China Adoption #2

dna · 09-09-2005, 04:58 PM

Okay Ladies
Welcome to the China #2 Thread !
Yes I changed my msg coz I was tired of looking at what I never did

I am such a bright spark

~Traci~ · 09-09-2005, 04:59 PM

That's fine w/ me!

I knew it was getting big b/c it was taking longer and longer to get in to the thread...

We're taking a lead bag for the film but you can only do that in your carry on bag. We're going Carry On Only meaning that we're not checking any of our bags in when we travel. We will on the way home but not on the way there just to make it easier.

Kat set it up so that our signatures only show up one time per page so the threads don't get so long any more.

~~~~~~~~~

Ok, I just measured all our luggage.

Here's what we have:
1-18x14x7=39"
1-17x13x6=36"
1-19x12x7=38"

(these 2 are the same bag but the larger measurement is when it's expanded and the smaller is when it's not)
1-22x13x12=47"
1-22x13x9=44"

So w/ these measurements which ones do you think would be good COO after looking @ my packing list Lisa?

Like I said, we used the Spacebags last weekend and failed miserably. We still went COO but one bag had most of our clothes in it & the other bag had our shoes & some clothes in it and we also had another bag w/ our maps & confirmations in it. It was still considered COO but I was trying to get everything in 1 suitcase. We took these: 1-18x14x7=39"; 1-17x13x6=36".

I'm thinking we're going to have to buy another suitcase around 44-45" b/c the others will be too small... The 47" one is too big but would be good for checkin on the way home since it expands as long as we don't expand it on the way there. Also, do they measure wheels when they give those measurements b/c my measurements are just for the suitcase itself & not the wheels/handles.

Ok, I'm getting neurotic again!

I was so hoping that our I-171H would be in the mail today but alas, it wasn't...

I know it's only been 1 1/2 weeks but I wish it was here already!

TTYL
Traci

Lisa67 · 09-09-2005, 06:36 PM

Great idea about a new thread. Maybe we can ask Lisa to make the other one a sticky though so we don't lose it. Maybe it should be closed too and questions can just continue here? Isn't that how other groups on SC do their "group" threads? Just a thought.

I have to run out to a meeting but I'll be on later to read your above comments.

(((((HUGS)))))

HISIRISHGEM · 09-09-2005, 06:51 PM

Oh my Gosh Traci...You've got me Terrified!!lol I'm neurotic like you and this will drive me nuts! I'm already thinking of going to look at suitcases. You have any ideas on good luggage??lol

~Traci~ · 09-09-2005, 07:15 PM

Oh No Rebekah! Don't be terrified at all! You don't have to go COO at all. We're doing it mainly b/c on the way home we'll only be able to have 50 lbs check in versus the 70 lbs that most people can have since we'll be taking a domestic flight from Boston to Dallas 1 day after we get back. So we're going COO on the way there and non-COO on the way home. This way we can buy a big suitcase there and pack all our clothes in there and then all the breakables will be w/ us on the flight to make sure they don't get tossed everywhere.

We don't have the best, most expensive luggage but it's been to Germany 3 times (4 in a few months) as well as all over the country several times. Some of our pieces we bought at Walmart and some we've bought @ Target. They seriously weren't the best pieces and some are better than others.

When looking for luggage, make sure you get inline wheels. Some that we have don't have inline wheels and they tend to flip over sometimes. We have a small suitcase that I took w/ us and had to put my other bag on to of it to balance it out so it wouldn't flip. Even so, it did flip a couple times b/c of going over rough places. Also make sure the fronts of the suitcases have atleast 2 pockets. All of our suitcases have 1 large pocket and it's a pain to search for things in there... The next suitcases we get will have atleast 1 large pocket & 1 small pocket.

TTYL
Traci

HISIRISHGEM · 09-09-2005, 07:41 PM

Great! I have the crappy one that you speak of...from years of traveling in England. I know what you speak of. I haven't been in the market for suitcases in a long time and now I think its time since I'm married. There's doug and I to think of and Emma Grace. So a new need exhists....out with the old and in with the new. Thanks for the heads up! I'll start looking. AAA has discounts on luggage at different places...I'll see if that makes a difference as well.

~Traci~ · 09-09-2005, 07:56 PM

Thanks Lisa for answering my questions on the other thread!

I have yet another question...I'm seriously full of them lately!

Can you get board books in China that are english/mandarin? I was going to bring 3 books w/ us to read to Aimee but it would be great if we could get them there and if they had english/mandarin b/c they would be special for her!

Amy - In the first post, can you put a link to the previous thread? That way it doesn't have to be sticky'd but can still be closed, it would take up less room on the forum page and may even take up less room on the spankin' new server!

TTYL
Traci

FormerNYer · 09-09-2005, 08:04 PM

Hey everyone! Just want to share that I finally got my letter from the Dr and sent it to CCAI. We have been officially approved!! Woo hoo! Now comes the pita part of this all. But I am seriously excited to begin this journey.

~Traci~ · 09-09-2005, 08:13 PM

Congrats! Now begins the fun part

Traci

dna · 09-09-2005, 09:28 PM

Traci yes I can but How do I do a link ?

Ah luggage...I have no idea what we are going to do about that just yet...I am going to wait and see if people offer us theirs

We have our Preparing for baby and Pretravel meeting next Sunday so I will have lots more info then !

strawberree · 09-09-2005, 10:22 PM

I got an email from the courier service we are using for our documents.... our docs are being processed (as of yesterday) at the chinese embassy in NY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

btw.. we are using www.legal-eaze.com if anyone is interested

HISIRISHGEM · 09-10-2005, 12:03 AM

Melissa...Matthews New pics are hysterical!!!!

Lisa67 · 09-10-2005, 02:32 PM

First off--**CONGRATULATIONS STRAWBERREE**!! I'm so happy for you!!

Tracie--I have *no clue* about luggage sizes. I can't estimate the sizes we took--but we didn't COO anyway. Um, you know the size a lot of people have that fits in the overhead bins or under your seat? It's the kind with the telescopic handle and wheels...well we took 2 of those and one larger one. Plus some smaller bags too. I see no future of us COO so I'm not really sure what we're packing all our stuff in. We'll have less donations and gifts because I'm going to streamline those and choose better so I know we'll have more space on that respect.

As for books---I only saw books in Mandarin and even then there weren't too many, or at least I didn't really look for them. I will be getting CDs next time though and look at more children's items than I did the last time. Our Pedi that traveled did give all the girls a little book that was all characters and pinyin. It was neat--Emily's went over body parts!

Amy--To put the other thread in this top thread you just need to copy & past the thread link and edit it into the first thread on this page. I'll PM Lisa right now to see if she can lock the other thread -- and if you can't, I'll ask her to insert the link on your post too. She can do that as a Mod.

XO everyone!

~Traci~ · 09-10-2005, 03:02 PM

Amy - Lisa explained it

Strawberree - Yay! We don't even need to deal w/ couriers or anything b/c our agency does that all but it's good to know for others if they're not using CAWLI

Lisa - Ok, I guess I'll put the books back on my packing list

We looked at luggage last night while we were waiting for my IL's in Walmart. We went over there house as they were leaving to go to Walmart so we followed them and went shopping w/ them. We detoured and looked at luggage. We found a couple good pieces for not too much that would work as CO. We didn't buy them but we know they're there. They have the good wheels and the handle is the locking kind so you can either lock it up or down.

We also bought a cute photo album that's pink & purple w/ butterflies on it. It's completely outlined in glitter and all the butterflies are outlined in glitter as well!

I figure it will be Aimee's special photo album!

TTYL
Traci

dna · 09-10-2005, 06:22 PM

What is COO ? Carry on something ?