I haven't really posted too much lately because just to be brutally honest....I'm tired. Tim's honesty was very frank, and hilarious last night before bed. While laying there playing with Zander, he said, "Boy, when I signed up for this I really was expecting you to hang on mama all the time, what happened to that?"
Missing home, missing my bed, missing my family & friends, missing our life period. We ALL are so ready to be home. All of our group left yesterday. One family we have been with since Zhengzhou (the Smiths from Florida who adopted Rebekah, 8, from Zhengzhou Province, she has the most beautiful smile and is always busy) and another since Guangzhou (the Ackers from Alabama adopted Lily from Guangdong, she's almost 3 with the most awesome giggle EVER). Both wonderful Christian families that it was so much fun getting to know them and their children. It's funny what you learn when put with people for days or weeks. What's said in China stays in China : )
The men are killing time taking a leisurely stroll through the lobby, middle man, Zander, in his squeaky shoes, right wing man, Tim, and left wing man Richie. Zander is totally, always on the move and his person of choice is always Tim. Tim will be going back to work to take a vacation!
We have at least a 3 hour van ride to Hong Kong so we are all packed up (we actually still have the same amount of suitcases we arrived with, we only had to replace Carmen's case that ripped in Zhengzhou).
Next posting will be from Hong Kong.
8/14 Update: This morning only Tim and I went to breakfast. Carmen and Richie, believe it or not are tired of breakfast and needed some alone and space time. Breakfast is never too exciting. They place all adoptive families in a far-from-the-action hideaway, we guess as to not disturb the other more important paying guests. While most of the little ones we have seen are really good and people LOVE to interact with the babies and ask us questions, practice their English, etc. we might disturb others. Zander is always an eating, moving machine so there isn't much down time with him.
Our afternoon was spent quietly and then we went on the Pearl River Dinner Boat Cruise. We were very excited, it sounded so exotic. I would not recommend it, if I said we enjoyed it, I would not be telling the truth. The dinner was all right, but it was extremely hard to enjoy because the whole dinner there was a very loud Chinese woman on the intercom telling about the sites. It was sensory overload with the smells, the low fluorescent lights, all the people crammed in a small room and speakers blaring and it put Zander in melt down mode. He didn't want to be there and neither did we.
We went out on deck to see the sites and get away from all the hub bub, and the lights were beautiful of the bridge, passing boats and buildings. The lights would change color, it was very pretty. Until several times you saw unmentionable garbage floating in the river, VERY nasty floating debris. This ruined the romantic part of the cruise for us.
The entertainment was a woman juggler/mime. I'm still trying to decipher what she was miming though. Our poor guide got into an argument with another guide who was trying to solicit tickets from another of the families with us. But she held her own and Harmon stuck very close (he's a very tall strapping guy).
After our dinner cruise it was time to go melt in our rooms. We were exhausted and ready for bed.
8/15 Update:
Thursday morning dawned bright and hot. We climbed aboard our last bus to go to Shamien Island to do shopping. This was our one and only chance to shop since I got lost in the other mall and we spent the entire time looking for me and Zander.
Shamien Island was beautiful, moss hung from the trees, there were many people doing photography, some in wedding gard, some fashion garb and others just using the perfect backdrop. It was drop dead HOT! The humidity was 100%. Not in the mood for haggling much, we got our souvenirs and headed for air conditioning. We split up a bit from Tim and Richie and Carmen and I heard singing. Usually the Chinese singing is, to me, very nasally or tinny, but this sounded very soulful and beautiful. We walked over to where several men and women had just congregated being encouraged by a woman with sheet music. They sand in harmony right off the street. Zander was the most still I have ever seen him, listening to the singing. I will try to post the video, but it doesn't sound as pretty as it did on the island.
After shopping we went to the famous Lucy's restaurant. I believe it is so popular because it is COLD! The food was really good and American. We took some photos of statues with Zander, but nearly as many as I would've liked, but it was just too hot.
While walking around the shops, we came across another adoptive family we had met that were actually staying on the island at the Victory. I was very startled to see them sitting with a young Chinese woman named Judy. There was a Bible sitting between them and the couple explained that Judy was a Christian and needed direction and prayers. Her family was pressuring her to become pregnant and told her she must have a boy and they were praying to Buddha for this to happen. She was very distraught and sought the couple's direction. They had a mini study with her starting in James 1. It was amazing to see God working on young Judy through this couple.
We were told the island used to be the main hub for all Chinese adoptions. The clinic was on the island and everyone coveted staying at the overly priced White Swan Hotel. There were many shops and tourists, but now the Swan is closed for 2 years for extensive renovations and the clinic is closed and moved to the mainland. The island committee doesn't want anymore adoptive parents congregating to the island. They want it to be a place of business. Hopefully it can be shared as a business & tourist area since it is so old and beautiful.
Later we said goodbye to the other families and parted ways exchanging emails and phone numbers. We had a wonderful time getting to know everyone.
Blessings,
Francine
Enjoy these update pics!
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