Hello to the Children's Home in Qingdao!

Home

It is good to be away, but better to be home.  After a grueling 26 hours of travel, we arrived home last night with a smiling toddler.  She is always happy!  We had a good night sleep in our own bed with Ian and Chen Qian!  Then breakfast of eggs and scapple - OK, we have found one thing she will not eat (scrapple).  But she eats minced squid and ink dumplings?  Go figure.  I will need a nap around 3:00 PM -over football?

General Musings on China

China is a wonderful place.  It is familiar, yet very different at the same time.  And when it is different, it can be downright odd!  People are the same all over the world and I think travel is the best way to understand that and break down any misperceptions we may have.  However, things do not always translate well.

And it was!

Pictures on the "Famous" red couch!

And if you don't like this McDonalds, you can go the one directly behind me.

Don't even try to come to this shopping area on the weekend.

At the Park, and no it doesn't translate well.

Under construction

Steve, Lisa and Nathan Wurster, the other family from Welcome House with whom we are traveling

Our hotel, the White Swan

We had lunch at a very famous (remember, I said everything is famous?  Our guide Erin, now catches herself when she tells us something is famous and finds it humorous as well) Thai restaurant yesterday.  It is called the "Cow and the Bridge".  And the best part is they were playing Country and Western Music!  Pig tripe and Country and Western just don't seem to mix in my book.  Then in the evening we had a dinner cruise on the Pearl River.  Sounds nice, doesn't it?  In theory only.  Chinese people do not cue.  Enough said.  It was like these people had not eaten for three weeks!  You should have seen the rush to get to the buffet line and then the pushing shoving once we got there.  It was an experience not to be missed and I am glad we did it - plus it was a great way to see Guangzhou.  Enjoy the pictures from another park and one of the main pedestrian shopping zones along with pictures from the cruise.  BTW - we have not yet found anything Chen Qian does not like to eat - including cartilage.....gross and very Chinese. 

Some of you have asked if we are not yet calling her Lily.  For the time being we will continue to call her Chen Qian, which she knows as her name.  Mama may begin to call her Lily soon.  I will probably always call her Chen Qian - which means "little bit of the whole universe" - it is a very cool name.  We come home in two days, so look for a new post next week about our arrival home.  Pray for us for traveling safety and good flights!

Oath Day at US Consulate

Today we went to the US Consulate in Guangzhou and took the oath of citizenship for Chen Qian so that when we land in the US she will become a US citizen.  The adoption happened last week in Jinan and was very low key.  There we just signed a paper and she was ours.  Now she will be a US citizen and give up her Chinese citizenship.

We also toured a very nice park today.  It is popular with the retired folks and there were lots of old people playing Tia Chi, practicing ballroom dancing, exercising and fan dancing.  There is one thing that I cannot get over and that is people swimming in the Pearl River.  It is gross and lots of big boats use it for transportation.  If you can see the dude swimming in this photo - right next to the big boat.  It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with Kramer swimming in the East River.

 Can you see the dude swimming?

 ...right next to the ship?

 Lunch time, when we do lots of "cheers".

 Tired baby

Banyan Tree Temple

Char and Chen Qian lighting incense sticks

Today was another good day with Chen Qian.  We had a few tears in the morning and we are never sure what sets her off.  But we had a  great day of playing and laughing.  She is very comfortable with us and freely calls us Mama and Baba - which is very cool.  We can't wait to get home to the boys so we can all be together again.    Char and I even got good night kisses tonight without having to bribe her! 

I also included some photos of our trip to the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.  There are only three there now.  We lit some incense and made wishes for Chen Qian and the rest of the family.  I think Chen Qian has been to Temple before, as she seemed to know exactly what to do with the incense.  Enjoy the pictures.

Tomorrow is a fun day of shopping at the pearl and jade markets -- lunch together with our guide and the Wursters who we are traveling with, and then a dinner cruise on the Pearl River (no swimming).  Any requests for our shopping trips???

Good News!

Chen Qian did not test positive for TB!  We get to come home on Saturday!

We were watching the test site for the last 72 hours and yesterday the site was raised and this morning it was red, but it had to be 10 millimeters to be a positive result.  It was was only 6x5 at the appointment.  

We went to the Temple of the 6 Banyan Trees -  there are only 3 there now.  Very beautiful and busy as it was the first day of the lunar month.  Restful afternoon and peaceful evening on the river.  We will post more pictures tomorrow.

A Day in the Park

Today was a warm, sunny day with no appointments, doctors visits or adoption paperwork.  Chen Qian started out a little teary eyed, but warmed up over a big breakfast of noodles, ham, and chocolate croissant (quite a combination).  After a few more tears (not sure why) we were off to Yuntai Garden Park.  This is a beautiful botanical garden that we enjoyed walking through.  They had a greenhouse full of beautiful orchids, paths that meandered through rose gardens, beautiful walkways, and water gardens.  Chen Qian really enjoyed her bubble maker (what is it with kids and bubbles -- or Pop Pop and bubbles?) 

After lunch we spent the afternoon on our own.  We spent our time playing, walking the streets, and going to the park again.  Probably the most anticipated part of our day was picking up the clean laundry!!  Finally clean clothes again!!

After a dinner of noodles, playing with BaBa and a long bath, Chen Qian fell alseep early.  Please keep us in your prayers -- tomorrow we head to the Doctor again to have the TB test checked.  We're a bit worried just because of this nasty cough that she has. 

White Swan Hotel

We are here in Guangzhou on the banks of the Pearl River. It is beautiful and busy and kind of feels like Florida.  Very warm and pleasant.  Today we did the Chinese medical exam this morning prior to our VISA interview with the US Conulate next week.  It was organized chaos - but we did recive one huge blessing.  As of Yesterday, families adopting under the Hague Convention do not have to have any vaccinations in China and can wait until they get home.  We understand that the process took about two hours less (we were only there for one hour) and very little crying.  However, you stood in this line, then that line, then the other line.  Welcome to China....Chen Qian did have to get the TB test as she is over 36 months old -  there was a bit of crying  for that - but it is a huge blessing to not have to deal with a kid getting multiple vaccinations in one day.

Lunch and playing in the playground at the park this afternoon.  Lets just say that when Chen Qian is around, the party has begun!  Here are some more pictures from our prvious destinations.

Chen Qian and caregivers at the orphanage where she was after her surgery.  These two women were some of the ones that took care of her during that time. 

The playground at the orphanage where she was after her surgery. 

Our "little rabbit"!

Feeding the fish with bottles at the aquarium in Qingdao.

We had dinner at a very famous fish restaurant in Qingdao.

Really? And things were going so well.

Today is a day we wish we could re-do.  We had a wonderful leisurely morning and then something set Chen Qian off and she bawled for 30 minutes straight and could not be consoled.  We finally got her calmed down in time to check out of the hotel and have lunch at McDonalds.  She spent about an hour with other kids and seemed to be doing fine again.

At 2:00 our guide picked us up and drove us to the Police Station to pick up the passport that was started at the Police Station in Qingdao.  You can see where this is going, right?  No passport.  The chief in Qingdao had to sign off on it and he did not yet.  In the meantime the head of the orphanage in Qingdao drove to the Police Station to talk to the Chief, but it was too late to get it processed before our flight to Guangzhou at 5:30.  The passport, however would be ready at 5:00 - not very helpful as we need it for Monday.   It will cost and extra $300 Yuan to get us the document by the time we need it next week.  But wait, it gets better.  While I am in the station figuring out what to do, Chen Qian loses it with Char, throws the mother of all tantrum and has Char in a state, because she is again "eagerly looking for her Mama" and being physically abusive to Char.  For most people that would be enough.  But wait, there is more.

This is China.  We get to the airport at 4:30 to get out 5:50 flight and there is no such flight.  The same numbered flight we were looking for left minutes prior to our arrival.  Yeah - they changed the time and no one bothered to call and check and let us know.  So, after a bit of haggling, we got on the 6:30 flight with Shen Zhen Air and were on our way and arrived at 8:40 and at 9:30 in the hotel with a very tired baby.  Did we tell you this was Chen Qian's first flight?  How do you think that went?  Yeah, about like that. 

Chen Qina and Char are friends again and she is the same smiley baby, so I am not sure what all the fussing was about today.  Char is again Mama and I am Baba.  Hopefully, that was end of the grieving, but keep on praying for us.  Next week will be a hell of a ride home if she doesn't want to clear her ears again.   Hoping tomorrow in Canton will e a good day.

Going Well!

We left Qingdao yesterday after a full day of sightseeing and another big lunch with the government officials and people from the orphanage.  It is a bit funny to think I am spending so much time with Communist Party members, especially if you know how I feel about Communism!  However, people are people all over the world regardless of political views.

Qingdao is a beautiful city.  It reminds me a bit of San Francisco.  I am sure we will be going there again on holiday in the future, so we better learn to like it.  Chen Qian is doing so well.  She uses chop sticks like a pro.  She can eat a bowl of noodles and rice without spilling anything.  And it is hilarious to see her pick up a whole shrimp, rip off its head and peel the tail in seconds flat.  She will fit right in with the rest of my shrimp eaters at home.  According to our guide, she has a very strong local dialect and accent (even he can't always understand her).  The word for shrimp is "sha", but she pronounces it "saw".  So, we don't always understand each other, but my Chinese is coming back and I am doing quite well.  We can communicate with each other very well - it is pretty cool.  Char is even learning some Chinese.  She is getting very good at understanding when Chen Qian has to go potty - which literally seems like every 30 minutes.  We think she just likes to go to the bathroom.  Althought Charlotte is getting quite tired of dealing with squatty potties!

There has been no crying for 2 whole days.  She is not  "eagerly looking for my mama" anymore (which really cuts down on the questioning stares from people around us)!  She readily calls for Charlotte as "Mama" and me as "Baba" Frequently we hear "gaga, Mama" or "gaga, Baba" - which means, "look" or "watch what I am doing".  She has bonded with us so well, which can be a real concern with toddlers.  And, she has no interest in going with other people, which can also be a concern regarding attachment issues.  She will always take Char's hand and not let her out of her sight.  She will sometimes take my hand, but I am never allowed to put her on my shoulders, that honor is reserved for Charlotte alone.  I'd like to help out, but I have not yet earned that right.  Not sure if I ever will.  She is Mama's girlie. 

We are a bit tired of getting scolded by all the Chinese "grandmas" on the street that we don't have her dressed warmly enough.  Last night we were waiting on the sidewalk for our guide to bring the van around and were soon surrounded by not less than 5-6 women who all wanted to know if we were "mama" and "baba".  One grandma told Chen to put up her hood, which she obiedently did  (she already had a hat on).  We think they were also trying to tell us that we should have more than just one set of pants on her (they would have probably put her in snowpants as well).  At one point we think they were asking her if she wanted to go home with them -- but she said no, she wanted to stay with us.  I have to say I was thankful when the van arrived.

Chen Qian is so clever and cute and beautiful and funny.  I am not sure how we could be so lucky to have been given Chen Qian.  The director from the orphanage said she thinks Chen Qian and I look alike, which means we had some connection in a prior life.  We agreed that this was meant to be.  As well as things are going, this was God's plan for all of us, even before we knew it.

So, thanks to all for your continued prayers for continued bonding and safety of travel.  Tomorrow we go to Guangzhou for the rest of our time.  Here we finish up paperwork with the US consulate, health checks etc before we leave for home next Saturday.  She has a nasty cough, so please pray that she does not have TB and that it is just a cold.  We might have to stay two more weeks if she does.

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