Preparing for China Trip

The adoption process moved in predictable and reasonably quick (relatively speaking) steps once we received our Letter of Acceptance (LOA) in early November, but once we got our Travel Approval at the end of December, travel planning kicked into high gear.  We left less than a month later.

During the long wait, I had casually researched what we would need to do to prepare to leave for China, but when our departure was suddenly imminent, I could hardly think straight about all that we had to do and didn't know where to start.  I finally sat down and drafted a to-do list.  It was three pages long and, no, we didn't manage to check everything off that list.  But when it was all said and done, we made it to China and back home again with our two children.  

The list here contains travel prep I think applies to most people. I edited out the items specific to our family, like registering our son for kindergarten, since the deadline fell while we were away.  We left our older children home with Grandma and Grandpa and had people staying at the house the whole time we were gone, so our to-do list reflects that situation.  

House and Cars
	Paint kids’ room
	Furnish kids’ room
	Decorate kids’ room
	Car maintenance (oil changes, windshield washer fluid, etc.)
	Schedule house cleaning while we’re away
	Instructions and check for house cleaner
	Stock up on household items (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.)
	Withhold mail
	Stop newspaper
	Arrange care for pets
	Find someone to tend gardens - water plants, weed as needed
	Find someone to mow the lawn
	Arrange snow removal
	Leave extra house key with neighbors
Adoption Tasks
	Using list from agency, compile all adoption documents and store in plastic file folder
	Copy files onto flash drive
	Request cash from bank for orphanage donation
	Gifts for civil affairs, nannies, etc.
Travel
	Research flights
	Contract travel agents
	Book flights once we have CA
	Research travel insurance
	Contact health insurance company about coverage in China
	Print additional passport photos (for visa and travel)
	Double-check your passport is still valid for at least six more months past your return date
	Fill out and sign visa paperwork
	Mail to courier (we used There’s Always Hope)
	Purchase supplies for trip (see packing list)
	Notify credit card companies of your travel plans
	Ask bank and credit card company about fees for withdrawing money overseas
	Book hotel in Hong Kong
	Contact doctor about vaccinations, prescriptions, etc.
	Fill prescriptions
	Leave behind copies of passports, visas, credit cards, drivers license
	E-mail family and friends travel itinerary and how to reach us
	Verify flights within three days of travel
Miscellaneous
	Set up VPNs on laptop and cell phones
	Download podcasts, movies (for you and the kids), ebooks, games
	Schedule appointments with specialists, pediatrician, International Adoption Clinic for return
	Set up auto-pay to pay bills
	Freeze meals
	Get haircuts
	E-mail family and friends info about airport homecoming
	Put gym membership on hold
	Install kids’ car seats in the minivan
For those staying with our children
	Medical power of attorney for children
	Visa gift cards to cover expenses for the kids
	List of emergency numbers/contact information
	Grocery list of what we’d like stocked up for our return
	Photo albums of our family for the kids
	Paper chain for the kids to count down the days until our return
	Notify preschool about our departure
	Schedule babysitters to relieve Grandma and Grandpa while we’re gone
	Notes for caregivers about the kids’ routines, trash and recycling days, etc.
	Share Internet connection password
Day Before Departure
	Change voice mail greeting on cell phone
	Clean out wallet and only bring what’s absolutely necessary
	Trial run with packing to make sure everything fits and is under weight limit
Day of Departure
	Put fresh sheets on the bed
	Take out the trash