tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post1764549720649279212..comments2023-09-16T14:44:47.032+01:00Comments on Carpenters' Chaos: To Travel Or Not To TravelCarpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-42220801050262832162008-05-31T23:30:00.000+01:002008-05-31T23:30:00.000+01:00oh--whoops--haha, i put it up twice b/c the first ...oh--whoops--haha, i put it up twice b/c the first time i thought it didnt publish right but then i realized it just had to be approved.....hollagriggahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06768973286095180911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-56580429224066538782008-05-31T23:25:00.000+01:002008-05-31T23:25:00.000+01:00sounds like you wanna go early, for numerous stell...sounds like you wanna go early, for numerous stellar reasons. i would def say let your desire have more say in the decision than fear/anxiety. aka i would go for it!hollagriggahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06768973286095180911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-14980306185383981832008-05-30T15:42:00.000+01:002008-05-30T15:42:00.000+01:00Leah! I'm a blast from the UT past - Anne Taylor ...Leah! I'm a blast from the UT past - Anne Taylor found your blog and sent me the link. There is an adoption blog I found that I read occassionally - they adopted a son from Ethopia about a year ago. Here is the link - <BR/>http://bottomlysandethiopia.blogspot.com/<BR/>I don't know them, but they may have some good info for you. How exciting for y'all! I'm glad to see you are doing well with your beautiful family.<BR/><BR/>Cary Reams LuhnCaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14607183784645307683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-37756412152939813182008-05-28T19:31:00.000+01:002008-05-28T19:31:00.000+01:00My initial reaction is to have fun & travel! This...My initial reaction is to have fun & travel! This may be your only chance to be able to explore Ethiopia for quite some time. And, it would be really amazing to be able to share your experience with him in the future w/ photos, etc. I would not think of it as selfish at all. Can't wait to see him...The Trone's: James, Misty, and Bella Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14757341709851462769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-17672566190405195232008-05-23T19:45:00.000+01:002008-05-23T19:45:00.000+01:00we are also waiting for a referral... we are both ...we are also waiting for a referral... we are both semi seasoned world travellers... so from our perspective i would YES absolutley as much as your employer(s?) and budgets will allow.... our current kids are of the canine and feline kind and they stay at our 'rents all the time so its not loss for them.... I'm told the stone churches north of Addis (~2.5 hrs by plane) are not to be missed, and once you are with child in Ethiopia i think it would be quite difficult to do this.... climbing, crawling etc can be required...... bu that's my take on itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-3245082288866512612008-05-23T14:01:00.000+01:002008-05-23T14:01:00.000+01:00I think a few days to get out of DC and refocus on...I think a few days to get out of DC and refocus on each other before the whirlwind of another small child in the house sets in sounds like a great idea to me. Crawling into a jeep and driving around rural Ethiopia for 3 days when you haven't traveled in the developing world much previously seems risky. I don't think any of the options are "wrong".<BR/><BR/>It all sounds pretty exciting to me!KCGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03834180901766966259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-10249282103702619322008-05-21T14:19:00.000+01:002008-05-21T14:19:00.000+01:00Hmmm, tough call Tom. It was easier to comment on...Hmmm, tough call Tom. It was easier to comment on the Cinderella video or the haircut story :-) When do you think you'll be going back to Ethiopia for a second trip? If so maybe you could visit more stuff then. I've got a great friend Ross who was an Intern at Windy gap with me who spent almost 2 years in Addis Abba on YL staff- let me know if you want his contact info. His stories of the people there were AMAZING. Good Luck making your decision- whatever y'all choose, you have to trust that it will be the right one.JTPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297220831765924656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-65840481791225953612008-05-21T02:26:00.000+01:002008-05-21T02:26:00.000+01:00Just follow your heart TC...I do think your expect...Just follow your heart TC...<BR/><BR/>I do think your expectation of getting an understanding of the Ethiopian culture in 3 days is a little idealistic though. Might be time to get outta DC... I think the 'politics of hope' are rubbing off on you.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198319976551050894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-63153198298770700532008-05-17T14:45:00.000+01:002008-05-17T14:45:00.000+01:00I would actually talk to Gladney about this. Even ...I would actually talk to Gladney about this. Even though you will be scheduled to arrive in Ethiopia at a certain time based on your embassy appointment, it is not unheard-of to arrive earlier and spend extra time bonding with your child. <BR/><BR/>I do know that Habesha Child (http://habeshachild.wordpress.com/) was with a different agency and spent some time touring the country before picking up Elsa from the orphanage. Again, I would speak with Gladney as their travel packet makes it clear that they anticipate you will be accompanied by a driver at all times when you are traveling in Ethiopia. Habesha Child might be a good resource for you to consult- ask if she would do the travel all over again (the tour she took was exhausting, by the way.)<BR/><BR/>Personal opinion: if you are going to arrive in Ethiopia early, spend the time bonding with your new little one. There is plenty to see and do in Addis, and you can still spend time with your little one. And it might be nice to be doing something low-key before taking baby from the orphanage, espcially since baby might have a lot of needs as he transitions to his new family. It would give you and Leah a chance to spend time together while also "resting up" for the new baby. IMHO.<BR/><BR/>Hope that helps!<BR/><BR/>Hope that helps!gracelinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12682893769698129746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-52753335144126016872008-05-17T02:13:00.000+01:002008-05-17T02:13:00.000+01:00EEk! This is a hard one for me. It's pretty person...EEk! <BR/>This is a hard one for me. It's pretty personal, I guess. And if someone else comments here that they'd love to travel, I wouldn't want to be the "downer" person. But I wouldn't have traveled (on that particular trip), simply because I wanted have the focus of the trip to be our son. So for me, I'd beat myself up if something were to happen in those days before picking up Sam... I know... I'm so morbid! But you know, like a car accident or getting really sick or something... that would totally take away from meeting my child for the first time ever. Remember these are personal thoughts... I'm not saying you or whoever shouldn't travel, I'm just saying it wouldn't have been right for us. I also think that, even though the in-country staff wouldn't be in charge of you at that point- it still puts extra stress on them, b/c they know you're there and will be worrying about you a bit (b/c they are very caring like that). Plus you can't drive too far away from Addis (In terms of the places you're thinking of) easily- most people fly to the far-away places (the churches, etc). <BR/>I hope that helps a little? <BR/>love you guys! <BR/>beccamama becca https://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com