May 2002

Usually we have an adolescent or two  on the trip – they having convinced their parents that their trip to China will be much more enriching than any school they would miss. But we always give them, as longtime readers might have noticed, the dreaded “Trip Report” assignment. This time, however, we had no reluctant teenagers nor even somewhat more willing preteens. We did, however, have three very young, soon-to-be-older-sisters. So, being somewhat unreasonable, given  their pre-essay ages, we asked the girls to write about their experiences.

And, with help from parents, they did just that.

So here we present the observations of Suzanna, Zoe and Lauren.

You might note that Suzanna and Lauren both mention their new friend ‘Fay’. Many of you who have travelled have met Fay. She is the young delightful guide who helps Yulin in Beijing – the youngsters always take to her.

Suzanna’s Story

Suzanna HuiLin was born on December 10 1997 in the province of Zhezhiang. She went with her parents, Gerard Hobeika and Jessica Chan to adopt her sister Anissa Huili.

When my Mama and Papa told me we were going to China to bring my baby sister home. I started telling everybody. My friends at school, my teacher, my neighbors. I always liked babies. I was going to become Jiejie (Big Sister).

I left, with my parents, my friend Zoe Loh, who, like me was adopted from China almost 4 years ago, uncle Richard her dad, and auntie Claudina.

We had 4 days to spend in Shanghai waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. I was able to visit the city, play with Zoe and shop with Mama and Auntie Claudina. There was a big department store, next to our hotel with a great toy section. Zoe and myself spent lots of time there. Papa too was having fun meeting interesting people in the elevators. Shanghai was big, much more crowded than Canada. It had large avenues, decorated with flowers and lots of tall buildings. But I didn’t care much about all of this.  I was so impatient to meet Meimei?  (little sister).

Finally the last stage of our journey. We took a long bus ride across the Chinese countryside to Hefei. Soon the babies started arriving at our hotel.  My little sister Anissa HuiLi, looked exactly like the picture we had. People say that I might be too young to  remember, but I don’t think I will ever forget. All the babies were crying. Papa was signing all kind of papers, Mama was holding Meimei and I was helping.

We stayed one week in Hefei. We had to get the new baby’s papers ready. In the meantime I was having a great time with Zoe and my new friend Lauren who was adopted from China too. Meimei was getting used to everybody, but not to Papa. She was also eating a lot, and using lots of diapers. I was trying to be mama’s helper.

Beijing was big compared to Hefei. There were also lots of places to visit. I climbed the Great Wall. Beijing was very hot. We went to see the pandas at the zoo without her. We also went to the summer Palace, Tianamen Square and the Temple of Heaven, and of course shopping while she quietly stayed in her room at the hotel with a babysitter.

We had came to Beijing to get my little sister a visa from the Canadian Embassy (and for shopping). She had to have a medical exam. In the meantime Mama and Auntie Claudina went out again to buy as much stuff as they could. They kept saying things are much cheaper here than in Canada. We went from one market to market, shopping center to shopping center. You never pay what they ask. It was a marathon, with the heat and the impossible Beijing traffic.

We found everything we needed in China. We didn’t need to bring anything from Canada…..next time we will not. Department stores, shops and supermarkets are everywhere and open late everyday. Papa was never shy to ask for aggressive discounts – all brand name clothes could be bought at a fraction of their asking price.

I became a good friend of our guide, Fay. She was with us all the time. We went out to eat with her a few times. We also went to see the Beijing acrobats show together.

Finally it was time to go back home. I had missed almost 3 weeks of school.  I also wanted to show Meimei to everyone. They were all waiting for her.

She was very good on that long trip home. The flight attendants call this flight the ‘baby flight’. They gave us toys, games and asked all kind of questions and treated us different from the other passengers who were all charmed by the eight babies on board.

Meimei’s papers were processed when we landed in Vancouver. A gentleman working for the government welcomed her and congratulated us after he put the stamp on her passport.

Toronto and home were a few more hours to go. But this was the end of my baby sister’s life in China and the start of a new one in Canada with a new family. Like me she will never remember how we got her, but I will tell her everything when she gets older.

Note: Anissa became a Canadian citizen in July.

According to Lauren

The long trip to pick up my little sister

It was a long plane ride. On the way, driving to the airport when we were still in Canada, we saw some deer. It was a 5-hour plane ride to Vancouver. Then we had to wake up early again the next day to catch another flight that was 11 hours long. We went from Shanghai to Hefei on a bus to get my little sister.

I feel great about being a big sister after I saw Rebecca. I don’t like it when she cries. Also when she sleeps on my mommy’s lap and I want to go on my mommy's lap as well. I wish for her to go away then. But mostly I like having Rebecca as my little sister.

I really like Beijing. Going to the Great Wall and seeing the Summer Palace were my favourite parts.

Fay was my best friend on the trip. When it was time to leave to go on the airplane, I started to cry. Mom told me she cried too when she saw me feeling sad  and Fay cried too. I became very sad because I like Fay and I miss her even when we first left each other.

Lauren Yee

Lauren was born in August 1996 and adopted in October 1997. She travelled with parents Cheeli Lu and Jung Yee

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Zoe’s Diary

How I became a Che-Che
by Zoe Loh

May 15, 2002

These are our bags at the airport. Dad, mum, me, Uncle Gerard, Aunty Jesica and my friend Suzie are going to China

May 16, 2002

We had to fly in two airplanes. We are going to get our sisters. I am so excited.

May 17, 2002

In Shanghai Suzie and me went to the circus.

May 21, 2002

Today was very exciting. I met my sister for the first time. Today I became a Che-Che. I hugged and kissed her but she cried a lot. Mum said she was afraid. She liked her nannies a lot.

These are things I did in China.

1. Saw The Great Wall
2. Saw panda bears
3. Saw Temples
4. Made a new friend – Lauren
5. Saw an acrobat show
6. Went shopping

I liked China a lot and will come back to visit.