Last Day

Today is our last full day in China. I'm so excited to go home... and a little nervous about bringing an active toddler on a 13 hour flight. Also a bit wistful about leaving the only home XuXu has known. (It's 5:30am right now.)

For all you who have been faithful followers of my blog, thank you. Thank you also for all the encouraging comments (high five to those who got the Pee Wee reference.) And I'm sorry that I wasn't able to share more during our trip. The Internet thing was quite a pain for most of the time. And when it wasn't, finding the time to do it was difficult. (If XuXu sees me on the computer she wants to join in, she loves electronics... oh boy!) I will be posting more about our trip when I get home (especially on those jet-lag nights) and lots more pictures!

We have finally been able to catch our breath the last couple of days. On Easter Sunday, our group went to Shamien Island in the morning to shop. We only got about two and a half hours to do it, not much time. So we were not able to get all the souvenirs for friends and family we would have liked too. Since our hotel is about a 15-20 bus ride from the Island we can't just walk outside and shop easily. One souvenir that we always get has not been readily available is our cheesy key chain with the place name on it. I have not seen those ubiquitous plastic key chains that you find everywhere in the US.(For those of you about to travel... if you see something in Beijing that you like BUY IT! It will be difficult if not impossible to get in Guangzhou. Except for jade, pearls,(side note: you don't know if these are real though in Guangzhou) silk clothes, and really typical tourist souvenir type things.)

After the shopping at 3:00 in the afternoon, our group had our own Easter service. We have a pastor and a worship leader in our group (from different families.) They planned and arranged the whole thing. They rented a conference room in our hotel to have it in. We got to dress the new daughters in cute Easter dresses, so fun. And we all worshiped together, beautiful. I cried during the acapella worship. All the babies were mesmerized by the singing and I heard some of them "singing" along too. XuXu and Noelle, the pastor's daughter ;),(those spicy Hefei girls) ran around for most of the sermon. I had to chase her around the room a lot of the time. (For those of you who know Zion, does this sound familiar?) It was a great experience.

After that we just relaxed in our room and ordered take out delivered from Danny's Bagels. An authentic western restaurant, great food! Google it for the menu and info if you are coming here! One does get homesick for real American food... although I have probably enjoyed the great Chinese food more than most, having grown up in a culturally Chinese home.

The night before this we made the mistake of trying to eat at the Chinese restaurant here in the hotel with a picky 7 year old and a toddler who hates high chairs (We were very tired of fast food, McDonald's etc. even though we only had it a few times). It was a large fancy restaurant, but it was empty (only one other table of customers.) Communication between us and the wait staff was a little difficult. The food was excellent, but the menu was difficult to figure out. The English descriptions do not match up with what we are used to at home. We were noisy and made a huge mess. Oh well!

Back to Easter Sunday, having had that time to relax in the room that evening really helped.

The next morning, Monday, we finally did not have to be ready by 9:00am to go somewhere. We got to take our time in the morning. It was our consulate appointment date for XuXu's visa. Our guides went to the appointment as our representatives and we just had to wait in the room in case they had to call us with questions. Our guides said everything went smoothly for all the families. YAY!





Next, on Monday afternoon, we went to the Chen family museum (above). A beautiful place with nice gardens. And it was a gorgeous day. And then back to Shamein Is. for one more hour of shopping. Not enough time to shop. :( (Colette, I'm sorry but I couldn't find the red shoes in a large enough size for you. All the shops a had sizes probably equivalent to US sizes 4 and under. Nothing larger in red, pink yes, not red.) We did a little more pocket book damage there.

Next our guides had a dinner and "show" at a Thai restaurant, called Banana Leaf, planned for us. FUN! and delicious! We thought we were going to see authentic Thai dancing though, but got the exact opposite. There was a group of about 8 dancers (male and female) and 4-5 musicians all dressed up like they were part of a "Love Boat" style cruise ship crew. They used Thai instruments and heavy Filipino accents (our guides said they were from the Philippians) to cover American disco tunes and did music video style dance routines to them. HILARIOUS! and BUMMER! we did not have the video camera. The best part was when the dancers pulled up the older kids and men from our group to join them. Zion and the other boy his age, Drew, were great! Hamming it up and dancing their hearts out (photos below). The Dads weren't bad either. We were quite a site to all the Chinese customers in the crowded and popular theme restaurant. (Like going to something like the Rainforest Cafe in the US.)







So the last two days really helped us to rest up to handle the long trip home. Today we have the morning free again. We will probably get organized to pack. As much as the traveler in me would love to explore more. We can see some interesting places from the view from our 33rd floor room. Dragging the kids around does not sound fun. My arms and back are so tired from carrying XuXu. She wants to be down and walk around where ever she can't do it, such as in the bus or at dinner, so I have to wrestle with her to hold onto her. And when I take her somewhere she can run around, like the park on Shamien Is., she just wants to be held and just stand there with her arms up crying for me to pick her back up. We're going to work on this. Besides, Zion just wants to play with Drew. (It has been so great and helpful that there was a boy his age on this trip!) So packing it is.

So then, this afternoon we go to the "swearing in ceremony" to pick up the girl's visas and then back to pack to come home. We are going to take a group picture in the hotel lobby too. We are going to dress up in the traditional Chinese silk shirts we got.



California here we come! Can't wait to be home and for you all to meet our XuXu, our "Rare and Precious Pearl".