The Jade Panda

Good news… China has finally started referring babies to parents who submitted in 2006. Yes, the light at the end of the tunnel is dim… but it is there.

Congrats to the new parents. Want to see pics? Check out: http://chinaadopttalk.com/2008/03/03/babies-9/

The international adoption environment is never stable – case in point, Vietnam.  The US State Department recently posted a notice that starts with “The Department of State warns potential adoptive parents and adoption service providers of the risk of initiating new adoptions from Vietnam at this time.”

In short, the agreement between the US and Vietnam that allows for adoptions is expiring in September 2008. Given the waiting timeframes, an Vietnamese adoption will not be finalized until after the agreement is set to expire. What to know more? Visit the State Department: http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_3939.html

I was getting my hair cut today and I had a very strange conversation.

Me: Where is the owner today?

Sylist: In China.

Me: What is she doing in China?

Stylist: Buying Fish.

Me: Fish?

Stylist: Fish.

(side note… this is how most of my conversations go with her)

Me: Are they special fish?

Stylist: Yes, they EAT dead skins cells of of your feet

Me: Really?

Sylist: The owner is adding a pool in the back of the salon for “Fish Reflexology” which started in China. You stick your feet in a pool and fish nibble on feet removing the dead skin.

Me: huh

Stylist: Well, I am not going to try it.

She proceed to tell me about a video on YouTube. As you can see, I found it. Strange.