Things that I have learned

This week I have learned that the information that I have been obsessively trying to figure out is on the China Adoption Facebook groups, specifically the DTC or TRAVEL groups.  I joined because even though more than half of the conversation is not relevant much of it is very relevant.  There isn't enough people on the Landia adoption groups to crowdsource the answers to the questions that I am currently trying to answer.  Just an hour ago someone asked the current timeline for I800a approvals.  I was able to share the dates in my timeline, but also see some other recent timelines.  Even more exciting, I was able to figure out how to email my assigned officer and to hear a few accounts of her work.  If I don't get anything in the mail tomorrow, I will be emailing her.

I also found a blog of a couple adopting from Landia right now.  This was really exciting because in 2012 and 2013 only around 80 children each year were adopted from Landia in the US.  That means that there just aren't that many blogs.  To give a comparison, 2,306 children were adopted from China in 2013.  Even more exciting was the fact that the three kids that they are adopting are 6 or under.  To give context to that, in 2012 and 2013 only 6 kids total were adopted from Landia that were 4 or younger.  This means that blogs about toddlers/preschoolers that are adopted from Landia are pretty much non existent.  It has been really useful to read about their experiences what has worked, what hasn't.  I am trying to figure out a way to contact the family.  I am fairly sure that they use the same agency as me, but maybe I just need to leave a comment on their blog.