As our airplane reached the coastline of California, our daughter begin to grin with excitement. Down below was "meiguo" - America... the place she had been told about and was so excited to see. It was December 29th and we were on the homeward leg of our journey to China. We touched down at LAX and there our story begins....
The airport was bustling with holiday travelers and the melting pot that is California did not disappoint. The first person we met was an immigration officer of Hispanic descent who called for the next baby in line. Jen was counter top high as we stood there. He processed our daughter's documents from the American consulate in China and sent us to retrieve our luggage. Behind us in line stood three Chinese immigrants with papers in hand...making their entrance into this new world as well. I tried to smile and wanted to say welcome but I didn't. I knew in many ways that they were embarking on the same enterprise as our daughter...a new land, new dreams, a new future.
At the luggage carousel, I helped another Chinese lady in her 20s with some immense bags. Her English was quite clear and I guessed she too was moving to America. Back in immigration, we waited with half a dozen adoptive families from our flight. Nice people from all over the US watching over their little ones...minutes away from being granted the privilege of citizenship. Our name was called, we grabbed up our things and stood before another immigration officer. With a simple smile he handed us Jen's Chinese passport with the stamp that signified her citizenship. He said welcome...it wasn't Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty but she had made it finally.
In customs, we were greeted by a large man with a Russian accent. He looked at us and our papers and waved us through. Then a Hispanic immigration officer took our papers, looked at Jen and said "Ni hao". "What kind of place is this?" Jen must have thought. All the colors and accents must have been overwhelming.
Out at curbside, it looked like a gathering of the United Nations. People coming and going from every nation, tribe and tongue. My wife Kristy loved it. I overheard lots of conversations and very few in English. It was cold and we were weaving and bobbing with carry on luggage and a little exhausted girl in tow. We finally made it to the domestic terminal where we were greeted by two more security people. A kind African American man told us with a big smile that he once met an American couple who passed through LAX with their newly adopted child from China. Some years later, he met them once again returning from their second adoption trip. Such a huge place and so many people and so much time passed and he ends up meeting the same family twice!! He welcomed Jen and wished blessings upon us.
Jen negotiated security but almost got squished by a rolling cart. We were exhausted and after a long layover we caught the red eye back to Houston. Jen slept the whole way and night became morning. After thousands of miles we had arrived safely home and only lost two luggage wheels. We were in good health, good spirits and though tired we were very happy to be home to begin our new life.
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