Here we are off to college, and this blog is now more than complete. Good bye.
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Jade Bok Choy...Edible Version
those of you who know about my fascination with this object in Taiwan's National Palace Museum will understand. Others...well, it is hard to explain. Suffice to say, I have an obsession. Just be happy I'm not obsessed with the meat stone (to which the same restaurant has an ode as well...)
check it out.
Jadeite Cabbage with Insects
One of the most famous masterpieces at the National Palace Museum, this dish utilizes fresh bokchoy sum (Chinese cabbage heart) from the farms of mid-Taiwan of comparable size and color to the artifact. Chefs boil it in a broth of quality chicken and ham, and serve it as a salad with black sesame sauce or as a hot dish with a dark broth sauce. The insects are represented by sergestid shrimps, which are high in calcium and proteins.
One of the most famous masterpieces at the National Palace Museum, this dish utilizes fresh bokchoy sum (Chinese cabbage heart) from the farms of mid-Taiwan of comparable size and color to the artifact. Chefs boil it in a broth of quality chicken and ham, and serve it as a salad with black sesame sauce or as a hot dish with a dark broth sauce. The insects are represented by sergestid shrimps, which are high in calcium and proteins.
(jade sculpture on the right; edible version on left)
p.s. here's the meatstone if you're curious:
(natural stone version on right; edible version on left)
AWESOME, NO? =)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The end of a dream realized.
I attended a baby shower yesterday.
A fairly normal event, but it marked a significant change in my life.
The mother-to-be, already the mother of a 7 year old girl, has tried for years for a second child, with whom she is now pregnant. The newest baby is a girl...so i gave her a blanket. a pink, soft, fluffy potterybarn kids blanket. and i wept.
I purchased that blanket for my future daughter. I was never a "buyer". I did not buy clothes, toys, anything...because once we sent our paperwork to China, the line came to a screeching halt, and I had enough sense to guard my heart. But when I saw the blanket, I had to buy it. One item.
It's gone now.
with my dreams.
Given that we will soon have a son, and little patience for the never-ending wait signaling China's attempt to "shoo" everyone away, that particular blanket will be used and hopefully loved by its new owner...and I need to release the wave of grief that has been building over the past 30 months....and come to terms that my dream of a daughter is no longer a dream I can pursue.
Please be kind to us this holiday season.
A fairly normal event, but it marked a significant change in my life.
The mother-to-be, already the mother of a 7 year old girl, has tried for years for a second child, with whom she is now pregnant. The newest baby is a girl...so i gave her a blanket. a pink, soft, fluffy potterybarn kids blanket. and i wept.
I purchased that blanket for my future daughter. I was never a "buyer". I did not buy clothes, toys, anything...because once we sent our paperwork to China, the line came to a screeching halt, and I had enough sense to guard my heart. But when I saw the blanket, I had to buy it. One item.
It's gone now.
with my dreams.
Given that we will soon have a son, and little patience for the never-ending wait signaling China's attempt to "shoo" everyone away, that particular blanket will be used and hopefully loved by its new owner...and I need to release the wave of grief that has been building over the past 30 months....and come to terms that my dream of a daughter is no longer a dream I can pursue.
Please be kind to us this holiday season.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What Comes Next?
The following is a description of what has to happen before Jacob can come home. As you can see, this bears a great similarity to adoption in the United States. We will know that Jacob's adoption has been completely above board, no questions asked, which makes us very happy.
Taiwan Adoption Court Process
1. District Court Process
a. The family court office reviews the case/petition and a Judge is assigned to the case.
b. Judge reviews and considers the case and schedules a "hearing". Hearings are handled differently depending on the birth family's situation, the judge's schedule, persons representing the birth family and those representing the adoptive family. The time involved in getting a hearing scheduled depends on the judge's calendar/schedule and that of everyone else required to attend. Hearings can result in--The immediate decision to finalize the adoption (though this is rarely the case) or - Result in the judge's request for more information (in one case we saw the judge request additional counseling for the birthmother and he scheduled a follow-up hearing. Again, this is rare). -Most often, the hearing just provides a judge with more information about the case and allows him/her to rule on the adoption with confidence. Most often, the judge's decision (final ruling) happens weeks or even as long as months after the hearing. The responsibility of the District Court is to make sure that every issue related to the best interest of the child has been considered. Though lengthy & frustrating at times, the District Court process protects the child, the birth parent, the organization caring for the child, AND in the end protects us as adoptive parents. When the District Court decisions have been made, adoptive families can be confident that the process was handled with consideration and in the best interest of the child. 2-4 MONTHS
2. Part I of Final Decree (first decree).Once the District Court hearing has been completed and the judge has had time to make a decision to finalize the adoption, he/she issues the first part of the Final Decree. This is a short statement signed by the judge that is forwarded to the parties involved (social services organization on behalf of the adoptive family and the birth family) notifying everyone of his/her decision to finalize the adoption. This first part of the Final Decree must go to each party and there is a waiting period of 10 days before any more can happen to ensure that everyone has been notified of the judge's decision. 2-4 WEEKS.
3. Part II of Final Decree.Once the 10 day waiting period is up (and the court staff finds time!), the second part of the Final Decree is forwarded to all parties. When the second part of the decree is received by your child's social service organization, the court process is DONE!
4. Household registration change and immigration requirements. Before adoptive family travels, a lot must be accomplished by the child's social service organization. All court documents and background info on the child must be officially translated to English and submitted with certain paperwork to AIT. Also, the child must have his/her Visa medical exam which is forwarded directly (unopened) to AIT's immigrant visa office. At some point the child's guardian must file for a household registration change. The household registration is a file located at local government offices in Taiwan that contains certificates and information about each person in Taiwan. Your child's household registration is attached to his/her guardian's file until the adoption has been finalized by the Taiwan courts. Once the child has been legally adopted in Taiwan, the guardian files with the government office to remove the file from theirs and create a new file showing that the adoptive parent(s) are the new legal guardians.The household registration change takes a day or two or a week depending on the placing organization and the local government office. 2-4 WEEKS.
5. New family receives a travel date. Each organization in Taiwan is different in when and how they schedule a travel date. Some wait until all of the above paperwork is filed and then give the family notice to travel quickly. Some schedule the travel in advance, while they work at preparing the above documents, giving a couple of weeks notice before travel.
Taiwan Adoption Court Process
1. District Court Process
a. The family court office reviews the case/petition and a Judge is assigned to the case.
b. Judge reviews and considers the case and schedules a "hearing". Hearings are handled differently depending on the birth family's situation, the judge's schedule, persons representing the birth family and those representing the adoptive family. The time involved in getting a hearing scheduled depends on the judge's calendar/schedule and that of everyone else required to attend. Hearings can result in--The immediate decision to finalize the adoption (though this is rarely the case) or - Result in the judge's request for more information (in one case we saw the judge request additional counseling for the birthmother and he scheduled a follow-up hearing. Again, this is rare). -Most often, the hearing just provides a judge with more information about the case and allows him/her to rule on the adoption with confidence. Most often, the judge's decision (final ruling) happens weeks or even as long as months after the hearing. The responsibility of the District Court is to make sure that every issue related to the best interest of the child has been considered. Though lengthy & frustrating at times, the District Court process protects the child, the birth parent, the organization caring for the child, AND in the end protects us as adoptive parents. When the District Court decisions have been made, adoptive families can be confident that the process was handled with consideration and in the best interest of the child. 2-4 MONTHS
2. Part I of Final Decree (first decree).Once the District Court hearing has been completed and the judge has had time to make a decision to finalize the adoption, he/she issues the first part of the Final Decree. This is a short statement signed by the judge that is forwarded to the parties involved (social services organization on behalf of the adoptive family and the birth family) notifying everyone of his/her decision to finalize the adoption. This first part of the Final Decree must go to each party and there is a waiting period of 10 days before any more can happen to ensure that everyone has been notified of the judge's decision. 2-4 WEEKS.
3. Part II of Final Decree.Once the 10 day waiting period is up (and the court staff finds time!), the second part of the Final Decree is forwarded to all parties. When the second part of the decree is received by your child's social service organization, the court process is DONE!
4. Household registration change and immigration requirements. Before adoptive family travels, a lot must be accomplished by the child's social service organization. All court documents and background info on the child must be officially translated to English and submitted with certain paperwork to AIT. Also, the child must have his/her Visa medical exam which is forwarded directly (unopened) to AIT's immigrant visa office. At some point the child's guardian must file for a household registration change. The household registration is a file located at local government offices in Taiwan that contains certificates and information about each person in Taiwan. Your child's household registration is attached to his/her guardian's file until the adoption has been finalized by the Taiwan courts. Once the child has been legally adopted in Taiwan, the guardian files with the government office to remove the file from theirs and create a new file showing that the adoptive parent(s) are the new legal guardians.The household registration change takes a day or two or a week depending on the placing organization and the local government office. 2-4 WEEKS.
5. New family receives a travel date. Each organization in Taiwan is different in when and how they schedule a travel date. Some wait until all of the above paperwork is filed and then give the family notice to travel quickly. Some schedule the travel in advance, while they work at preparing the above documents, giving a couple of weeks notice before travel.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
At last...the News.
Meet Jacob Szu-Ching S******, born February 19, 2006 in Taiwan. "Jacob" is his American name...he does not know that yet.
Is he not the most adorable little boy EVER? I'm speechless, and have been so for the past 2 weeks, about his beauty. We have so much to do. His room is full of amplifiers, 8 track tapes, LP record albums, sheet music, computers, including an old Apple IIe, and the first Apple computer ever made (maybe not, it just seems like it to me!)...did I say we have SO MUCH WORK TO DO?
signing off as "giddy with anticipation"...