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The
Giving And Receiving Ceremony
The giving
and Receiving Ceremony officially transfers "ownership" of the child from
the State (in this case, the city of Hanoi) to the family. It also
initiates the request for a Vietnamese passport for Emily. That process
takes about 5 business days and is the next major step in bringing Emily
home to the USA. |
Getting
Ready
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Ready
to Go, check out the fancy dress!
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Ceremony
Room
The Ceremony
itself is very simple, the head official reads a short statement announcing
the transfer( a translator translates). He then adds a comment about
Vietnamese law requiring annual statements to the People's Committee regarding
the health and welfare of the child until he/she is 18. We all then
sign in a large "adoption" book I also signed papers requesting a Vietnamese
Passport for Emily; we shake hands and we're done. Takes about 10
minutes. Emily was not very interested in this momentous event. |
Officials
(and Bobo)
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More
Officials
I had
a speech all ready to go but they never asked if I had anything to say.
Since I went to all the trouble to think one up, I'll put it here:
"We are very grateful for the opportunity to bring Ly into our family.
We promise to you and especially to Ly that we will do our very best for
her. We will provide her with a loving home. We will teach
her about her Vietnamese heritage. We will give her every opportunity
we can. We will raise her to be a good person." Probably some
groveling at the end. |
Another
family was adopting Emily's roommate from Cau Giay
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Being
adopted is very tiring work so after we returned to the hotel, Emily needed
a nap.
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Totally
Out
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Fancy
Shoes
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