Merely 30 hours until we board that plane. Travelling as "FIT" travellers has proven to be a far bigger task than any of us realized, but we are optimistic that it will also be a far more rewarding trip than any of us expect. Before you spend too much time picturing the Henderclan on StairMasters and touring bikes, "FIT" is an acronym for "Fully Independent Travellers" that is used in China for those adventurous (and we hope not foolish) enough to plan their own trip throughout China without the benefit(?) of a tour group or full time tour guide. For us, it was the only way to fully open ourselves to the exploration of our daughters cultural and personal history.
It is indeed odd sitting here contemplating our imminent departure. There is the normal anticipation that preceeds any trip to an exotic location. Plus the expectation that comes with any opportunity to spend uniterrupted time together growing closer as a family. And still there is something more, something much larger, that I can't quite put into words. It is a sense that, quite possibly, this trip will play a critical role in our daughter's developing self concepts. Of course, that is balanced with the knowledge that the trip may have far more emotional resonance for Maureen and I, .........but just maybe ......it will be so much more.
This is the record of our family's first return to China to discover what we can about our daughter's cultural and personal history. We hope friends and family enjoy following along on our trip, and perhaps we can inspire a few other families to undertake this kind of journey.
The Hendersons
It'll be warmer in China
About Us
- The Hendersons:
- Bill and Maureen adopted Ciana, now 12 years old, from Nanchang, China in August 1996. All three returned to China in November 1999 to adopt Kailyn, now 9 years old, from Lu'an a town near Hefei in Anhui province.
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