Pelley Family Blog

We had a good day, although it had its challenges.  The planned activities were to go to a Buddhist temple and then a folk-art museum.  When we got to the temple, there were a number of beggars by the entrance.  These were the first beggars Xiao Ying has seen since she’s been with us.  She pulled out her red envelope and asked us if she could give her money to one of them.  (There was some money left over from what she resisted spending the other day.)  The whole time in the temple, she wanted to get some incense and do some of the Buddhist worship practices, but we kept saying “No”.  The guide was telling us we can have her “blessed”, but we’d rather have her blessed by Jesus when we get home.  Finally, we just left instead of continuing the tour and walked around until it was time to meet back at the bus.  (We got ourselves some ice cream treats at 7-11, which seemed to help the mood some.)

The folk-art museum was interesting.  It was previously a family’s private temple.  They must have been quite wealthy - it occupied several acres and was highly decorated!  They had some antique furniture, wood and ivory carvings, embroidery, etc.  At the shop there, you could get “chops” (a carved ink-stamp that has your personal “logo”) and calligraphy scrolls with your name.  Xiao Ying didn’t want a fancy painted scroll with her name, but just a 4×8 inch card.  Go figure.

After lunch, the three of us walked over to the equivalent of Holcombs - a book store for teachers.  We picked up some more “teaching English” stuff and some puzzle books and story books to occupy her on the long plane ride home.  We then played some badminton and went to a Thai restaurant for dinner.  She ordered some soup, of course, that had “beef balls” in it.  They were strange, not our meatballs of chopped meat, but more like real beef.

This evening, Xiao Ying seemed to be in quite the silly mood.  She danced and marched and did “motions” to her children’s music CD.  She was constantly giggling as we studied some English and played Chinese Checkers.  We think she is becoming much more comfortable with us.  She prompted us for hugs and even gave us kisses for the first time.  And she beat us twice in Chinese Checkers!

Daddys little girl!

Tomorrow, the whole group is to get together for a group photo at “the famous red couch” at the White Swan hotel.  After that, the three of us plan to go to the zoo.

We’ve been on this island a week and only four nights left!  I told someone that I’m starting to feel like I’m on Alcatraz!  

Not much is happening, and we haven’t taken a picture all day.  We got caught in a surprise storm last night, and waded through ankle deep water to get back to our hotel.  Thunder through the night.  We took a LONG walk yesterday  -  found a neighborhood off the island that seemed a bit better than where we had previously been.  We located the Chinese version of “Holcombs” - an educational supply store, and bought a few things.  I bought her a bilingual “Charlotte’s Web” but passed on “War and Peace”!  We bought an incredibly cheap “Chinese Checkers” and that got us through the afternoon and evening.  We’ve had some “English” practice - putting several items on the table and naming them, asking for them, etc.  She is eager to learn.

Today we shopped with the group.  The jade market and the pearl market.  Did buy much.  A small jade pendant for XY.  Some small souveneirs.  The pearl market was a five story mall with only jewelry shops.  Overload!    Then a quick stop at the CarreFour (supermarket - a French chain). 

XY has been harder to handle today than before.  I’m thinking it may have to do with some “overload” - rather than just the two families hanging out together, we now have thirteen families - lots more noise and action.

Two times in the last day Mike has gone off somewhere without her knowing it.  She has been a bit panicky.  “Daddy?”   ”Daddy?”   I guess she doesn’t want to lose her newly found daddy!  He has always come back.  Today she seemed less worried when we went different ways for a while.  We know this is just step one in learning to trust us - that we will always come back.   

Many of you know that I’ve been concerned about how to break any undesirable Chinese “habits” that she has.  Really, I think we’re going to be okay.  She doesn’t spit - or shoot snot rockets - but she does know how to push her way through a crowd and into a line.  Many times, already, I’ve had to grab her and pull her back from cutting in front of people.    She also struggles with stopping at a street corner.  The orphanage was on a side street, and I don’t think she got out much.  We’ve played some “stop - go” games trying to teach her to stop - because the cars don’t do much yielding around here.

Her foster mom had given her some money when she left her on Monday.  We had her take it today to spend - since she can’t spend it at home.  She was NOT very happy to pull her own money out today.  We had Helen explain to her that she can’t spend it in the U.S., so she’d better spend it here.

Oh - we got our clothes back from the laundry.  When she pulled out her jeans (the ones she came with), she just hugged them.  When we picked out her clothes for the day, she choose another outfit that came in her backback from the foster family.  Comfort clothes, I guess - something that feels familiar. 

Mike did purchase a translator for her today.  We talked to the other family with the ten year old, and got some tips.  We’re not sure how well it will work from Chinese to English, but it works great from English to Chinese.  In our room, we use babelfish.com and it is a blessing - she reads on the screen what we are trying to tell her, and she understands.     We can’t really carry our computer with us everywhere we go.  Right now, she’s sitting on the couch with the translator, and her Chinese dictionary, trying to figure it out.

This girl continues to eat EVERYTHING.  It’s going to be a shock to get home and find out we don’t have a breakfast buffet every morning.  She gets about four plates of food every morning.  One to two plates of fruit, and then a variety - dim sum, congee, cereal, toast (she LOVES the toast machine).  Last night at dinner she got Malaysian fried rice and ate everything but the fried egg! 

She ask to call home again last night.  We told her (through babelfish) that she could call tomorrow night.  That was that - she put the phone number away.  We skyped Ohio yesterday - SO GOOD to see our gals.  We can’t wait to all be together as a family again. 

Well, I think that’s it for now.  We’re hoping in the next few days to visit the zoo.  We’ve heard it is a very nice one.  There are a few older kids in our group, and I think it would be good for them.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  We appreciate it SOOOO much.  Don’t stop!

We had a pretty laid back day today.  Xiao Ying went for a fairly cursory medical exam, which is required as part of the immigration process.  We then went with another family to some botanical gardens.  It was very nice.  Except it started pouring when we were about half-way through the gardens.  We made it to a greenhouse, where we hung out for a good hour waiting for the downpour to stop.  We then went to lunch at a noodle restaurant, came back to the room, filled out some paperwork with our guide, walked around some, bought a DVD, went back to the room and had a quiet evening.  We ate in the room and played a couple rounds of the “Memory” game. 

Here are some pictures of Xiao Ying, who always has a ready smile…

Family photo

At the gardens, they had some drums set up for Chinese New Year:

Playing drums

The flowers at the garden were beautiful:

Flowers

A couple of silly pictures, just after she woke up this morning:

Silly smile

Movie Star

(We tried to post these last night, but the internet connection at the hotel seems to be overloaded in the evening, so I’m posting this at 5AM, when I woke up.  That is the latest I’ve slept in so far!  I’m finally getting adjusted to the 12 time zone change.)

Wow!  I’m too tired to write much, I think - we’ll see.  I apologize for the lack of pictures, but we just realized that the computer I’m using (the hotel’s computer) does not have our photo editing software, and we are TOO TIRED to switch the internet over to our laptop (only one computer can use the internet at a time)  SO - we promise to add pictures to this post tomorrow.  Right now we just want to go to bed.

We were gone for 12 hours today - all for a visit of a little over one hour to XiaoYing’s hometown, Maoming.  Last night, afrter we found out we would visit Maoming, we let XY call her foster mom, and she excitedly told her that we were going to be coming to Maoming.  After the phone call, she was so grateful for Mike letting her call that she jumped up and into Mike’s arms!  It was so sweet.  Normally, the officials do not allow the foster parents and adoptive parents to cross paths, but today they did.  When we pulled into the orphanage, the director, her assistant, a teacher, and XY’s foster mom were there to greet us - oh - and about ten of her friends.  They have a 2-1/2 hour break from school for naps every day, but they had let these few kids stay up to be with XY.  Many of the kids we recognized from her birthday pictures.  They were ALL adorable.  They LOVED practicing their limited English on us.  This part was probably the saddest for me.  All of these kids are on the “list” to be adopted - they are just waiting for someone to claim them.  We would have taken them ALL if we could have.   Since it was naptime, they did not allow us to go through the orphanage.  I was quite disappointed, but to tell the truth, I was broken up enough and holding back tears over XY’s friends - I don’t think I could have taken looking at the other kids as well.

They showed us the classroom where XY went to preschool, and another classroom where she had come for after school programs, sponsored by the “Half the Sky Foundation”.  I tried to collect my thoughts in these rooms, realizing that this was where our daughter had been nurtured for much of her young life.  XY passed out some treats to her friends, and then they were sent off to their naps. 

Then we walked down the street - really just a few feet, to where her school was, but the gate was locked, and we could not find anyone to let us in.  (It was naptime break!).  We knew we would have to wait TOO long for the gate to open, so we did not get to see her school.  XY asked her foster mother to call her foster father to come over - and soon he showed up.  We stood on the street quite a while and talked.  We could tell that foreigners do not often visit this city, as we were stared at quite a bit. 

You could tell that these people really loved XY and had worked very hard to make her transition as easy as possible.  When XY tried to hold her foster mom’s hand while walking down the street, she was encouraged to hold my hand instead.   We did our best to thank them for the investment in her life.

We said our goodbyes with no tears on XY’s part - Mike wondered if she could even fathom that she was saying goodbye for life, most likely. 

We are so grateful to Helen, our guide, and the driver that we hired for giving us this opportunity.  Helen mentioned as we neared “home” tonight that XY is extremely well adjusted, from what she can tell.  I have heard that these kids NEED to grieve - and I haven’t seen anything close to grieving yet - we’ll see.

We ate a very quick dinner and now we’re off to bed - medical examination and visa photos in the morning.  The rest of our group arrives tomorrow and we are anxious to see them and their new children.

We’re just trying to keep busy here - we only had one appointment today, and that lasted about two minutes, or less (plus 30 minutes travel time).  Here are the pics from yesterday  - and this morning.

Yesterday, we played ping-pong at the hotel

Playing ping pong

We gave Ruby a necklace with a ruby on it, so she posed with it on:

A ruby necklace

Last night we played “Memory”.  It took her about half of the first game to pick up on what it is about and the second game she beat us!

Memory

XiaoYing is beginning to eat more.  Last night at dinner, she ate her own dinner (even the condiments on her plate) and then helped me with mine.  At breakfast today, she knew what to do - grabbing her own plate and filling it up.  She was curious about the toast machine - so she ate her first piece of bread (that we’ve seen).  She has trouble working with a knife, so she asked Mike to spread the jelly. 

Her ”new” thing yesterday was using a hand drying machine at KFC.  She loved it.  The restaurant had something I’d never seen - a sink beside the counter for washing your hands before you eat!  Novel idea!

We bought her a Chinese dress for her baby doll, and she has taken a new interest in playing with that, now that she’s dressed properly. 

Mike worked with her this morning on the Reader rabbit computer program, so she practices letters and numbers and colors.  She’s actually said a few English words today - Mike is making her ask for the key by name before giving it to her when we reach the hotel.  She said “Good morning, Daddy” to Mike when she got up this morning.  When I accidently stepped on her foot, I apologized, and she said “That’s alright.”  She says “Thank you” a lot, and has now added, “You’re welcome.”  After lunch today, she said, “I’m full.”  Oh - and she said, ”I’m sorry” for something, I don’t remember  what.

She had her first “pout” last night, but got over it quickly.  Just as we got online to “Skype” home, she got out her foster mom’s phone number.  She would not come to the bed, where we were sitting in front of the camera.  So, we just ignored her and talked to the girls at home.  After a while, she got up and watched the girls, but stayed out of camera shot.  Then, finally, she was in the camera.  While we talked, she and the girls played “copy” the rest of the conversation.  If one crossed their arms, she did, and vice versa.  This went on for five to ten minutes, with arm crossing, putting their hands on their chins, clapping, etc.  So neat that they can play seven thousand miles away from each other.

We did some shopping today - she did well - many things she wanted, she didn’t get - and didn’t make a huge deal about it.  We did let her choose a  CD of kids music  - and she’s been singing away here, sometimes with motions.  She keeps a good tune - and really has a high voice for a kid.  We don’t get much opportunity to hear her voice, so it’s fun to hear her sing.

Oh - we found something out today that we did not know - thankfully.  Yesterday, when the officials talked to her - if she had said that she did NOT want to be adopted, then the process could have been halted.  Wow!  Like I said, I’m glad we did not know that.  Mike has asked for a copy of the paper where she wrote, in her beautiful Chinese handwriting - “I want to be adopted and go to the US with my new parents.”   

NOW FOR THE LATE BREAKING NEWS! - It has been arranged for us to go to Maoming tomorrow, the city where she has lived most of her life.  We will never know where she was born, but she has lived in Maoming.  We will visit her orhanage and hopefully, her school.  It is a long trip - we hear everything from three hours to five hours.  A lot depends on traffic.  We’d love to meet her foster mom - she seems to really love her — but they greatly discourage this - it’s hard on the kids and the foster moms - who greatly love their charges.  But we can meet some of the people who have been very important to her.  Mike really really wants to do this.  I could go either way.  Since she’s doing so well, I don’t want to give her the chance to regress - but based on what we’ve seen, I think she will do well.  We asked her - through Helen - if she wanted to go.  At first she seemeds ambivalent, but then said, yes, she’d like to.  So - we’re off EARLY in the morning.  Mike said - what are we going to do with her for all those hours in a van - I said - the same thing we’d do for a fourteen hour flight - oh yeah!

So - hopefully, we’ll have some pictures tomorrow night - we don’t anticiate getting back until evening.  We ask for your prayers for us all tomorrow.

I hope I haven’t repeated anything - our internet is slow and this morning was nonexistent.  For me to go back and check yesterday’s post takes forever.  So, hopefully, you skip through what you don’t want to read!

At least I think that is what we did today. We had to go back to the civil affairs office.  I had Helen explain to XY that we were not taking her back, but that we needed to do some more paperwork.  During the day wait, we had to sign papers, giving us custody of her for a “harmonious” period - until today, when she was truly a Pelley.  We had an official “family” picture made, and then two interviews - basically - why do you want to adopt from China? Do you want XY?  Are you happy with her?  Do you promise not to abandon or harm her and give her a good education, etc.  Then, in the second interview, the official talked to XY quite a long time.  I knew she was asking what she thought about all of this, and I was hoping that after one day, XY was still ready to go with us.  Then she had XY write something down on the official papers.  Later she (the official) told us that she wrote that she was willing to go with her adoptive parents to the U.S.  Whew! 

After the offical work was done (for today) we went to KFC for lunch.  XY showed me what she wanted to eat, but when I tried to order for her, she pushed me away and wanted to order herself.  At first, she wanted a family meal for four, but we nixed that.  Then - to shopping.  We did some food shopping.  We let her pick out some “ramen noodle in a cup” type things - for when we eat in the hotel room.  We tried to communicate that she could get four of them.  Helen was off helping the other family.  It took some doing, but we got four.  When I would take a second, she would put the first back.  It was funny!  She asked for some drinks, which we got.  And a mango - different type than we have here.  We did say “no” to a few things as well. 

Then - off to clothes shopping - the other family needed a jacket for their baby.  I ended up getting a top/long pants for XY.  Most of the clothes I brought are for warmer weather - and a cold front hit last night.  All of the cold weather clothes got thrown out when I was trying to make the weight limit on my suitcases.  Things are DIRT cheap here - Mike says that is because everything is made in China and they don’t have to export it!  Mike saw bicycles for $30 - the kind you fold up - really expensive at home.  Nobody drinks tap water here, so water coolers are big - the floor models are about $50!  Our dinner last night - complete meal for three people with a drink - was about $12. 

Then to the electronics shop.  We had hoped to get an electronic translator for XY to put in what she wanted to say to us.  But most of them work on pinyin, and her pinyin is limited.  We played with a couple, but determined that they would not do us much good.  That was a disappointment.  We can use babelfish to communicate with her, but as yet, nothing that she can use to communicate with us.

Before we parted ways with Helen for the day - we gave Ruby a ruby necklace, and had Helen explain the stone - and her name.  I don’t know how much she comprehended - she thanked us and that was that.  This morning, I got on XY’s foster sister’s website, where she had posted a letter for XY.  XY read it in Chinese - and then pointed to Mei Feng’s American name - Marissa.  So I said “Marrisa” (the Chinese explanation told her that this was Mei Feng’s American name.  She repeated the name - “Marissa” and then touched herself and said “Ruby”.  I think she gets it.  We’re still calling her XiaoYing, and I guess we will until she tells us not to.

We are still hoping to go to Maoming, but that seems like it may not happen.  Helen seems to have something planned for every day!  Tomorrow is our visit to the police station to apply for her passport -  Just one appointment, but we can’t go on a day long journey and miss it.

We came back to the room and went down to play ping pong for a while.  That was fun.  Mike and XY just went out to the partk to throw the frisbee.  She seems very comfortable with us.  She’s very independent - but every so often, she grabs our hand as we walk along.  I’m trying not to push it - let her warm up to us at her own speed.  I did her hair this morning - or at least tried - how I miss Joanna.  That gave us some bonding time. 

She put on an outfit I brought her this morning, but after breakfast, changed out of the skirt for some pants.  She was cold.  Mike asked today if it was okay to wear shorts - he didn’t want to offend anyone as he hadn’t seen any Chinese wearing shorts.  Helen told him that it’s not hot enough!  It is much cooler today, and to be cooler still the next two days, then back to 80 on Friday

Well, that’s all I can think of for today.  Perhaps Mike will post a picture or two later.  Oh - if you are reading every day, you might want to go back a few days.  I think Mike added some pictures of the Great Wall.

Oh - on a sad note.  Yesterday, when the orphanage director was talking to us, she had us sign a type of “guest” book - every child that is adopted is placed in the book, with his/her new parents, and the new parents sign.  XY recognized some of her friends’ names right away.  The sad part is - the last child adopted from her orphanage  (happens to be one of XY’s friends, who lives in Cincinnati) was in December.  That HUGE orphange (and it is huge - hundreds, probably over 1000 I’m told) - and one kid in the last three months.  When you look at some of these kids - you just want to scoop them all up.  I read at the beginning of our process that one thing they don’t tell you - that when you go home, you carry in your heart forever all of the little ones that are left behind.  I think I’m beginning to understand.

That’s one of the first bits of lingo we learned in the adoption world - and one we’ve dreamed of for over a year.  Today was the day.  Mike was more restless than I’ve ever seen him - just READY to go get her.  We were picked up at two, then rode to the civil affairs office.  As we walked to the elevator, XiaoYing had just arrived with the orphage director.  She spotted us and knew who we were and came running to us.  She was so happy to see us (and the other way around).  Then, for the first time, she realized that we do not speak Chinese - that threw her a little bit.  We rode up the elevator together, and then had to part ways - there was paperwork to do before we officially “received” her. 

New family member

The “receiving room” was an absolute zoo!  probably about 30 families receiving their children - LOTS of crying.  When XY was brought back to us - she seemed mesmerized by all of the happenings in the room -  and very distracted.  I tried to show her the things we’d brought, but she was not interested - just kept looking around.  Helen, our guide, was busy helping the other FTIA family - whose baby was BAWLING - she did NOT like her new daddy’s facial hair.  (In fact, one of the first things XY  said to us (through Helen) was that she wasn’t too crazy about her new daddy’s facial hair.  After a few minutes, she got out the backpack she’d brought and showed me her school award.  That was it.  Then put it back.  After another few minutes, the orphanage director came over to talk to us.  She could NOT say enough about XY.  She is helpful - always looking out for others - even her mama.  She assured me that she would help with household chores (there may be hope for my house yet!).  She said that XY is a good student.  One of her teachers was there, and they were able to say goodbye.  They then got out a photo album with some pics of XY - probably the oldest one was five years old.  She was thrilled to know that I am in contact with her foster sister.  After a bit, we left to come back to the hotel.  She has enjoyed going through her things - looking at each item.  We’ve played jacks.  She loves dressing her Only Hearts Doll.  We gave her the camera we brought her - and I told Mike I don’t thing we’ve had this many pictures made of us together since our wedding day!  We went to dinner - she was able to read off the menu what she wanted.  When we got back to the room, we showed me a phone number and indicated that she’d like to make a phone call.  It was her foster mother.  They talked, rather excitedly for about five minutes.  I think she talked to her foster father too.  She was very animated.  She thanked us for letting her call.  Well, I guess that’s it for now.  We’re busy getting to know XY.  She seems happy with us.  A couple of times she’s grabbed our hands as we walked - but she’s too busy taking pictures to do that too much.  Oh - she’s enjoying Mike’s attempts at Mandarin.   Oh - and Mike is walking on such a high cloud - well - he’s a lot of fun to watch.

From left to right we have Kathy, Xiao Ying, the orphanage director and our local guide:

Girls chatting

Posing

 

We’re in Guangzhou, and just hours away from seeing Ruby for the first time.  (We get picked up at two tomorrow afternoon - two in the morning your time) The thoughts and feelings are varied: 

• Wondering how she’s feeling, as her life changes forever tomorrow. 
•  Kind of feeling badly for her and her foster family. 
• Feeling a bit of “panic” - knowing our lives are about to change forever! 
• Ready to “get on with it!”

Tonight I put Ruby’s backpack together - kind of a “gift” or “bribe” or something that makes the pain of leaving the familiar a little more bearable.  Mike has started exchanging money.  After all the trouble we went to to obtain new or “like new” $100 bills, the plan has changed.  We have to exchange all of those wonderful new bills for Chinese money to take tomorrow.  So, rather than 50 clean crisp bills, we get to take 350 Chinese bills in whatever condition the bank gives us.  That’s a HUGE wad!  It will be nice to get rid of that money.  Thankfully, our hotels have had safes, so we have not had to carry it around all of the time.

GZ is HOT and HUMID.  We’re in the tropics!  That means beautiful foilage and flowers - and gecko-type creatures! Mike spotted one during dinner and felt the need to tell me about it:(  Speaking of dinner, we ate at a German restaurant - a bona fide German owner and cook - and the best weinerschnitzel I’ve EVER had!

Thanks for your prayers for my knee.  It is doing much better.  Today I’m mostly sore from yesterday’s climb of  the Great Wall.  I’m guessing it must have given me a much better workout than the #5 incline on my treadmill!  Mike went much further up the wall than I did.  He said that at the point where he turned around, there was a warning sign for people with cardiac conditions.  I think they put it way too far up the wall!  Not too many people even made it that far!

Most of the next eleven days will be spent on this tiny island - Shaiman Island - if you walk the perimeter, it is only one mile!  It is in GZ, but is known as a “respite” from the city, even though the city is just a few feet away, across the river.  It was settled by the Europeans in the 1800’s and has more European architecture.  Lots of trees.  Smells terrible.  I know that a week from now I’ll be more than ready to be home.  Actually, I feel that way right now!  I know I’ll be stir crazy here for ten days. 

Driving into GZ from the airport today was interesting.  While in Beijing, everything seemed kind of new and clean;, GZ seems just the opposite.  I guess Beijing was cleaned up and made presentable to the world for the Olympics.  Today I saw miles and miles and miles of old, dirty, apartment buildings.  I feel like I’m on Work & Witness! 

Our hotel (the Victory) is very nice.  It isn’t the famous “White Swan”, where most adopting families stay, but it is very nice - and $1000 cheaper.  We have a two room suite - a living room and bedroom.   Oh - and get this.  The “key” - you don’t actually put it in a slot - you just “wave” it in front of your door.  (Actually, you have to wave it in the elevator to get the elevator to work as well. )

Okay - for my musings.  Some will have to wait until I get home  - but here are a few:

• I love the way it is acceptable for two persons of the same sex to walk around town holding hands or locking arms.  There is NO sexual connotation to it - they are just friends.  I had forgotten about this since my days working with Asian people.
• There is NO sense of personal space - you get pushed, shoved, knocked from all sides.  I guess if you’ve lived in these tight quarters for years, you can’t give another person too much space.  (Beijing alone is more than twice the size of NYC)  Reminded of what my friend Keri told me about the “lessons” the Chinese were given before the Olympics. One of them was to learn to stand in line.  They didn’t learn. 
• The Kizzee in me has to check out the cars.  Buicks are big here - new model Buicks - although different from what we see at home.  The Honda Odyssey is very low to the ground - kind of looks like the Chrysler Pacifica.  They have the squattiest mini-vans I have EVER seen - even smaller than in Europe, I think.  A neat Toyota small bus - very popular.  You couldn’t pay me to drive here.
• When we were in Japan, about 18 years ago - I encountered just a couple of squat potties.  Most places had Western toilets.  Not here.  Back then, the Japanese tried to tell us they were more sanitary.  They haven’t seen these!  At our first “squat potty experience”, one of the gals came out of the bathroom complaining that her pants had touched the floor and were wet - most likely with someone else’s urine.  Next day when we visited one, we were reminded by some kind husband to roll up our pants.  I am SO GLAD we didn’t bring Grace.  Very few bathrooms have soap and towels - NONE has had hot water.  Just don’t feel clean. 
• So far, the only person who has gotten sick is the guide - the person who lives here and eats this food every day!
• No one drinks tap here - not even the locals.  They don’t trust it to be clean.  But a nice sized bottle of water is 10 - 30 cents!
• Tonight, at the 7/11 store, there, in with the candy bars and gum and breath mints - was prepackaged chicken feet.  Think I’ll pass.
• From our hotel room - we can look down into the restaurant across the street where they have a pool - a pretty good sized kids pool - with the lucky fish who will be someone’s dinner tonight.  Pleasant.
• And, back to a previous subject, I have seen, on mulitple occasions, little kids with split pants, just squat and go wherever they happened to be.  A couple were kind enough to go off to  the side of the walkway, near some bushes, but not all of them.
• While I don’t enjoy being pushed and shoved, I do enjoy the Asian attentiveness.  The flight attendants actually bowed today when the recording was played thanking everyone for the opportunity of serving them.  Our waitress tonight stood at a (not too far) distance and watched us eat - ready to cater to our every need.  At one point, she had two other waitresses watching us too (they weren’t very busy).  Nothing like eating to an audience.
• Another throw back to my days of working with Asians.  They LOVE to have their picture made.  One family in our group has their 8-1/2 year old daughter with them who is VERY blond.  People keep stopping and wanting their picture made with her.  She’s a good sport, but when she tires of it, she puts her hood up and tries to hide her hair.  But she still looks so fair.  And, get this, I’ve probably had my picture made with about seven or eight people I’ve never seen - I’m just an American and they want their picture made with one.  I can’t imagine what it will look like in their album, some lady they don’t know and will never see again, but - hey - it’s an American.

Mike just looked over my shoulder to ask if I’d written about yesterday’s sightseeing.  No, I hadn’t.  Well, I did mention the Great Wall.  We visited that, along with the Summer Palace.  Both VERY impressive places that would have been MUCH more awe-inspiring if they hadn’t been PACKED to the gills with pushing, shoving people.

Well, I think I’ll clsoe this document.  Can’t believe I wrote so much.  Gotta do it now.  I don’t know how much “entertaining” we’ll need to be doing with Ruby the next few.  BUT, we’ll definitely post some pictures tomorrow.  We’ll be the ones sweating. 

Today we went to the Great Wall, about 1 hour from our hotel in Beijing. Beijing itself is on a relatively flat area, but north of the city it becomes suddenly mountainous. And in these mountains the Great Wall was constructed. The area we went was set up for tourists: The wall was in good repair and there were shops selling Great Wall trinkets everywhere and there were large parking lots for the tour buses. And the Wall area was loaded with tourists from many countries.

You walk on top of the wall, which varies from 4 to 10 feet wide where we were. And most of it was steps, not a level platform. Very steep, unevenly spaced steps. Steps crowded with people, half going up and half going down. I’m surprised that no one got bumped off of the wall!
Here is Mike, sitting on a step:

Great Wall Steps

The size and location of the Wall are very impressive. The views from the top are spectacular. But we heard that literally millions of people died in the construction effort. For what? To maintain an emperor’s ego and kingdom? And the empire was invaded anyway. I don’t think it was worth it…

After several hundred steps this sign was posted. I think it should have been at the bottom!

Sign

While on the bus yesterday,  our guide, Catherine, gave us each a sheet of paper with some questions that FTIA had asked the orphanage.  Here are some things they said about Ruby:

“She is active and outgoing.”

“She gets up at 6:20 a.m. from Monday till Friday and 7 a.m. on weekends.  She takes a nap from 12:00 p.m. to 1:50 and goes to bed at 9:30.  (Yes!  I wonder if I can join her at taking a nap?)

“She likes doll and beautiful ornament for girl.  She likes in a busy place and play with many kids.  (Good - I brought dolls for her!)

“She doesn’t like someone touching her stuff without her permission.”

Not much - but we’ll take all we can get  -  every bit of information is precious!  Just two more days and we have her.  Our groups leaves for the airport in the morning, and we split up to go to our various provinces to receive our children.  We will all meet up on Friday in Guangzhou.

Today we visited the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.  Both were impressive in their own way.  Both were WAY too crowded. 

We’re going to go get Coldstone Creamery for dinner, pack our bags, and hit the hay!  A long day!