Travel Itinerary

Our Korean adventure is planned out now!  Here's what we're doing:

Saturday 9/22 - Fly to Korea  (8:30AM Portland to Seattle Alaskan Air, 2:20pm Seattle to Seoul Asiana Air)  Long layover, but at least I get to catch some of the Beaver football game at the airport!

Sunday 9/23 - 5:50pm Arrive in Korea  (we lose a day crossing the dateline)  Total time from start to finish - 17hrs 20min!!

Monday 9/24 - 9:30am City Tour.  We get a personal tour of sites in Seoul from a Holt volunteer.  The tour includes GyeongBokGung Palace or Deoksugung Palace

Tuesday 9/25 - on our own for more sightseeing and shopping

Wednesday 9/26 - 3pm appointment at Holt to meet foster family and pick up Sam!

Thursday 9/27 - free time with Sam

Friday 9/28 - more Sam time

Saturday 9/29 - fly home  (Seoul - Seattle - Portland)  Leave Seoul at 6:40pm, arrive at Portland 6:21pm.  I've always wanted to travel back in time!

We are staying at the Somerset Hotel while we are there.  It is really nice and is a great location right in the middle of Seoul.  http://www.somerset.com/  Also, Julie will be accompanying us on the trip!  My adopted sister will be making her first trip to back to Korea - the country she was born.  She'll be a big help by being an extra set of hands for us and holding the video camera when we pick up Sam on Wednesday.

We'll be posting pictures of our adventure as we go.  Please pray for safe travel, smooth travel logistics, and sleep for us!  We are already having troubles sleeping over anxiety and excitement about the trip and we haven't travelled anywhere yet!

Wednesday will be an intensely emotional experience for everyone involved.  We are tearing Sam away from the only mom and dad he knows.  The foster family who has never fostered previously will be losing a loved one.  We'll be finally getting our boy!  After years of trying to get pregnant and failing.  After an adoption that has been one of the most trying experiences we've ever experienced, with delay after delay, wondering if we'd ever get to see our boy.  It all comes to a head that day.  Please pray for God's hand over this whole event.  And especially pray for Sam's transition to his new family.

One more thing...  When we return with Sam I know everyone will be anxious to see him.  We ask that you please allow us some time to ourselves initially as he bonds to his new mom and dad and adapts to his new environment.  There will be no big welcome home parties or parades.  I don't know how quickly he'll adjust, but I'd say after a week we can probably start taking visitors.  If you want to come over, please call us first and we'll schedule you in!

OK, enough of that, let's get this trip started!