Typhoon Hagupit that is. Hagupit is passing to the south of Guangzhou and we are expected to get winds and lots of rain. We have had some pretty good down pours but only intermitten so far. They believe that the more significant rainfall will begin tonight after midnight and continue into tomorrow. So we have got most all of our shopping done and only have to pick a few things up tomorrow. We have already packed...nothing like being anxious to come home, packing 2 days before we leave eh?
Pray we are not delayed
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Shamian Island
I was able to get away by myself this morning to walk around Shamian Island and enjoy the quietness before the hustle and bustle of the shops catering to the families adopting. I walked by the local elementary school and heard all the children reciting their morning lessons and in freindship park across the street was all the older folk doing their morning excersices, tai chi, and dancing. It was a very beautiful sight with the children's voices in the background. The soilders was also out doing their daily drills. All of them were young men. I passed three men who were discussing the days events on the street corner and when I passed by again about an hour later they were still there talking as lively as ever.
The first morning after we got here we went to get Rebekah's visa photo and when we left the shop we were greeted by about 20 2nd graders and their teachers. Their assignment for the day was to find Americans they could practice their English on. It was very fun and the children loved it as well. They asked us question like what is your favorite sport, color, name and they would tell you the same. We also were asked to write our names in their note books. One of the boys was thankful that Kelly spent time talking to him he gave Kelly a fan. Madeline really enjoyed it as well, having other kids speaking English. She has had several people come up to her and start talking to her in Chinese which scared her.
We have enjoyed our stay here in but we are ready to come home to our own beds, bathrooms and Mexican Food. I kinda like the in ground toilets here, nothing to sit on and that is good for a person with a public bathroom phobia, but Madeline is ready for "real" toilets again. As we were heading to the hotel public bathrooms she asked me, "are these squatty toilets?" and when I informed her they were regular toilets she did a little jig, I am not sure if she was happy or just had to go real bad. There is an authentic Italian Resturant here now which was very good. It even had the cranky old Italian owner yelling at the help.
I had intended to upload some pictures for ya'll but for some reason the internet is not letting me right now. I will try to get them up at a later time.
The first morning after we got here we went to get Rebekah's visa photo and when we left the shop we were greeted by about 20 2nd graders and their teachers. Their assignment for the day was to find Americans they could practice their English on. It was very fun and the children loved it as well. They asked us question like what is your favorite sport, color, name and they would tell you the same. We also were asked to write our names in their note books. One of the boys was thankful that Kelly spent time talking to him he gave Kelly a fan. Madeline really enjoyed it as well, having other kids speaking English. She has had several people come up to her and start talking to her in Chinese which scared her.
We have enjoyed our stay here in but we are ready to come home to our own beds, bathrooms and Mexican Food. I kinda like the in ground toilets here, nothing to sit on and that is good for a person with a public bathroom phobia, but Madeline is ready for "real" toilets again. As we were heading to the hotel public bathrooms she asked me, "are these squatty toilets?" and when I informed her they were regular toilets she did a little jig, I am not sure if she was happy or just had to go real bad. There is an authentic Italian Resturant here now which was very good. It even had the cranky old Italian owner yelling at the help.
I had intended to upload some pictures for ya'll but for some reason the internet is not letting me right now. I will try to get them up at a later time.
whistle while you pee
An odd title for a blog post but pretty sutible considering that Rebekah will go pee if you whistle for her while holding her over the toilet. Pretty amazing if you ask me. We have learned that that is how they begin to teach their children at a very early age and that they become so acustom to the ritual that they will eventually only pee when they hear an airy whistle. No, unfortunately, it does not work with poo.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sorry I have not updated ya'll lately but I have been sick the last day and a half. The only thing that is keeping me going is phenegren and Imodium...yeah, TMI. I am thankful that I have made it this far being healthy so I am not going to complain. The White Swan Hotel is just as we remember it...baby central. Lots of faces carrying beautiful baby girls.
It is not so hot here but the humidity is stifling. We are trying to do all the sight seeing early in the morning to get it done before the heat sets in but you have to get up way early. We went out on a tour at 8:45am and by 9:30 we were ready to be in air conditioning. Kelly and Madeline spend many hours in the pool which is Wonderful although Rebekah is not all to fond of it just yet. She sat in the pool in my lap and I think she put up with it. She is right now very much enjoying the Wiggles while she is making a pooh...again TMI!
We are going to go to a traditional Cantonese restaurant tonight and I am going to try the roasted pigeon...no kidding, I like to try most things at least once. Before we left Chongqing Kelly and I found a great Japanese restaurant that cooked the food right in front of you and it was very delish. We ordered the calamari without thinking it was not fried like we are use to in the states. They took the whole squid, about the size of a base ball, tentacles and all and threw it on the grill. And boy was it DELISH as well. I also had caviar. It was not at all like I had thought it would be, most people say it is bitter, but it was kinda sweet to me, and when you put it in your mouth you could smell the fishiness not taste it.
I have not done as much shopping this time. I think it is because I have specific things I want and do not want to go and buy every little girl outfit I see. I will by about 3 because I did not bring that many with us. I am enjoying sightseeing and taking pictures more this time around than last time...I think is has something to do with my camera.
Rebekah has come along way since the 11th. She is sitting upright by herself with no assistance and she is even trying to crawl although she will get up on her hands and knees and take one "step" and then fall over to one side. She is real content with the commando crawl. She is becoming more vocal as well. Rebekah is trying to feed herself Cheerios but has not quite grasped the getting it in her mouth part and gets frustrated. She also loves pushing the buttons on the dvd player and that frustrates Madeline. She is not fond of loud places with alot of commotion and she is not like Madeline who gets up happy and bounding through the house, she is a cranky wakerupper. The last two days we had to get her up before her nap was over and YIKES we do not want to do that too often. She is in a bad mood for several hours and nothing seems to comfort her.
It is time for dinner...thats all for now.
It is not so hot here but the humidity is stifling. We are trying to do all the sight seeing early in the morning to get it done before the heat sets in but you have to get up way early. We went out on a tour at 8:45am and by 9:30 we were ready to be in air conditioning. Kelly and Madeline spend many hours in the pool which is Wonderful although Rebekah is not all to fond of it just yet. She sat in the pool in my lap and I think she put up with it. She is right now very much enjoying the Wiggles while she is making a pooh...again TMI!
We are going to go to a traditional Cantonese restaurant tonight and I am going to try the roasted pigeon...no kidding, I like to try most things at least once. Before we left Chongqing Kelly and I found a great Japanese restaurant that cooked the food right in front of you and it was very delish. We ordered the calamari without thinking it was not fried like we are use to in the states. They took the whole squid, about the size of a base ball, tentacles and all and threw it on the grill. And boy was it DELISH as well. I also had caviar. It was not at all like I had thought it would be, most people say it is bitter, but it was kinda sweet to me, and when you put it in your mouth you could smell the fishiness not taste it.
I have not done as much shopping this time. I think it is because I have specific things I want and do not want to go and buy every little girl outfit I see. I will by about 3 because I did not bring that many with us. I am enjoying sightseeing and taking pictures more this time around than last time...I think is has something to do with my camera.
Rebekah has come along way since the 11th. She is sitting upright by herself with no assistance and she is even trying to crawl although she will get up on her hands and knees and take one "step" and then fall over to one side. She is real content with the commando crawl. She is becoming more vocal as well. Rebekah is trying to feed herself Cheerios but has not quite grasped the getting it in her mouth part and gets frustrated. She also loves pushing the buttons on the dvd player and that frustrates Madeline. She is not fond of loud places with alot of commotion and she is not like Madeline who gets up happy and bounding through the house, she is a cranky wakerupper. The last two days we had to get her up before her nap was over and YIKES we do not want to do that too often. She is in a bad mood for several hours and nothing seems to comfort her.
It is time for dinner...thats all for now.
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