Tuesday, January 30, 2007

It sure has been amazing that almost 2 weeks have passed since we left Springfield. Our trip is winding down now and soon we will be home. Just for the record, I do know people in Augusta, Georgia - sorry about that! This morning, after breakfast, we all had to stay in our rooms from 9 AM-11 AM while Lina submitted our documents to the American Consulate. All went well and tomorrow we will receive Becca's visa and take the oath for her American citizenship. Once Becca steps off the plane in Detroit, one of our connecting cities on the way home, she will be an American citizen - YEA!!!

After being imprisoned in our room for 2 hours, we ventured back outside. It's interesting how human nature is, as we have been spending countless hours in our rooms thus far and enjoying every minute of it; but make us stay there and it's not so much fun. Actually, it wasn't so bad! Another family that is just next door to us in the hotel came over and watched their child's videos from the orphanage while I manned their room waiting for any phone calls from Lina.

Once released from the confines of our hotel room, our family strolled around Shamian Island as well as the grounds of The White Swan Hotel. We ate lunch at The Deli Shop next to the hotel; I had a pork sandwich and the bread was shaped like a pig's face - keep in mind that this new year's animal is the year of the pig, so it just seemed appropriate to get. We had 2 sandwiches, a dessert roll and 2 cokes for under 5 dollars.

At 2 PM, our group all gathered together for the "Red Couch" photographs. This is a tradition for the American adoptive families. The adopted children all sit on the red couch at the White Swan Hotel with their respective group. The parents then babble loudly in public to get them all to look straight and we take an endless number of photographs. To me, at least, this tradition symbolizes the connection the children have and marks the beginning of their new lives in a different economic status. The children all did well. We then took a group photograph in front of the White Swan's waterfall (yes, there is a beautiful setting with a waterfall on the main floor of the hotel.)

When that was all done, some of us headed with our guides to the Toy Market. I managed to get 14 Playstation 2 games for 5 Yuan each; yes, it costs me an entire $9.10. Don't stress, as I also managed to find Becca a neat playmate toy so the trip wasn't just for me. The market was busier than where we purchased Becca's pearls. Rows of little stores in a building 4 stories high with a pathway just wide enough to walk through made it more difficult to shop - then throw in several hundred other people with the path being blocked by several empty and full boxes. Once again, we had to find our own taxi back to the hotel. Another adoptive father and I shared a cab and managed to get back at 5:15 PM with 15 minutes to spare for our 5:30 PM dinner reservation.

At 5:30 PM, our group gathered together and we walked across the street from the hotel to a local restaurant. We had a Cantonese style meal. It was pretty good, but half the time I didn't know what I was eating. The children all were, more or less, well behaved. One of the families is leaving late tomorrow evening for their return trip back to Arizona so this was our group's farewell dinner. We all are eager to return home but, speaking for the entire group, we will miss each other. Our group bonded quickly and will forever be bound by the common tie of our daughters.

Speaking of our daughters, I'm sure you're ready to hear about Becca. She has been a joy again today. She gave Angie her first unsolicited kiss and is venturing out more to interact with other people. As noted in yesterday's photo, she allowed a stranger to hold her. This however, is not behavior that we are concerned with in an adjustment disorder sort of way. Stella, the stranger, actually was with us continuously for several minutes while we shopped. Becca initially pushed away from her but when Becca saw that we were smiling and interacting well with Stella, she reacted in a trusting and appropriate manner.