The Amazing Race!

Today was our last day on Shamian Island. We headed to our swearing-in ceremony around 2:30 where we met 55 other families who were all being sworn in at the same time. It was chaos but quite moving. A representative from the consulate addressed the group, had us raise our right hands to take an oath, and congratulated all of us on our adoptions.
Afterwards, the "Amazing Race" began. Of the 11 Harrah's families, 3 of the families (including us) were all supposed to board separate mini-vans and head to Hong Kong. We felt as though we really were on the television show. It was a rat race getting our luggage off of the bus, transferring to a van, and driving who knows where with a driver that spoke no English. After a couple of hours, we entered a parking lot where more vans were waiting for us (Hong Kong vans). We quickly played musical vans as we once again transferred our luggage to another van, let Maya and Shao take a quick wee in the bushes, and headed towards customs. We then had to fill out entry documents in the parking lot, drive through passport control #1 (the woman was asking where Shoa's father was, and was very surprised to see caccasion skin head Dom claim parental rights). She then asked for proof of our adoption certificate at which point Dom said "Don't you think he looks like me?", then passport control #2 (who actually believed we were Shao's parents), then the zapping by the temperature guns, then an additional hour to our hotel entrance. Finally in Hong Kong.

I bet you're all wondering who won. We don't want to get sentimental, but we think we're all winners as we are all going home with our beautiful sons and daughters.

Tomorrow we head out at 11:30 and land an hour later in Chicago (you figure out the time differance).