We went to the US Consulate this afternoon for a quick interview, and then we took the oath in a large room with about 40 other families. We were not allowed to bring cameras into the room. A US foreign service officer made a speech and administered the oath to the group. Tomorrow our guide will be able to pick up Phoebe Li's passport and visa that will enable us to leave the country and enter the US with her.
Our guide is allowed to pick up the Visa and passport from the consulate after 3pm tomorrow. Our train to Hong Kong is departing at 4pm...and so Grace will run the documents over to the train station where we will be waiting to board. Nothing like cutting it close. We will be given the Visa and other documents in a brown envelope, and we have been given strict instructions that this envelope is not to be opened, but handed to the immigration officer at the airport. Phoebe Li will acquire US citizenship at port of entry, which is Newark.
Our plan is to take the train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong tomorrow, and stay one night at the Sky City Marriott at the Hong Kong airport. Then our flight departs Hong Kong at 10:25am on Saturday...we'll be flying backward in time, and hope to land in Boston Saturday at 5:30pm after more than 18 hours of travel. We were happy to find out today that our new friends from Maryland will be on the same flight to Newark...Phoebe Li and their daughter Lia Grace are from the same orphanage.
It's been a whirlwind two weeks, and it's hard to believe we'll be leaving China so soon. The Chinese people have been so gracious and helpful at every moment, and we look forward to returning one day when Phoebe Li is older. Dan and I really appreciate everyone's love and support at home through these long four years. We could not have endured the wait without you. Looking forward to seeing you all very soon!!
