Homeward Bound

While we miss home, it is with great sadness that we bring our grand adventure in China to an end. It has been a wonderful trip - both a fun vacation and an introduction to their Chinese heritage for A and T. It also ends on an emotional note, between our own trip down memory lane in Guangzhou, and seeing so many other families beginning their journey with their Chinese children, or in some cases adding to families with second, third, forth and fifth children born in China. (Don't worry Bentons, you still hold the record with your sixth adoption in process). We have also seen more older children being adopted this time, and more with special needs that perhaps may not have been adopted if the wait for them was not so much shorter than healthy babies, which we are told is now up to five years. In the end, the result is the same - grateful and happy families...

And this grateful and happy family, while loving China, is looking forward to clean bathrooms and plentiful toilet tissue. I will, however, miss the inexpensive foot massages. Tori says she will miss all the cute babies, and is most looking forward to seeing our dogs. Ali says she will miss holding the panda and is looking most forward to sleeping in her own bed (and seeing her beloved teacher, Ms. Wilkinson).

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Red Couch!

 

No visit to the White Swan would be complete without a red couch photo (or matching outfits).

Gam Bae! (aka Cheers)

 

Celebrating a great homeland visit. Can't believe the time has flown by so quickly.

Michael!

 

We found our friend Michael, who we met when Ali was a baby and he was single. When Tori was a baby, he was married with a newborn. Now his son is six and they have another new baby. They have also moved and expanded their shop to try and increase income, since they are not from this town and therefore need to pay big bucks to educate their kids (even though they pay local taxes!).

Lucy's!

 

We ate many meals here on past visits and may again this time. Our guide wanted to take us there yesterday, as they serve American food, and he thought that's what we would prefer. We went for Chinese instead (but later ordered papajohns when we were too tired to go out).

Excercise!

 

A and T tried all the exercise/playground equipment in the park.
 

Something New

 

Seems just like home, but was still a unique experience. Not sure exactly what I drank. Might have been instant coffee.

Sherry!

 

She says hi to all those families that surely remember her. If you visit again, her shop has moved around the corner to the left.

Tori's Favorite

 

T loved this toy in the White Swan playroom as a baby. I remember the playroom as very full of babies. There were just two there yesterday. The family we talked to waited 5 years for their referral!

Exam Room

 

Where A and T (plus countless other babies) were weighed and measured.

Next stop - Medical Clinic

 

Where all the babies are examined as part of visa process.

Happy Couples

 

The first of numerous brides and grooms having their photos taken near our hotel. All beautiful young brides with older men.

First Stop

 

The photo shop where all the babies have visa photos taken. We ran into our guide from six years ago here!

Our Trip Down Memory Lane Begins

 

Arriving at the infamous White Swan Hotel.

Off to Guangzhou

Today our group will sadly separate as most families head to the provinces where their daughters were born. We are headed to Guangzhou, the last stop for all adoptive families, as that is where visas are issued for the babies. We will stay in the same hotel where I stayed with both Ali and Tori just before bringing each of them home, so this is the "memory lane" part of our trip. Today is also the six year anniversary of when Ali and I learned about Tori and saw her face for the first time. Big day!

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Noodlerific

 

Tori continues the noodle trend.

Cheap Date

 

The foot massages keep getting cheaper as we go south. Just $10/hour in Chengdu!

Thrill Ride

 

The kids were happy to find rides in the park.

Ear Cleaning

 

Ali gets her ears cleaned at the local tea house.

How Seniors Keep Fit

 

The Park was full of active seniors - dancing, doing tai chi, playing cards and other games. I also heard ladies retire at 55 in China. Early retirement and days spent in the park with friends? Sign me up!

Bamboo Park

Ali Gets a Chance Too

Up Close and Personal

Sichuan Hot Pot

 

A visit to Chengdu would not be complete without the hot pot experience, which is a cross between Mongolian barbecue and fondue. Seemingly limitless options were presented for cooking in the pot. Some were banished from our table, lest we lose our American appetites.
 

Eye of the Fish

 

Our Chengdu guide scoops out the eye of the fish, a delicious treat in China. One of our travel mates also gave it a try. The fish only had two eyes, so we did not get the chance. Aw shucks.

Good Time to be in the Crane Business

 

Seems virtually every view of the skyline includes a string of cranes. China already looks very different than it did 9 and 6 years ago, and it looks to be changing at a rapid pace.

Hanging at the Forbidden City

 

...where they were mostly forbidden from leaving my side, as it was overrun with tourists.
 

More Warrior Impressions

A Flies Her Kite on the City Wall

Slow Going

I have been setting up lots of emails to post to the blog, but our connection has been spotty for days and from what I can tell they are making it slowly through in random order. To summarize, we have bee n in Xi'an for a couple of days now and went to see the terra-cotta soldiers today (amazing!). We are off to Chengdu tomorrow to go to the panda preserve. It has been whirlwind of activity and we are all having a great time and making new friends. So far we love Xi'an more than Beijing. It reminds me of DC in a way. We are thinking of you EG, as we know this is your province. We have a little something for you...

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Cycling on the Xi'an City Wall

 

...the only fully intact city wall in China.

Arriving in Xi'an

Practicing Calligraphy

A and T Think It Is Amazing

Site of Initial Warrior Find

 

There are over 6,000 Warriors in this pit alone.

Make Your Own Terracotta Warrior Time

Terra-cotta Warrior Impression

IBM's New China HQ

 

I know, I know. I shouldn't be thinking about work, but I really like our new China headquarters, which is next to the water cube.

Water Cube!

Bird's Nest

Snack Time

Fun at the Summer Palace

Everything is Better When Shared with Friends

So Pretty

Climbing Higher

The Great Wall

 

A and T had both been looking forward to this moment.

More Fun Snacks

 

Anyone craving seaweed or crab Pringles??

Market Fun

 

We had fun negotiating for knockoffs in the market.

Stretching the Silk

 

Ali helps make a silk comforter while Tori looks on. They enjoyed learning how silk is made, but felt sorry for the worms, who do all the work and then get fried and eaten.

Travel Buddies

 

Touring the Forbidden City with guide Charlotte and our travel buddies.

Chef Ali

 

Ali whipped up Chairman Mao's favorite dish, along with her new friend Antonia.

Everyone Was Tofu Slicing

 

A and T were chopping and slicing pros.

Cooking Class

 

All the food is ready for us to prep and transform into delicious Chinese specialties.