Have Questions??

Do you have any questions about Katie, or adoption, or China? Please feel free to ask them, and I'll answer! If you can't get on here to ask, you can email me (Katie's mom) at stevepatg@aol.com.

Getting Closer!

Mr. G. is getting closer to traveling to China! Some friends of ours will be going to Katie's orphanage in a few weeks to pick up their 9 year old daughter. When they are there, they will post updates on their blog. If we learn anything new about Katie or where she lives, we'll write it here! They hope to visit the orphanage, and if the timing is right, Katie might be there for lunch. (She rides her bike back to the orphanage at lunchtime, and then goes back to school in the afternoon.)

A lot of work goes into preparing for a new family member! We have Katie's room ready (she'll be sharing with sister Anna), and have some clothes hanging in her closet. We have some things ready to take to China. My school (Candor Elementary)took up a collection of mittens, hats, and gloves for the children in the orphanage. We have small gifts for the nannies who have taken care of Katie. (In China, it is common to give gifts to people to say "thank you".) This weekend, we will start practicing some things to say in Mandarin. We did this when Leah came home three years ago, but we have forgotten a lot.

Last week we sent Katie a letter, and included two pictures of her new school! That way, she'll know what the classrooms look like when she arrives.

Everyone in our house is very excited to meet Katie! It won't be long now!

Pictures of Katie when she was younger!

Chinese Language

Pinyin is a phonetic form of the Chinese language, otherwise known as Simplified Chinese. Children in school in China learn traditional Chinese right along with Pinyin.

Here are a few of the sounds:

a= ah
e= uh
i=ee
o=aw
u=oo
ai=aye
ei=ay
ou=oh
uo=(oo-aw)
uei=way

In Case You've Just Joined Us...

If you have just joined this blog, you might want to read the older posts first to learn more about Katie. If you want to start here, let me give you a quick description of this blog and why it's here.

I am Katie's mom, and I've created this blog especially for kids and their teachers. Katie is 13 years old and lives in China. Our family lives in New York state, and we are in the process of adopting her. Katie is going to have to get used to a lot of new things here in the United States--a new language, different foods, a new culture, and learning how to live in a family. Katie also was born with a hand difference--she has missing fingers on one hand.

My posts are written with kids in mind, so if you have questions, feel free to ask. Very soon, Katie's dad will be traveling to China to bring her home. You can look here for updates!

Good Websites for Teachers

Lots of good information and resources here for English Language Learners and internationally adopted older students:

http://www.colorincolorado.org/

http://www.adoptionarticlesdirectory.com/Article/Dealing-with-cultural-differences-of-an-internationally-adopted-child/1377