Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

We do provide a harness

I looked into linesman's boots but they are outrageously expensive. If I thought they would use them, I would buy a set. The trees all have notches cut in them for feet and the guys use bare feet to climb. Putting them in a boot would lose al tactile feel and I dont really think they would use them more than once or twice.

Its now the wet season so climbing coconut trees is reserved only for mornings when there is little wind and no rain for a few days - with the back to back typhoons hitting north of us, its been impossible to climb a tree for two weeks. We have received more than 12"of rain in the last three weeks. The normal rainfall for July is 14".

We located Bert but he could not give a valid reason as to why he left. I am going to insist he return the money he owes. He did sign a contract of employment so he is legally on the hook. Not a lot of money but I have had it with flakes.

Christopher is Dodong's brother in law - a relative of his sister by marriage and no relation to Ariel or Lillian so I am hoping he has some brains.

I expanded the search for Ompoy's replacement.

With the adoptions now in the hands of the US immigration, it could be as early as six months before we have to either succeed or close up.

If I was to close up, I could easily sell off all my breeders. I may look at the franchise option but honestly, if we cant breed ourselves, the interest in the business will diminish.

This all started as a crazy idea. It has gone way further than anybody could have ever expected. If we have to pull the plug, I have no regrets. We did the impossible.

Still, its not over until its over.

 

[dpenning]

We do provide a harness



With the adoptions now in the hands of the US immigration, it could be as early as six months before we have to either succeed or close up.

If I was to close up, I could easily sell off all my breeders. I may look at the franchise option but honestly, if we cant breed ourselves, the interest in the business will diminish.

This all started as a crazy idea. It has gone way further than anybody could have ever expected. If we have to pull the plug, I have no regrets. We did the impossible.

Still, its not over until its over.

Oz, I hope the rest of the adoption process goes quickly. What you have accomplished is nothing short of phenomenal! It has been a great adventure for all of us, thank you for taking us along. I hope you are together as a family very soon.

 

[Wisher1000]

Oz? Once the kids have their passports, where will you make your primary residence? Will they have dual citizenship? What is involved in that? Do you have dual (Tri-? Quad-?) citizenship? Just curious, seeing that I have never once left the US.

 

[ozexpat]

Oz? Once the kids have their passports, where will you make your primary residence? Will they have dual citizenship? What is involved in that? Do you have dual (Tri-? Quad-?) citizenship? Just curious, seeing that I have never once left the US.

The kids currently have Filipino passports. Once they become US citizens they will be dual citizens/passport holders. They will be American's in every sense of the word save being able to run for President.

They can also qualify for Australian Passports. I will also apply for these once the US process is over.

They will be then citizens of three countries.

Unfortunately, my Grandfather relinquished his Italian citizenship before my father was born, otherwise we would all have European passports as well.

The advantage of multi-citizenship is that its easy to live and work in so many countries. It also makes getting visas easy for travel and many countries (except USA) have reciprocal benefits for citizens - an Australian can get universal healthcare in many countries (I broke my arm in Italy and the total bill as $7)

The world is becoming a smaller place. Great opportunities exist for those who can take advantage of multi-citizenship and I want our kids to have as many chances as they can. This may seem crazy to those content with living in one place (and if people do, more power to them).

 

[Wisher1000]

I don't think it's crazy, I wish (there I go again) that I were more continental than I am. I want to travel abroad, but I can't seem to get out of the South to see my own country, much less someone else's. Australia is my dream trip, has been since I was just a kid. The other place I would like to see is Alaska, but that will likely never happen. I have never cared much about Hawaii or Puerto Rico. I don't want to go to Jamaica, or Mexico. Not that I don't like those countries, I would not mind going if the opportunity presented itself, but I would rather see cockatoos, kangaroos, and koalas or moose, bears, and glaciers.

I wanted to go on your humanitarian trip, but it looks like that is not going to happen either. Money and time are my limiting factors.

 

[ozexpat]

I don't think it's crazy, I wish (there I go again) that I were more continental than I am. I want to travel abroad, but I can't seem to get out of the South to see my own country, much less someone else's. Australia is my dream trip, has been since I was just a kid. The other place I would like to see is Alaska, but that will likely never happen. I have never cared much about Hawaii or Puerto Rico. I don't want to go to Jamaica, or Mexico. Not that I don't like those countries, I would not mind going if the opportunity presented itself, but I would rather see cockatoos, kangaroos, and koalas or moose, bears, and glaciers.

I wanted to go on your humanitarian trip, but it looks like that is not going to happen either. Money and time are my limiting factors.

Growing up with Kangaroos can make one easily lose the understanding of how unique they are. Australia is an amazing continent. It is a long way from Alabama but if you can, its well worth the trip.

Mexico is one of my favorite places. I like it for its amazing culture and history. Its a big country and every region is so different - from the Yucatan with its beaches and Mayan ruins to Mexico City and the Aztec and Toltec people to the sparse Baja California and its fishing villages.

We have been lucky enough to drive through a lot of the country. We did a rode trip from LA down to Cabo San Lucas, another from Mexico City to Veracruz and spent a few weeks exploring the Yucatan. The food from each area is as amazingly different as the people.

My favorite country in Asia is Indonesia. It is really diverse. The people are very warm. It is a great way to appreciate the differences and similarities in people that are Muslim to our cultures. When it comes down to it, most are just great human beings that want to do good for themselves, their family and country. Bali, with its local brand of Hindu is outstanding and if I had all the money I ever needed, would be the site of my vacation home.

Inday and I have been to many places. Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia in Africa, most of South and western Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean and South East Asia.All are wonderful.

In the USA we have crossed the country along the I-40 and I-80, and have done road trips to Montana, Yelowstone, and up the coast to Oregon. We even flew to Seattle and caught the Amtrak back to LA. Still lots to see.

We dream of a road trip to Alaska. Once the kids are here, we will probably focus on The USA even more. Its a whole lot more expensive to travel with two kids.

 

[Wisher1000]

I would love to see Bali, and the south Pacific islands, particularly the island my Dad was stationed on during WWII. I would love to see Austria, Africa, and England. If I had money, I would set out to see the seven wonders of the world, then set out to find seven locations that are more wonderful!

 

[ozexpat]

I would love to see Bali, and the south Pacific islands, particularly the island my Dad was stationed on during WWII. I would love to see Austria, Africa, and England. If I had money, I would set out to see the seven wonders of the world, then set out to find seven locations that are more wonderful!

Just before we decided to do the drastic thing of moving to the Philippines to adopt out kids, we has a Middle East trip planned. We were going to go to Jordan, then cross over to Israel, back to Jordan and onto Beruit and Syria all by land transport. Times were very different and it was quite safe.

Suddenly our lives changed and then equally as fast, the Arab countries of The Middle East became a no travel zone. wile I don't regret why we did not go, I will always regret not going then and pray that one day it will be safe to make the journey again.

There are so many awesome places in this world. We have a list of 100 places we want to see. Each time we check one off, we add another.

 

[bamadude]

Been to Nuevo Laredo Mexico several times. Its pretty cool

 

[ozexpat]

We have yet to go to the northern states of Mexico.

I have been to Juarez a few times but that does not really count