We have finally moved and settled in Ilan! Boy, what an adventure we had these last few weeks.
When the time was approaching for us to move, we heard roads were still closed due to mudslides and rockfalls, so we weren't too sure if we would actually move on the 15 August as originally planned. Also because we were organising a move through a friend using her friend, so it is kind of like playing "broken down telephone"!!! LOL
Anyway, then the threat of another typhoon, this time upgraded to a category 5, arrives a few days before we are due to move! Jason and I start getting a bit concerned because if the 2 previous ones flooded our town, what will it be like with a category 5????
Wednesday morning, the day we are due to move, I am checking weather reports, and they are confirming that the typhoon will make landfall by Saturday. Jason and I decide it is time for the kids and I to pack up and go!!! So I throw the rest of our stuff that I had not yet packed into boxes (running around like a mad woman, telling the kids to stay in their room until I tell them they can come out - except for Willow-River, who was my helper!)...
We then call for a taxi to take us to Kaohsiung (an hour or so by car, AND during 5pm rush hour), just as we are about to arrive in Kaohsiung, Asia-Faith, who had been sitting in the back started getting restless, so I put her on my lap in the front, and then guess what??? She vomitted all over me!!!! YUCK!!! I guess she was feeling a little car-sick! Then the taxi driver hands me a plastic packet, and his tissues, and there is only 1 tissue left in the box! Just then we arrive at the High Speed Rail (train), and we all get out of the taxi! Now we have 4 kids, 1 stroller, 1 cat who we are trying to hide in a basket in a bag as we did not know if they let cats on the train, (and I forgot about her when we packed the taxi, and we put her in the boot! I was really praying she would survive the hour in the boot - she did!)... Not to mention we had a big bag of our clothes (I tried to pack light, but you know me, always need to take extras - just in case!), the computer, and my handbag - and noone around to help, not even a trolley!
Next stop were the toilets as we had to get all the puke cleaned up and get changed, then we headed off to go and buy tickets for the train. By this time I was now exhausted! Our train was due to leave at around 7:30pm or so, so we headed straight to where we needed to board. Finally we all got on the train, the kids loved it, but I just couldn't wait to get to our final destination. We were to arrive in Taipei and then still another train trip to Ilan (2 hours or so)...
We finally arrive in Taipei, and just as I am getting all the bags together the boys say there is daddy! I thought they were being funny as we were still on the train and dad would be upstairs waiting, but no! There he was!!! He had bought a ticket so that he could get on the platform and meet us there!!! I was SOOOOOO happy to see him!!!
We decided to take a taxi to Ilan (Loudong actually), as it would be alot quicker than the train. So we took the taxi and arrived in Loudong at the apartment Jason had been staying with a friend, Sam. I was just so happy to be back with my man and almost to our new home!!!
We stayed with Sam for a few days, and then on the Saturday the typhoon made landfall!!!! Wow, it was something else! The wind was howling and the trees were almost doubled over. Once it was over we went for a walk and there were just so many broken trees lying around, but not all that much other damage.
Then Sunday we finally moved to our apartment! It was the first time I was seeing it and it is really great!
We only managed to get our stuff from Donggang about 2 weeks later, so now all is well and we (or should I say *I*) have finished unpacking, and everything has basically found its home:)
As for the adoption process, well, the papers were sent to Ilan courts, only to be returned to the Taitung courts because that is where Asia-Faith's household registry is held. So we are waiting yet again for a court date... hoping it will be at the end of September.
Enjoy the pics....
