors were still happy and Aliyah had made many new friends on the plane. She captured the attention of an 8 year old Asian girl who sat in front of her, made friends with several architecture students from Yale, got lots of smiles and well wishes from business men/women to grandma/grandpa types. Aliyah had patience to play in her more confined space of the three seats, but her primary challenge was sleep. We have given her the nickname “The Thrasher” when she sleeps as she move quite a bit about the crib and often time as she flips wakes very briefly but quickly settles herself. In a 2' by 2' airline seat this is not very easy so she would often wake herself and need us to settle her again by using the carrier to stroll her in the isle and open space on the plane until she fell asleep against us and we could lay her back down again. Though we did not have time to get much rest, the process seemed to keep Aliyah contented.
Aliyah became a US Citizen as we cleared immigration. The sealed brown envelope we received at the US Consulate in Guangzhou was presented and processed in the “Red Lane” of customs in the section for new immigrants. The immigration official opened the packet checked out the documents opened her China passport and over the visa US VISA applied a stamp and wrote IR3 on the stamp. With this quick stamp she went from immigrant to citizen, but she has already been a resident of our hearts since before we met her. With this passport and stamp we were told we could get her a social security number and apply for a US Passport.
Our good friends Dwayne and Lisa greeted us with balloon and a welcome home sign as we made our way out of immigration. After they had time to meet Aliyah we were on our way home. The McCartys had seen the “Welcome Home Doerr Family” sign on Dwayne and Lisa's minivan and left a note that with the code phrase “The Phoenix has landed” indicating that Emerson was home and safe. So Aliyah was officially the last child from our AWAA travel group to make it home and the groups China journey is now over, but friendships and “sisterhoods” have been established for a lifetime.
It was a bright beautiful day in Chicago. The first things we noticed was clear air, less traffic, and no worry about drinking water. When we arrived at our house a welcome home sign on the front lawn greeted us, balloons were on the mail box and in three rooms of our house. The fridge was stocked, cookies, treats, several gifts and dinner by our friends. Friends have also thought of and taken care of needs we will have in the next couple week so we can concentrate on family time. We thank God for all these good friends.
I am sure we will again long for the enjoyable time we were in China but it sure is nice to be home and start the next part of the adventure.
Thanks again for following our journey. There will be one more update to give you some insight on how we are settling in at home.
