Patrick and Lisa - Our story

[IrishGuy65]

CB, thanks!  I hope they enjoy it here also!

Gerry, didn't you just tell me not to buy tickets until the visa is in her hands?

By the way, we have tentatively set the wedding date for May 31, 2014... In case anyone here is interested in attending.  You are all invited    Obviously, until she has the visa in her hands, the flight is booked, and we have moved into our new house, that won't be official.  Once those 3 things are done, this will be official.

[Pineau]

I didn't mean pull out your credit card today and get tickets today. Just the talk about transit visas made me think Hong Kong may be a better exit strategy. Since they have more direct flights and only a few hours away  from Shunde. I think the prices wont change much between now and then.

I'll start saving my money for tickets to your wedding.....

C U then.

[IrishGuy65]

The wedding will take place in Elkton, Maryland.  Not sure exactly where yet.  Have to pick a place.  It may just be a quick Justice of the Peace ceremony.  The reception will, if the weather permits, be a BBQ at our home in Newark, Delaware.

[maxx]

If the wedding is in Newark Delaware. I will need a travel visa I'm not sure they let the New Mexicans travel that far into Yankey country. Maybe me and the rest of the west coast boys can get travel visas.  If we promise to leave are guns and tequila at the border We may have to be escorted by imegra. But no worries. We can always give them the slip..

I'm kidding keep us updated with the wedding plans. If it works for me. I mite take the wife and kids east of the Mississippi So they can have a look.

[Rhonald]

Will you provide limo service pick up from the airport? We could fly in - oops, I forgot, I am not a high flying life style rich and famous celebrity, that was just in my dream last night. 

Well, anyways, I bet the BBQ will be a grand celebration - I steak my reputation - rare that it is - upon it.

[Arnold]

Hey Pat.... you better bring that Ceremomy to "Sunny" and "Warm" Cali and we could have Maxx there too. He would fit right in with the rest of the Folks in SC. Steaks for us and Taco's for Him.

[IrishGuy65]

There are two places I'll NEVER visit in the USA.

1), California.  I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that if I ever step foot on Californian soil, a massive earthquake will take place and California will fall into the ocean.  So, I'm protecting California by staying away.

2) Yellowstone National Park... similar reason... don't want the supervolcano to explode, and I am sure it will if I decided to visit. 

I feel relatively safe everywhere else.  Probably won't visit Hawaii, but that just because I'd rather be stranded on a snow peaked mountainside than a tropical island paradise. 

[JohnB]

congrats Patreek!

 "..Probably won't visit Hawaii, but that just because I'd rather be stranded on a snow peaked mountainside than a tropical island paradise.  "
You can have the best of both and probably help pay part of the way with a few bar bets.

Ask the Big Kahuna
"..if tropical snow skiing is your bag, then Hawaii is the right place."
https://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips/big_kahuna/ski.html

[IrishGuy65]

Gerry, thanks for that link.  Unfortunately, NYC is just too far away.  It is another 1 1/2 hours past PHL for me, which is already about an hour away.  All this is dependent on traffic, of course.  In the cities, there are times when traffic is very bad.  Also, Lisa is much more comfortable with Guangzhou... she doesn't want to fly from Hong Kong.  So it will need to be Guangzhou to Philly.  I also use FareCompare, as well as several other sites to compare all possible flights.  We'll find the best and cheapest one, I'm sure.  It also needs to be a Star Alliance member so we can get our mileage.

We finished talking about the wedding date... it is official now, we plan on marrying May 31, as long as there are no difficulties in getting the marriage license.  She will fly out to America on May 18, when the house I have under contract has closed and we have the renovations completed.  I have a contractor friend who will do all the work for us.  Closing should be April 18.  3-4 weeks of renovation on the house, then I will move in and hopefully have everything ready for them when they arrive.

[Willy The Londoner]

There are two places I'll NEVER visit in the USA.

1), California.  I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that if I ever step foot on Californian soil, a massive earthquake will take place and California will fall into the ocean.  So, I'm protecting California by staying away.

2) Yellowstone National Park... similar reason... don't want the supervolcano to explode, and I am sure it will if I decided to visit. 

I feel relatively safe everywhere else.  Probably won't visit Hawaii, but that just because I'd rather be stranded on a snow peaked mountainside than a tropical island paradise. 

WOW its looks like we were taking one hell of a risk having you in China when we did! Ha ha

Willy

[JustJim]

Hey Patrick,

It sounds like everything is going real well for you.  Good to hear this.

I liked flying out of Ghanzhou - it is not too big of an airport.  I have flown out of there twice now and both times my flight went to Hong Kong and from there I caught a connecting flight.  Of course I am going to JFK, so that might make a difference.

What airline are you using that flies directly to the US out of Ghanzhou?

In my limited experience I have found that longer layovers are not that bad - maybe preferable- it gives you time to stretch your legs.  I try not to have too much carry on - just my laptop, really.  I let the airline worry about my luggage.

I have been using Cathay Pacific - they are a little more expensive but I think the service has been good.  I am going to try a new airline next time just for the experience.

Anyways - I hope things go well for you and Lisa.

[IrishGuy65]

Mike... after 25+ hours of flying and sitting in airports, I want to get them home as quickly as possible.  Why punish them with another 2 1/2 to 3 hours of driving.  Also, thinking of jet lag.  The longer the drive, the more chance they will have to sleep.  I want them to be awake as much as possible during the days to sort of push them into adjusting.  I didn't have any problem with jet lag in China, and I think that is in part due to the fact that I did not sleep for 36 hours (the other part is my hardy constitution, haha), and when I arrived it was the middle of the night (1AM or so, plus the hour drive from Guangzhou), so I fell asleep during the night in China, and woke up at a reasonable hour the next morning.  From then on, no problems.  I hope to do the same for Lisa and Amy.  Just my thoughts, not necessarily right or wrong.

Willy, I would have warned you sooner, but I thought that it might become a self fulfilling prophecy as the whole country might go crazy once they found out I was coming.  Crazy riots were something I didn't want, so instead, I kept things quiet.  I'll quietly warn you and a few others my next trip back.

Jim, yes, things moved very quickly.  Now, it's a waiting game.  Waiting for Lisa and Amy to receive their visas, then waiting for the house to close and get renovated.  Then they will travel here.  So, 2 1/2 months more waiting.  For a life of happiness, I can wait a few more months   I didn't fly directly to the US... Gerry did.  I went through Seoul, flying Asiana.  I liked it, and the meals were very good also.  On the way there, my longest layover was 3 hours... on the way back from China, I had an overnight stay in Incheon Airport in Seoul.  They have a hotel in the airport, so it was nice.... but I would have preferred a much shorter layover.  I am not a patient person.  Typical American, I want to get where I am going as quickly as possible... don't have time to wait, haha.  It was pretty cheap also.  I went from Philly to Chicago to Seoul to Guangzhou.  I had a backpack.  Had some snacks, water I bought in the airport, compression socks, and my laptop and iPad... plus all my needed documents and my Chinese cell phone.

[IrishGuy65]

OK, Lisa went to the bank to pick up her passport with her visa this morning.We are booking their flight now.

We are amending our plans slightly.   She will arrive here on Sunday, April 27.  On April 28, we will apply for our marriage license.  On April 29, we will get married in a quick ceremony at the Justice of the Peace.  We will then immediately get our AOS package ready, to insure enough processing time so that Amy's visa doesn't expire... she will turn 21 on October 19, and we need her AOS to be done by then.  So, getting married a month earlier will give us a bit more time.  Robert made us aware of the processing time involved, so we've moved things up a bit.

On May 31, we will have a ceremony where she can wear her wedding dress, and our friends and family can be there, then a party afterwards.  Hopefully, at our new house, which we hope will be done and ready to go.

As far as I'm concerned, the sooner she is here in the USA, the better.

[Willy The Londoner]

Ha ha! Almost Chinese style of wedding.   

I will be in the UK in April then back here. Maybe I will see if I can get back to the UK in May and take a trip to JFK drive down to your city and find out the answer to Perry Como's question? I have always wondered!

I may be even able find a spot in my suitcase for a friend of mine.

Willy

[Martin]

I may be even able find a spot in my suitcase for a friend of mine.

Willy

Hahaha. I wonder who that friend is.