Right about now, Kari and Christopher should be hiking across the Hong Kong International Airport, three hours in and 10% of their total travel time completed.

Yesterday was the swearing-in ceremony, as emotionally charged for Kari as it was for me, except that hers were somewhat different emotions. Christopher objected to being taken away from his toys and being made to stand still to listen to the immigration instructions and oath-taking. He expressed his objections loudly. Kari had to retreat to a corner of the room and kind of half-heard and then half-mumbled the oath that she needed to take.

Christopher's tantrum didn't diminish the impact of the ceremony, though. Both he and Kari were emotionally exhausted when they returned to their hotel and maybe Christopher is beginning to comprehend what's about to happen. Earlier in the day a Chinese man that Kari and Christopher met in the hotel took the time to kneel down to Christopher's level and tell him that he is a “lucky boy”. Christopher seemed unsure about what that meant, so the man clarified, “Every morning will be happy for you from now on.”