One of the things I liked about the whole Chinese adoption process was that you have to go to China. I like being involved with China, because that's where a good fraction of my family (now) is from.

But, really, when you're actually doing it, if you're a vaguely shy, awkward, quiet guy like me, it's like being hit with a cultural sledgehammer again and again in the face -- "OH SWEET LORD THERE'S CROWDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL STARING RIGHT AT ME AND I BETTER EXPLAIN BUT WHAT DID THAT GUY SAY AND HE'S POINTING AND THAT OLD LADY IS GETTING RIGHT UP TO MY FACE AND GAAAAHHHH!"

Some of the adoptive parents we traveled with just sort of hid in the hotel where they could freak out... more