I want to lighten up this Adoptive series with a fun post. To all my adoptive blogging friends, share a few of your "MUST HAVE" items that you brought with you to China. I'm not asking for your exhaustive packing lists, just a few absolutely essential items that you took with you.
For anyone that wants an exhaustive packing list, this link is great!!
Here are my top items:
1. Laptop, with webcam and skype account (we talked to our extended family members and Emma's 4th grade classroom several times a day via skype while in China. Skype was FREE and the video connection was amazing. It was a great way to introduce Josie to her extended family before she ever met them in person. We updated a website the entire time we traveled and our family and friends were addicted to our pictures and daily posts. I'm so glad we lugged a laptop, digital camera and web camera with us to China).
2. Peanut butter (Emma brought her jar of peanut butter with her to our buffet breakfasts every morning. We could always find bread and crackers, but we never saw Jiffy peanut butter in China and it was a quick snack and breakfast).
3. Stacking cups and baby carrier/sling (if you look at our Gotcha day video at the end of this blog, you'll see how those stacking cups broke the ice with Josie. We took those stacking cups with us everywhere in China...restaurants, the Civil Affairs Office, the Police Station..etc. Those stacking cups were a lifesaver. To this day, she still plays with them in the bathtub. The baby carrier/sling was ideal for bonding and it saved my arms/back while we were walking and touring China. I would have loved to have had Chris the opportunity to use it with Josie too, but it was the perfect way to cuddle with my daughter).
4. Travel compression bags (compression bags were amazing. We could fit so much more in our suitcases because of compression bags. We traveled in March when it still required winter coats. By the time we got to Guangzhou at the end of our trip, we didn't need those winter coats anymore and we could seal them up and stuff them in our suitcases.
5. Pants in various sizes for Josie (we did NOT do this and I wish we would have. She was much smaller than we thought and her size 12 month pants didn't stay up). Our guide took us to a local Walmart to find pants in a 9 month size but it's hard to find non-split pants in China).
NOW, it's your turn. I want you to list your top five "must have" items for China. I can't wait to read your posts and I know our readers who are getting ready for China will appreciate your valuable tips.
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