Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • fibber1fibber1 Member Posts: 12
    Wow, were do I begin. As I posted on Friday, we arrived at the airport hotel in Hong Kong at about midnight on Thursday, and transferred the next day to the Kowloon Shangra-La hotel for a two day 'jet lag adjustment' period, meet all of the other families, and the first round of orientations. On Sunday, we returned to the new airport on Lantau Island for the flight inland to NanChang (Jiangxi Province). We checked into the hotel, attended several more hours of lectures on procedures and legal issues to be attended to over the next 10 days, had a quick dinner, then received the babies!

    To call her beautiful would be a vast understatement. She is perfect! At 11 months old she is lively, animated, walks, etc. After the initial separation cries, we had an hour of giggles, faces, hand clapping, even some kisses. She was attracted to Emily and some to Beth, but only a bit to me. But then as the hour approached bed time, she suddenly realized that she wasn't going home to familiar surroundings tonight, and the soulful wails began. Eventually she wore herself out and fell asleep.

    Monday began with her discovery of Daddy, and she latched on tight. For two days she shrieked if Beth even came into sight. I have become sole provider; changing, dressing, bottles, a variety of table food from the dining room fed by (of course) chop sticks. She is finally letting Beth do some if I am out of sight, but it is funny how she avoids eye contact. While this might sound strange, it is the same situation with about half the families traveling with us. Some of the moms have been reduced to tears. We suspect that as most of the kids have been in foster care outside of the orphanage, getting used to a new mom will be extremely difficult.

    A number of the other families decided to bring kids along also, so it is a non-stop party. And while we have to watch out for Em's well-being, she is doing a great job as a new 'big sister'.

    Tuesday was consumed with court and legal matters, and today we traveled without the rest of the group to the outlying village where Annelise was found. An emotional day.

    Some more legal stuff this week, then on to Guanghzou for work on the US re-entry side at the American Consulate.

    Cars? NanChang is an industrial & agricultural town with little tourism. Ford & Isuzu have a joint venture here with Jiang Ling motor company that employs about 20k people. Lots of three wheeled motorcycle hybrids on the roads. Sort of the modernized form of the rickshaw. We passed a Honda, Toyota & VW dealer. Some high end European cars running around. Driving is extremely dangerous given a general sense of lawlessness when it comes to obeying lights, signs or pavement markings. A 'free for all' attitude prevails. Yet somehow it works. Kids dodge busses that pass trucks across double yellow lines. But we passed a serious accident this morning, so it does catch up with some.

    Well, I need to get some rest. I will try and catch the chat on Thursday (Friday at 10am Eastern China / HK time) if the schedule allows. The local ISP is a bit shaky, so we will see if I can stay connected).

    Steve
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Congratulations, and welcome to fatherdom! You and your wife have many happy moments coming, that's for sure! :)

    Bob
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    But a wonderful ordeal! I feel for the moms though, all those expectations running headfirst into age-old infant cantankerousness.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Catching up on quite a few posts here! I'm in Taiwan right now on a business trip and didn't have time to surf. The flight over here was brutal. I usually fly United and they've cut back on lots of flights including the direct flight from San Francisco to Taipei. The result is a completely packed flight with a two hour layover in Narita. It took me almost 24 hours of travel from my home until I checked in at the hotel here.

    Loosh: I'm glad to know you're alright. You certainly displayed lots of self-control there. By not following an eye for an eye, you avoided stooping to his level. Kudos and bonus karma points to you.

    Steve: What an incredible heart warming story -- I read your post over several times just trying to picture your last few days. Congratulations!

    Ken
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Congrats Steve to you, Beth, and Emily on Annilise! Hope you folks are home soon so that she can get used to just one place, something that should help in the adjustment.

    Mark
  • subarusaleshousubarusaleshou Member Posts: 161
    STi for dad: $30k
    Forester for mom: $25k
    Impreza for daughter #1: $20k
    Impreza for daughter #2: $20k
    stereo etc. for STi $5k
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Is the new Legacy and Outback on sale where you are? If so, and if you have some extra time, pickup some brochures! :)

    Bob
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    My dream garage would be:

    04 Baja Turbo 5MT in Silver w/Bed extender (~$25K)
    04 Porsche Boxster S 6MT (~$53K) - My mid-life vehicle:-)
    ~$6K to get my 64 Triumph Spitfire I inherited fully restored (probably costs less, but just in case)

    I would use the remaining $16K to use on road trips with the cars, touring the country.

    Mark
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    What a wonderful story, you must all be so happy!

    Craig
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Bleh. I'll take a Forester XT with suspension mods and 17" wheels then. :)

    -Colin
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Steve - Congrats! It's hard for me to imagine getting a daughter at 11 months. All the advice about napping when they do go out the window. Enjoy the experience.

    Loosh - You really showed a lot of restraint and class. Glad you weren't seriously hurt.

    Kens - What an ordeal. Hope your return flight is more efficient!

    Dream garage...A co-worker just got a '99 BMW M3 convertible. What a beautiful car for around $27K. But it's not AWD!!!

    Jim
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Happy Gotcha Day. I've been waiting a long time to say that!

    I think the bond to mom will come with time. It's a tighter bond and may take longer to develop. Tell her to hang in there.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I've been a good boy this year. Please stuff my garage-sized stocking with:

    * 2004 Subaru Forester XT MT, $24k
    * 2003 Porsche Boxster, $44k
    * 2004 Sienna LE AWD 8 pass w/DVD, $34k

    The XT would be for general use. The Boxster my toy. The Sienna as a trip car. Wife and I would both be happy alternating the XT and Boxster for commuting daily.

    The latter two are overpriced but on Santa's dime that's what I'd get.

    Interestingly, if the Legacy and 7 passenger crossover were availble, my list would change substantially. I'd get:

    2005 Legacy GT sedan (H6 or turbo) for my wife
    2005 7 seater H6
    2010 Subaru B9 Scrambler Hybrid

    Ok, that last one is *way* dreamy! Maybe a Mazdaspeed Miata Turbo.

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • hammersleyhammersley Member Posts: 684
    ...besides world peace, a cure for everything & nobody hungry... (all prices are give or take):

    XTMT: 26K

    Chevy Crew Cab pick-em-up truck: 40K

    "Toy hauler" travel trailer, with generator: 25K

    9K left... hmmm.... remodel the garage! (new bench, toolboxes, etc.)

    The right Lotto ticket: priceless!

    Cheers!
    Paul
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Good one swampy! You could actually afford 200 of them at the price mike paid.

    -juice
  • bsvollerbsvoller Member Posts: 528
    Man, I go and spend some time on the MPV boards, and all heck breaks loose around here...

    Accidents, fights, babies. Holy cow!

    Glad everyone is OK, Bob, Lucien. Lucien, very noble of you. That's just bizarre. Not sure I'd have been that noble, but it's good to have a role model to look up to...

    Steve, congrats and best wishes for your little one.

    Wish list? Hoo boy, don't have time to do that justice...

    An XT to replace our '01 S+
    Eaton supercharger for our MPV
    (always wanted a sleeper)
    Associated upgrades to MPV to keep it on the road with all the added power :)
    Driving lessons for yours truly and wife
    Hoby Cat
    Someplace to park the Hoby Cat...
    Sailing lessons for yours truly and wife
    Plane tickets for family to Australia and NZ
    Spending money for family vacation
    Small piece of land in the mountains west of Denver

    Am I up to 100k yet?

    :)

    -brianV
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just barely...

    -juice
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Congratulations! All the best wishes to Emily and Beth too.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Subaru Forester XT 2005 loaded 25K
    Subaru Impreza WRX loaded 24K
    Subaru Forester X 2005 loaded 21K (for my daughter)
    Subaru Baja Turbo (going to Home Depot in style!) 28K
    2K for accessories

    now, if only someone told me where to get those $100K...
  • dragon12dragon12 Member Posts: 2
    i found a great deal...i think-its a 2000 impreza with 57k for 8000 including tax and title. vin checks out on car fax and my mechanic says its good to go-a little rust on the midpipe of the muffler, but nothing major. the autoyard says they just put on new brake pads and tires-mechanic confirms this-should i go for it???
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    have the coolant system pressure tested and do a compression check. could be bailing due to headgasket issues...

    -c
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    This year more than ever since I finally got to drive one, my dream garage has just one car (because that is all I can afford with $100k): NSX.

    TNSX
  • jlemolejlemole Member Posts: 345
  • fibber1fibber1 Member Posts: 12
    Today we went to the orphanage, and Beth was able to meet with the foster family that took care of Annelise for 8 months. Embraces and tears. I wanted to come too, but was ordered to leave with the baby for her sake. And indeed the foster mom was very upset that she could not hold the baby again, which would have undone all the progress we have made. And indeed we are doing better, as are most of the Moms.

    We toured some of the better parts of the city today, and the class of automobile rises with the property values. What is one of the more common big cars? The Buick Century, mfg'ed by Shanghai-GM. We passed several dealerships as well as seeing many on the road.

    So where do you go when you need baby stuff cheap? WalMart, of course! And not just a plain-jane WalMart, but a WM Supercenter in downtown Nanchang! It is a shrinking world. Cell phones in every hand, and wi-fi laptops on the streets.

    Juice - did you get the photo I sent you for posting?

    Thanks to everyone who wished us well. Believe me, we can use all the spiritual help we can get.

    Steve
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    aj: name sounds familiar. :-)

    Check the usual suspects - front and rear seals, gaskets, and wheel bearings. If it rides quietly and there are no signs of oil leaks, it's still got a little powertrain warranty left on it, so I'd call it a bargain.

    Steve: will check my e-mail now...

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Please help me in welcoming the latest addition to the Crew:

    http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid91/pb5d7a9cb709d9f2f2371- 5cd17148f513/fa62d7a1.jpg

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    She's got good instincts. Notice how her four limbs and spread, wide track, long wheelbase, for good traction. ;-)

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    she looks like a guzzler!! :D

    What a cutie!
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    She's got more hair than her dad! :-)

    If we ever have kids, chances are that our newborn's will have more hair than me, right from the get-go!

    Craig
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    say Hi! to Annelise!

    -Brian
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Steve-

            She's a cutie! Congrats again to the entire family!

    Mark
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    What a doll! And I can't imagine a better present this time of year. Bless you and your entire family!
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    As you've been posting your wish list here, I thought you might want to make sure the jolly old elf hears them!

    I Don't Like Santa's SUV Do YOU?
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    bring me to tears. How wonderful. Congratulations. Annelise has been "gotten" by a wonderful family. We're thrilled for you!

    Patti
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    today - Nor'easter!!! Snow is on the way for tomorrow. Nothing like a nice early start!

    Patti
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Congratulations to you and yours she is a doll,Rita and I wish you many years of joy and happiness.

      Cheers Pat.
  • subarusaleshousubarusaleshou Member Posts: 161
    Now is the time I'm happy to be in Houston. We'll see perhaps a handful of nights that go below freezing. About once per decade we'll see a small amount of snow that might last for 24 hours or so. About once per decade we'll have a bad storm and freeze and have ice on the road for a day or so. That's when it's REALLY scary as most of the people here have NO clue about driving on ice. I'm happy for those who live where winter is winter because they want to and hope it's enjoyed tremendously. I'm going to stay here though and know my driving a Subaru is good on those wet slick days without the validation the snow etc. gives.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Patti-
    isn't that the name of your team :)

    Steve-
    Congratulations! She's a beauty.
    Oh, the milk, Premium or Regular ;-)

    -Dave
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    Back when I was a team leader, it was our team name!!!

    Patti
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    Congratulations to all .. and what a cutie!!!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    could well be in the forecast, as Patti alluded to :)

    Bob
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Steve, your girl is SOOOO cute... almost makes me wish to go there and get one for myself too :-)
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I guess the operating word there is almost :-)

      Cheers Pat.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    3-5" forecast for my 'hood.

    Bring it on! :o)

    Chat in 20 minutes...

    -juice
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    OK. I missed it by a couple.

    Congratulations Steve she is quite cute!

    No snow here, just rain and wind (and more rain)!

    -Ian
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Steve: Great picture. Congrats to all.

    Patti: 3-5" forecast here too, and I have a company meeting to attend in the PM. Fortunately I may have the option to teleconference in to it.

    Our little one has calmed down - was fussier than usual just an hour ago - so I am off to join my first chat in a while. See you there.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The kid actually let Ed chat nearly til the end, good boy! :-)

    Cool chat. At one point I almost fell out of my seat, the whole Cayenne Red Forester XT with the Premium Package (red PP) thing!

    The Fence (the one from the On The Fence Club) is thriving, more and more folks are hopping on!

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Steve - Congratulations. What a cute baby!!

    Snow?? It's gonna be fun in an '85 318. :-D
    I bought 100 pounds of sand for the trunk tonight.

    -Dennis
  • fibber1fibber1 Member Posts: 12
    I thought I had the morning timed right, but we got caught at the police station way longer than I thought. Our crime? Exportation of exceptionally cute babies! Actually today is passport day - one of those important steps in the process. Annelise now has one of those 'little red books' - a PRC passport so that she can leave the mother country.

    Seriously, out back behind the police station is an old red brick & concrete building being taken down. The workers? A chain gang doing it with sledge hammers! Perhaps a lifetime project for some of those folks....

    We got talking about the upcoming 'Noreaster, and it turns out that two of the other families are Subaru Outback owners - family in CT & VT. See, there is a connection between good cars and a strong sense of adventure (trust me - 'adventure' is the right word for this trip...).

    More later... Steve
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