Homeward bound

Wednesday we took a train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and spent the night in Hong Kong to catch an early flight. We had to put Jack in our laps for the 2 hour train ride. That wasn't fun but he was mostly good. When we got off the train at the station we were immediately hounded by cab drivers offering to take us to our hotel for $100! So far we've managed to avoid cabs taking trains and subways. It's intimidating not knowing how much is a good rate there and not knowing if they understand us and know where to take us. We had to run from the very aggressive drivers and got some dinner at the always present McDonalds in the train station while we thought about what to do. We found there was a subway station in the train station and we decided to try our luck on the subways instead of leaving ourselves at the mercy of the cabs. It was a much better deal, less than $6 to take the subway and then we had to take some super elevated train to the airport where the hotel was for about $18.

 The next day we arrived at the airport 2 hours before our plane left and had to run to catch it after waiting in several really long lines to check in, go through security and customs. Our flight to Japan was over 4 hours. Jack did good. It was late arriving in Tokyo and we had to run to catch our next plane after again going through long lines for security and customs. So we didn't get to stretch our legs much before the long 10 hr flight to the US after already doing a long flight. The inflight entertainment was terrible, a few channels on tvs in front of us that played the same 3 movies. Watch all the movies and we still had 6 hours to kill and there was only one kid friendly movie. We were spoiled on the international flight too China I guess. Hours of movies, music and games on the interactive tvs we had. Jack ate dinner and slept for quite a while on the flight. Answer to prayer!

over Tokyo

 

 When we arrived in the US. Again, we had to clear several long lines of customs, immigration and security. We presented papers that the US consulate gave us that allowed Jack to walk into the country as a US citizen. Such a big moment, that this little guy will never remember. Because of all the long lines, it again ate up most of our lay over time and but it was the longest wait we had, about a half hour to stretch our legs and grab some food. I was feeling sick and dizzy from all the flights, not to mention crossing the international date line and being sleep deprived. Another 2hr flight to go. I longed to see my girls so bad by this point I was tearing up just thinking about being reunited with them.

US Immigration, he's about to hand over his papers and come into the country as a US citizen.

 We finally, FINALLY arrived in Phoenix. What a joyous moment to finally be home, to have Jack home and be done with all the flights. We were greeted by wonderful friends holding balloons and signs at the airport. Jack is used to being the center of attention and took it as a matter of course. :-) He put on a show and hammed it up for the crowd.

 No family was at the airport and I was losing it. I needed to see my girls and they weren't there. Didn't know why. Brent got a text after about 15 minutes from his step mom saying they were in the van and it was broke down on the side of the road somewhere! It took a while to figure out where they were since his step mom isn't familiar with the area. Thank goodness our sweet friends came to the airport to meet us! We took off in a couple cars with our friends to try to fine the van and rescue all the girls sitting on the side of the road in 107 degree Arizona heat. We finally found them near the airport. I jumped out of the car and ran to the van sobbing. I was so tired and so worried about them, I just needed my girls. We piled all the girls in the car with Jack and they had a sweet time getting to know each other. Jack was like a king holding court and all the girls were entranced with him.
 Turned out the van needed gas, so Brent put gas in it and got it home. Home at last. It's so good to be home and have all our babies under one roof. Thank you all for your prayers during this incredible journey.

Days 11 and 12- Guangzhou

I wasn't able to get online for the last 2 days so I'm lumping them together in one post while I can get on. It was mostly just more walking and shopping. Monday we went back to medical and had Jack's TB test looked at, all looks good. We also got a group picture with other families here adopting the same time we are.

 After lunch we walked to Shamian Island. The island used to be a European outpost and port in the 19th century and has kept it's western feel to this day. It used to house the US Consulate, medical and in consequence, all the adoptive families would stay at the hotels on the island as well. Consulate moved. Just medical was there when we adopted Angie and Amy and now neither are there and the main hotel has closed down for renovations, it's a much different place than it once was. It still has several shops that cater to adoptive families, each shop provides laundry, strollers to loan, and tons of trinkets and souvenirs for that you can get your child's Chinese name and or American name customized on.
  We did the tourist thing and got our souvenirs there. Jack will never know the difference unless you tell him, but I did NOT get squeaky shoes for him like all my girls had when they were his age. Probably because I'm tired, it just sounds like a bad idea right now to give this little bolt of electricity of a boy shoes that squeak every time his foot comes down. At on of the shops,  Brent sat down and had traditional Chinese tea with the husband who spoke English while I shopped with the wife close by my side. He explained to Brent how to serve the tea and all the tradition involved, it was pretty fascinating.

 We got a lot of comments on the island about Jack, "A boy!" We don't see many people adopting boys!

So we found out that Hong Kong had a significant Typhoon on Monday. We got lots of rain and sloshed through Shamian Island and we had lots more rain on Tuesday as what was left of the Typhoon headed our way. Tuesday morning we had our swearing in ceremony for Jack to make him a US citizen at the US Consulate. Our guides kept telling us that there were no cameras allowed and all our baby stuff had to be in a plastic bag. I left my camera at the hotel and brought my regular bag with me, I didn't really care if security kept it while I was in the consulate, I just wanted to have my bag with me while I was out and didn't want to repack everything in a plastic bag, rebel that I am. All the families showed up with their belongings in walmart bags. Then the guides handed us all our paperwork for our babies in clear plastic envelopes labeled, "My plastic bag". Apparently, that is what they meant by putting our  baby stuff in a plastic bag. LOL I kept my bag and no one seemed to care.

We also had a funny episode with the hotel. They didn't give us a bed or a crib for Jack, so he's been sleeping on the couch at our hotel. Monday night he peed on it. We told the hotel and apologized and asked them to clean it. When we got back from the Consulate, the couch was gone. He took a nap in our bed. throughout the day, we kept trying to communicate with the hotel staff that we needed the couch back for Jack to sleep on. At bed time we still didn't have a couch. We called again and tried to tell them we needed the couch. nothing for about an hour, so we all got in the same bed to sleep. Around 11pm someone knocked at our door and brought us towels thinking that is what we've been asking for. Brent motioned to the empty space that used to have a couch. Blank stare from the hotel staff. Brent pantomined sitting on a couch. Blank stare. He tried to use his Iphone app to translate couch. (all this by the way with me in bed with the covers pulled up to my neck..) He seemed to understand nodded and left. Half an hour later he showed up with a cot. Well that will work! Around midnight, we got a call from the front desk asking if we got our couch yet. Brent said they had sent us a bed. "And how long will you be needing the bed?" They asked. Brent said, "You can have it back as soon as you bring the couch back." The next day when we got back from lunch we had a couch next to the fold out bed. Too funny.

bucket of snakes!

Snakes for sale! gag.

Today is actually Wednesday, Day 13. We start our journey home today. In a few hours we'll take a train to Hong Kong to spend the night there and catch a very early flight to Tokyo Thursday morning. From there we take the international flight to San Francisco and then after around 24 hours of traveling we will arrive in Phoenix around 3:30 in the afternoon. Please pray for us. On the trip here it was just tiring when it was just the 2 of us. But it is with fear and trepidation we make the trip with a 3 year old preschool firecracker whom we can't communicate with and cannot sit still for more than a minute.

Day 10- Guangzhou

We walked and shopped today. Nothing else. Jack and I for the most part seem to be pals now. He stays with me at a table when Brent goes to order food, he holds my hand when we walk, and he even let me carry him today.

  Pedestrian street is such a fun place to shop and people watch. Hoards of people shop here. I have great video, but we've been unable to upload video since we've been in China. It will have to wait. Our room is on the 8th floor looking down on Pedestrian Street. It's interesting, it looks so nice walking down the street, but from our view from the hotel you can tell the street is just a facade placed on some old buildings hiding all the less attractive buildings behind it.

Here's what it looks like from street level

Here's what it looks like from above

Day 9- Guangzhou

We're in Guangzhou now. This is the province all Americans need to travel to after the get their child in their province of birth to complete their adoptions. The American consulate is here. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Shi Fu when we were here 4 years ago adopting Amy and liked it so well we are staying here again. Love the spacious room and we love the pedestrian street it is located on.

 This morning we had to visit a medical clinic to get Jack examined and cleared to come to the US. with Amy, it was just us and 2 other couples, we were in and out pretty quick. Today the clinic was crammed with families getting their children checked out. I think there are 11 families just from our agency, Lifeline that were there and at least a dozen other families besides the ones from our agencies. It took a few hours. Jack was pretty good for being bored out of his mind in a crowded room for so long. We didn't get back to our hotel until well after lunch time.

 Nap and then we walked pedestrian street. Dinner and bed. Made it though another day. So glad to be in Guangzhou but we are getting so tired and want to be back home now.

Day 7- Nanchang

I could not get online at all last night, so here's trying again to post.

We got a different guide today, Mary whom Brent actually had on his first trip to Nanchang when he adopted Angie. The guide remembered Brent too.
  She took us to People's Park a lovely park with shade trees and a river running through it. Great place for people watching although I think just as many people were watching us and the curiosity we were.

Majong tournaments at the park

After lunch and nap we walked as we do every afternoon to kill time until dinner and bedtime. Jack get's very bored in the room. We made a stop at Walmart and pretty much as soon as we entered, we found we had a shadow. I kept stepping aside to let this guy pass and he didnt 'want to, he just kept following us. He thought he was a very good spy because one time when I let him pass he did and he thought he was very clever following us by being in front of us. When we'd turn down and aisle, he'd turn down the next one and loop around and come back to our aisle and pretend to be browsing where we were standing. We started to have fun with it and we'd walk and then suddenly dash into an aisle to see how far he'd go to follow us. He kept up. We faked going up an escalator and as he was in front of us, he got on and then we walked away. Problem was, we were actually trying to get on the escalator to get to the next floor to buy something. So we waited trying to calculate how long it would take him to get off the escalator and catch the next one back to us and then we got on. He was waiting for us at the bottom. We made a lot of crazy turns and bought our stuff and got out of there. It was all fun an games, but I wanted to make sure he didn't follow us back to the hotel. If he was a really good spy he would have changed his bright yellow shirt when he realized he'd been made, but I don't think he did, so I think we were ok walking back to the hotel.

Jack was all fun today and didn't yell for Daddy as much with just me around. We're still getting used to having a boy that pee's at will all over the city. Seriously! He ruined a couple of good pictures as I was lining up the camera, he'd walk into my shot and pee. I'm pretty sure he thinks it's funny that we both jump and try to find somewhere for him to go when he says, "Wu niao". Much to our embarrassment, he usually pulls it out and THEN tells us Wu niao. In the restaurant, in the car, in the stroller, walking down the street. Yes, I see that, lets see if we can find somewhere more private. Again, we are the only ones embarrassed by this. All the kids wear split pants and squat on the street whenever they need to go. Even adults don't mind using a wall or a tree lining the sidewalk. He told us he had to go just as we got up to the counter at KFC. Brent grabbed him and ran for the door and was trying to find a secluded tree. Meanwhile I watched a family stop right outside the door of the KFC. The momma pulled a little girls panties down and had her pee right there while grandma held a drink for the little girl and she pee'd and drank her drink at the same time and no one but me seemed to think in front of a restaurant was a bad location for this activity.

   In the evening, Mary took us to a huge water fountain show that was by the river. We told her we had been to it the night before and she told us that that was just a small one and almost seemed embarrassed that we thought that was the big water show. She kept emphasizing that that was just a little one.
 The water fountains lined the river for maybe a half a mile and it was synchronized with music and lights and even the skyscrapers across the river lit up with lights and seemed to be synchronized with the show. It was pretty spectacular. Mary said at the highest point the water shoots 120meters in the air. Everyone oooh'ed and cheered.

 We had noticed a huge ferris wheel from our hotel window for the first time today. This was the first non rainy day and the sun came out, so I guess that's why we just now saw it. Mary took us to see it after the show. It's huge, she said it was the biggest in Asia, but she thinks one was just built in Singapore that is bigger now. It's like the one in England with the cars you can stand up in. I'm not a fan of heights, so we did not go for a ride, but it was stll very impressive looking at it from the ground.

Our last evening in Nanchang.

Day 6- Nanchang

Today we were supposed to visit a park but we opted for a museum since it's been raining and raining. It actually wasn't really raining this am, but thinking we'd be in the air conditioning, we thought the museum would be better. We quickly realized the museum doesn't have AC and it was just as hot and muggy as the outside was.

  The museum was interesting. I really don't think there was much old stuff in the museum. The stuff on display didn't look old but they all had labels saying what dynasty they were from. At the end of the tour I didn't realized I had wandered in to the gift shop because the stuff looked the same. So I bought a bracelet for cheap and I'm pretty sure its from the Qing Dynasty. The natural history part of the museum was pretty amusing. They had one set of dinosaur bones, but I just don't think they were real and one prehistoric jawbone. That was the entrance to the dinosaur world. The exhibit was a large room full of large fake plastic/foam dinosaurs. Our guide said one used to move but it doesn't anymore. It was kinda like wandering in to an old amusement park that had shut down years ago. everything was dingy and broken. One dinosaur had fallen over. One display had a set of 3 dinosaurs sitting around the table, it kind of looked like they were playing prehistoric poker with a bunch of rocks. The English sign just said "Plesiosaurus" but there were three different kinds of dinos playing poker and actually that is one of the few dinosaurs I can name and none of them were plesiosaurus. I asked our guide what the plaque said about these gambling dinos and she said it  was depicting their last meal. Chinese museum humor maybe?

 We then wandered in to a room set up like a forest that had a sundry of the worst taxidermy animals I had ever seen. They had bulging eyes and mishapen faces and broken ears. The boa constrictor had packing tape wrapped around his poor neck to try to keep him in one piece. All of Noah's Ark seemingly occupied this one forest in Nanchang. Boas, tigers, porcupines, rabbits, foxes, cranes, dic dics and racoons. A big antelope had fallen over. All the white animals showed layers of dust.

  Next was a room dedicated to trees in Nanchang and had a bunch of brown dead leaves pressed under glass and on display. Another room was huge and the only thing in the room was a case with no plaque on it displaying a tiny ornament. We found a brochure on the way out and in English it said the ornament was a "small jade dragon with a bird on its head with 3 rings attached". Exactly what I thought it was! I think it might have been the only authentically old thing in the museum therefore it's place of honor. It looked like a keychain.


  After the museum our guide took us to Walmart. Yes a Walmart! It's 2 stories. I wanted to find some more shorts for Jack. I packed 5 outfits for him like Brent and I packed for ourselves. Again, first time parents of a boy. How would we know he would have gone through all his clothes in the first 2 days? He eats with 2 hands and gets food all down his front. At the pagoda he fell flat on his face in a puddle about 4 inches deep and was soaked for the rest of the tour. Every time he pees, well, in the US we would be changing his clothes every time, I'll leave it at that. 
 Anyway, couldn't find any shorts at Walmart. For his size I needed to know how tall he was, and then convert it to centimeters to figure out what size chinese clothes he needs. pretty confusing, and I didn't see anything except swim trunks. Come to think of it, that's not a bad idea...

  After Walmart and lunch Jack went down for a nap. 2 days in a row yes! He still hasn't taken to his momma yet. He is really attached to his daddy and follows him everywhere. It's hard on me, and really hard on Brent because Jack panics every time Brent is more than 2 feet away from him. He'll play with me and he likes to tease me by grabbing whatever I have in my hands. But he won't let me touch him otherwise. This morning he played peek a boo with me in a closet we have in our room. He stood in the closet and kept closing the sliding doors and waited for me to open them and then he'd scream. We played for a bit and then I couldn't open either of the doors. I thought he was holding them closed but soon his laughter turned to wails and screams for daddy. Brent rushed over and pried the doors open, he somehow locked them, and dad was the hero and mom was the bad guy. He stayed mad at me for most of the day about that. When he woke up from his nap, I was lying next to him watching tv. Brent was in the bathroom. he looked at me and started howling for his daddy. Once he figured out Brent was in the bathroom he sat in front of the door and wailed and kept calling for his BaBa the whole time Brent was in the bathroom. Every time I approached him he'd scream. After Brent got out of the bathroom and all was right with the world, I had a good cry and then we went out for some shopping therapy. It's best to go walking every afternoon until dinner to keep Jack from bouncing off the walls in the room.
  We walked back to the Walmart and walked through shops around it too. Dinner at KFC where he decided to be nice to me again and played with both of us and fed us french fries. He loves ketchup with his fries and Brent accidentally squirted ketchup all over Jack and I when he was opening a packet. Jack laughed and laughed and told us the story over and over again how dad sprayed us with ketchup and showed us how it got all over his arms and face.

   Walmart is next to a People's Square public park and we stayed into the evening and watched the water fountain show it does every night. We liked that. There was a crowd of people there watching and taking picures with us. One lady tapped me on the shoulder and said 'excuse me, take picture?" I said yes and held out my hand for the camera. She grabbed me and a group of Chinese people surrounded me with their arms around me and we all said cheese for the camera. Oh yeah. I'm a rock star.