On Getting Our Travel Date

Truth be told, I was getting really discouraged these past few weeks. Getting the travel dates so close on the heals of the successful court date was a little surreal (and completely wonderful). At the same time, things suddenly seem so real. I now feel like this really is going to happen. (As if the months of paperwork, months of waiting for a referral, and agonizing wait for a successful court date hadn't given me an idea that this is really happening.)

Thus begins the mad dash to make travel plans, pack, and in general get ready to have my life joyously turned upside down by two little cuties. It's like after going up the long, steep incline of a rollercoaster, finally going down the stomach-dropping hill and starting to scream, the good "I can't believe, but am so thrilled this is happening" kind of scream. It's scary, but great all at the same time. Now's the time to just hang on and enjoy the ride.

But I know there is a ton to do before we leave. As I’ve mentioned before, I have lists, lots of lists. Now is the time when those lists (not to mention the hours of research) are going to come in handy. I first pulled out my “To Do Before Travel” list:
1. Make travel plans and book flight – check
2. Book hotel in Rome
3. Call credit card company and inform them of large purchases and international travel – check
4. Call bank and inform them of our international travel plans, oh wait, I work at our bank, they already know I’m traveling internationally.
5. Update lists: Travel Paperwork Checklist, Packing, Orphanage Donations, Last Minute Purchases, Places to See in Addis, Questions to Ask Nannies, Pictures to Take, Questions to Ask Birth Parents (if we can meet them), Items to Buy in Ethiopia, Return Grocery Shopping
6. Learn Amharic. Take the advice of another adoptive mom and learn the most important phrase in Amharic, “I love you, precious one” and get a good interpreter.
7. Collect travel paperwork.
8. Make copies of travel paperwork to give to our mothers to call on in case of an emergency.
9. Get travel insurance (because our health insurance is no good in Ethiopia).
10. Write out address labels to use for post cards in country.
11. Buy calling card to be used in Ethiopia.
12. Clean house.
13. Collect donations for the orphanages and transition home.
14. Pack.
15. Maintain my sanity while doing all of the above and I'm sure more of which I have yet to think.