[specialk4b]

As the Olympics turn all eyes to China, do you find yourself thrilled to watch or has the excruciating slowdown in the adoption process made all thoughts of China painful to you?

Is anyone willing to predict whether the anticipated speed up after the Olympics will happen or not?

[Lissa]

Personally I do not think the Olympics has anything to do with the slow down. I hope I am wrong.

As for the Olympics bringing joy or pain...only recently has the Olympic tide turned for me. Until the last week or so. Too much negative China talk for my sensibilities.

[PiperH]

Because of the Olympics, our agency has said it will not send us through Beijing in August or September. (Remember, it's not just the Olympics that will be held in Beijing. The Paralympics are in Beijing, too, in the first part of September, so things in Beijing will not be normal for the entire period.)

That means no Beijing, no Great Wall, etc. for us. We were looking forward to seeing and walking the Great Wall, but we won't get to do that. In that respect, I guess you could say the Olympics is causing us some pain. We will, though, still get to see the Terracotta Warriors because they are in our son's province. However, we always have said if they cut out all sightseeing and we still got to travel to be united with our son we would be fine. We know what our priority is on this trip.

Now, some terrorist group with al-Qaida ties is claiming responsibility for some bombings in Kunming and promises more, so who knows what that means for the Olympics and anything else. Security is bound to be stepped up even more.

Our agency previously had said we probably would travel at the end of August, but the way things are looking now it might not be until September.

I'll still watch some of the Olympics (I've never been a huge fan - a lot of the events don't hold my interest. I actually like the Winter Olympics more - especially bobsledding.), but I've got a lot on my plate getting ready to travel - hopefully soon - and getting the house ready for our son.

To be honest, I just want to travel and get our son.

Kevin

[specialk4b]

I personally just love the Olympics. Summer and Winter both. I'm excited to watch the Olympics and especially excited to see views of China and my son's home city again (there are events in Tianjin).

I do worry about the media attention coming onto China and putting their adoption program in a bad light.

[Trace7]

I've always been kind of indifferent to the Olympics - will watch it sometimes, sometimes not. I don't get overly excited about. I do plan to watch the opening ceremony.

[copper653]

We've never been too big into the Olympics here either. We do like the diving, and gymnastics and a few others, but don't go out of our way to make sure we watch them. I think I will let dd watch some of it.

Dh is scared to let her watch the sports related to water because she is such a waterbug already. He thinks she'll get an idea that she can do all of that now.

[KarenInCa]

Kevin, our agency always sends its clients thru either Shanghai or Hong Kong. We were a little bummed at first too, but then we realized that there are other parts of China that we would have never considered if we had not gone thru that route.
We will go back to China some day with our daughters, and discover Beijing with them.

I've been excited about the Olympics in China since Jenny Bowen started getting votes for her to run with the Torch. DH and I are very excited about it being in China, and we hope our daughter will carry a few memories of it as she is older.
I'm with ya Lissa, it hurts me to hear so many negative things about China, as we get closer to the Olympics. And sometimes I feel like I'm put into defense mode about China because that's where my daughter is from. I understand that there are a lot of things happening in China, that need to be fixed. But, I can't help but feel that the negative press (or fear of it) is one of the reasons less adoptions are happening right now.
I do believe that it will be gradual, but the adoptions will slowly creep up again, after all the hubbub of the Olympics is done. But I don't think it will ever be as strong as it was back in 2005-2006.

[PiperH]

Originally Posted by KarenInCa

Kevin, our agency always sends its clients thru either Shanghai or Hong Kong. We were a little bummed at first too, but then we realized that there are other parts of China that we would have never considered if we had not gone thru that route.
We will go back to China some day with our daughters, and discover Beijing with them.

Karen,
So true, we will get to see another part of China that we wouldn't have if we were going through Beijing. But, they don't call it the GREAT Wall for nothing. If it was the Good Wall or the OK Wall it wouldn't be so disappointing. LOL

No matter where we go, it's going to be an awesome adventure, and the end result is we still will be united with our son.

As I said, we just want to go and get him ASAP.

Kevin

[Karen in MT]

It will be bittersweet. I do believe things will speed-up some once the games are over.
-Karen

[cheesehead]

DH and I have always loved watching the Olympics..both the summer and winter Olympics. From the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony. We watch as much as we can. I especially love the gymnastics and the swimming...DH loves the track and field events. With so much anticipation and the people of China really wanting to show the world their beautiful country.....I can't wait. It brings me joy......not only because I love to watch these young athletes competing, but also because it is being held in my future daughter's homeland. Still, I believe many of us are waiting for the Olympics to come and go, in hopes of things speeding up in the next few months. Now...the pain will start for me in Novemeber or December, if the CCAA still is only getting through 6 days of LID's each month!

[sakelley]

I'll tell you in a few weeks. We are awaiting our TA and hope to travel in Sept. We don't know if the Olympics will cause a slow down in TA's coming out. Plus with some agencies not traveling during the Olympics, it might become very hard to get a consulate appointment in Sept because of the backlog and the consulate being closed the first week of Oct for the National Holiday. If we can't get in during Sept, we will be pushed out until November because of the trade fair in Guangzhou the last 2 weeks of Oct & first week of November.

[PiperH]

KareninCA what kinds of things did you see/will you see on your route to China?

Cheesehead I daily think of everyone still in line and the long wait ahead. I pray for a speed-up for your sakes and the children in China.

SAKelley when is your referral date. We also are waiting for travel information. It just seemed when things were speeding up they came to a screeching halt.

As for my take on the Olympics, I've enjoyed some events but never was a huge fan.

Violet

[sakelley]

Originally Posted by PiperH

SAKelley when is your referral date. We also are waiting for travel information. It just seemed when things were speeding up they came to a screeching halt.

Violet

We received our LOA on July 24. TA's have been coming in about 19-21 days after LOA for those in July. I believe I know which agency you are with and from what I heard, they got a bunch of LOA's at once and sent them back a little later than everyone else who got theirs at the same time so it is taking longer. I know my old agency got their TA's for their 7/2 LOA's on 7/21. I hope yours comes soon.