Guangzhou Day 2-Part 1

The second day was very busy. The city here is much like Mobile or New Orleans, lots of tropical plants, humid conditions, lots of water and very green. There are pockets of French and English buildings and influence everywhere. It feels very much like being on Government Street or in the French Quarter.

We started the day as always at the big breakfast buffet and then boarded a bus for the Pearl and Jade markets and gift shops. We found great deals on pearls and bought several necklaces and bracelets. You pick the pearl and they string them or have them in set lengths ready to go. The Pearl Market is huge and resembles a large mall with shops outside and in and multiple floors. There are many Pearl shops and many clothes shops. Our guide Kelly suggested several of each as being good to deal with. After the pearls we headed straight for the kids clothes. Mom shopped, haggled and shopped some more. $575 Yuan later and she had 20 outfits! I know that sounds like a lot but it translates to about $75 US. You can see some of today's haul in the picture with Lian. She loves to look at the new clothes.

After the markets we came back to the hotel. A quick trip to the room to tidy up and drop off the clothes and we were off to tour the island. We shopped in all the little local shops and found more great deals on clothes, shoes and toys. We walked to the park area, which is beautiful and runs next to the Pearl River. There are many statues there and we took pictures of the girls with several of them. We walked along the river and we heard music coming from what we thought were speakers. It turned out to be a band of retired Chinese men and women playing at a gazebo on the river walk. We watched for a long time as they played Mexican music and some of them danced the tango dressed in full ballroom gear. While we were there they played songs from Mexico, Hawaii, Jewish songs and even some traditional Chinese music. They had everything from a full drum set and horn section to an according, 2 violins, 2 6-string guitars and a steel of sorts. We had a blast watching and dancing to the music.

After the music we walked to the kid's park and let the girls play a while and then started back to the hotel. On the way back we ran across the Ferlands headed for Lucy's so we went too. Nothing ends a great day like a good cheeseburger.

Tomorrow, we go back to the clinic to have the TB test read and then we are off to a safari park. They have 2 sections, 1 section to walk through and the other to ride a small train through. You can feed the giraffes, take pictures with the tiger cubs and they have 18 Pandas!

We are really having a good time here in GZ. I had too many pictures to choose from so I cut them down to 20 and then broke them into 2 parts.

Good night from GZ.

We made to Guangzhou!

We finally made it to Guangzhou. The flight out of Nanjing was supposed to leave for GZ at 6:45 PM. We went to the airport early and were told that our agency had changed our flight and airline with no other explanation. Our guide just received a message to put us on a later flight. Since Joy is a nervous flyer, I had researched all of the flights and airlines and assured her they were safe. Our flight was OK but we had never heard of the airline before which made it more anxious than it should have been. Also it was a later flight and the Gate changed without notice. We had to huff it to the right gate to catch a flight that was 45 minutes later than the original only to find out the gate was not a gate but a dark stairwell. 3 flights down, in to a bus for a 5 minute Indy style race and then up a stair to the plane dragging 2 girls, backpacks, laptop, carry-on and minus 1 pillow pet forgotten at the first gate. After all this the flight was late getting to the airport at GZ, the driver was 25 minutes late to pick us up and by the time we reached the hotel it was after midnight. It made for very tired and ill travelers. If I had it to do again, we would leave no later than 4-5PM or wait until the next day. GZ is everything that our stay in Nanjing was not. Lots to do around the island even though a lot of construction is underway. Laundry, food, snacks, shopping, parks, pools are all within 2-3 city blocks.   Day 1 was devoted to the Medical Exams. We, and 4 other families, made the short walk over to the medical Clinic for the exams and shots. Lian has the things we already knew about. A problem with each eye, a hernia and delayed development due to being in an orphanage for 5 years. She had a good vaccination record which helped. Even with that she had 4 shots and an oral Polio vaccination. She cried when the doctor examined her. I think she had a bad experience somewhere before, because all he did was look and he was very nice, she just did not want to be there. As for the shots, she did not shed a tear. She is very strong willed and was pretty fed up by the time we got the shots. I am convinced that she was mad and did not want to give them the satisfaction of seeing a single tear. They even tried to get her to look away but she just motioned them on as if to say, hit me with your best shot. She also had her stick for the TB test. we go back in 2 days to have them look for a reaction. This is our last hurdle to coming home. If she has no reaction, they issue the visa and we are set.   After the morning medicals we walked the island and shopped at the local stores. We bought, what else, more shoes. We also had all of our laundry washed, pressed and folded for about $20. Joy is checking on shipping rates to and from the States to see if she can ship all of our laundry here. We finished up the day at the famous "Lucy's" restaurant. We had a need for some good ole fashioned American cholesterol after the last few days. The girls split a pizza, had fries and sprites. Joy and I had Cheese Burgers, fries and even some fried chicken wings. the pictures are from supper.   Tomorrow we are going to a Pearl Market  to look at pearls and jade and then on for more shopping.   We really miss the boys and can't wait to get back home. Mom said feed the dogs and don't mess up the house if you know what's good for you. Only 6 more days until we bring her home for good.   God Bless and Good Night from South China!

Joy to the World - New Addition

Wow, how can I explain what this moment in time feels like? Just five days ago I was so concerned about our new daughter and if she would accept us as her new family.   Today I am sitting watching her play with Olivia and pick on her new Daddy. It feels as if she has been with us all along. She speaks only four English words yet we understand her. She just has a way of letting us know what she wants to tell us with a great spirit and sense of humor that is so cute.   It was raining here when our plane touched down. I sat and watched the fat drops of rain pound the ground and found myself thinking about the day Rachel Lian was born and placed under a bridge two hours later on a rainy day . Her name YU GUO LIAN, means look what the rain achieved in the city of Lianyungang. I prayed once more for her safety and her heart to accept our love for her.   Day one was sad. Her tiny body trembled with fear as she tried to hold in the tears when we first picked her up. Later that night at the Hotel room she sat very still and cried silently. I put her on the bed with me and we looked at picture books and colored in a Sponge Bob coloring book together. Then it hit me, I got out my Mandarin book and repeated, I love you. She looked up from coloring and smiled sideways shook her head and transformed before our eyes!   Day two was happy. Rachel Lian surprised us at the CA office. She ran in screaming Hey, BA BA, MA MA, JHI JHI LOVE ME! She asked them all to leave, even our guide! This was funny even to the Government officials!   Day three OMG! Now I know why she wanted her old teacher to go home! Let's just say this was her (testing day) She tried everything in the book. At one point Coy looked at me as if to say HELPPP!!!!! OK time to set boundaries....After her first time out and stern look she got it! She has spent her entire life raised in a classroom with wall to wall women she knows (THE LOOK)  Now she gives Olivia the look when she is acting up...All is well and happy again!   Day four can't remember not having her with us. She fits right in. We laugh a lot more since she is the class clown! On our way to the Department store to buy her shoes and clothes she told our guide that we have to buy Olivia something too to be fair. Then the two broke out into a sisterly fight over the DSI!   I almost cried when she refused to take off her new pink tennis shoes in the store she shook and clapped her hands and yelled for the entire store to LOOK AT THEM!  Next, she stripped in the store isle to put her new clothes on while patting her chest and yelling LOOK!!!   Every morning I take great pleasure dressing our two daughters. This is a prayer answered for me. Our Olivia will not grow up alone and we are now complete as a family. I don't know how or why Rachel Lian was born in China, however, I do know that she IS OUR DAUGHTER IN EVERY WAY. Some things can't be explained with words, you have to experience it for yourself to understand. I love her and she loves me. It is that simple.   At breakfast in the Hotel Restaurant this morning I sat and watched her place her napkin in her lap, eat with a spoon, and drink four glasses of milk. sounds simple...not for a child that has never been in a five star resort much less seen so many wonderful steaming dishes and an endless supply of milk! She said Thank You to the wait staff eight times, I counted.   Her Daddy gave her a plastic spoon out of his backpack since our table had forks only. When the waitress came and tried to give Rachel Lian a silver spoon she replied," no thank you, my Ba Ba gave me this spoon....this is MY BA BA!" she gleamed loudly. The waitress stopped for a moment looked into her eyes and smiled saying....I know he is your Ba Ba.  Rachel Lian kicked her feet in happines and had another big gulp of milk.   I am surprised at how Olivia openly shares us with Rachel Lian. If the truth be told I think she is glad some of the attention is off of her....more to get away with!   Coy has reclaimed the laptop and so I have to go for now. Thank you all for you prayers and please continue to pray for a safe trip home.      Joy Graham

Olivia's Corner - Day 4

This Big Sister thing is not all that tough. We had another good day but it is cold and we are ready to get on the Guangzhou. We started out at the breakfast buffet and then met Jane at 9 to tour the Brocade Museum and then the old town area that appears as it did over 600 years ago. We saw lots of nice fabrics at the Brocade Institute and our guide explained that it took as long as 10 years to make a single set of clothes for an emperor using this technique. The clothes are as pretty as any I have ever seen but not worth the wait if you ask me.   Next we toured the old town area where students used to come to take a 3-day class to pass to college. Talk about tough tests, I thought we should only have 5 spelling words instead of 10. Anyway, we saw lots of nice statues and bought clothes at the street vendor stops. Dad haggled with a guy to buy a suit case for Lian. He acted like he was going to leave and finally got the man down to about $22 for a new large one on wheels.   After that we had lunch, MCDONALDS!!! The first real chicken nuggets in over 2 weeks. The nuggets and fries tasted the same as at home and I knew my sister would love them. She hasn't got the hang of it yet though. Mom cut up her fries and then poured ketchup on her plate. When we looked around she took a spoon and ate all the ketchup in one bite, YUCK! Then she ate the fries dry, oh well, it all gets to the same place. We also had ice cream at dinner, hence the chocolate mustache.   After dinner, Jane came back by and brought dad all of the adoption papers for Lian. All we need now is her passport which we get at 1PM tomorrow. Then we fly out of Nanjing at 7PM to Guangzhou for 6 days of warmer temps (I hope) and indoor pools.   I sure miss my friends at school and MRS. BRASHER! Oh, and even brothers just a little. See you all soon. Love, Olivia

Day 3 - A Day of Firsts

Today was a day of firsts for Lian. We started off as everyday at the breakfast buffet and then met Jane and our driver at 9:20 to go shopping. She took us to a 60 story building that has the first 6 floors as a giant Department Store and the rest as apartments. This was Lian's first trip to shop for herself and to a large store.   First Stop, Shoes! What girl doesn't like nice shoes? She only had the pair they brought her to us in. They are worn and ugly little white shoes that I just wanted to throw away. We ended up keeping them for history along with the 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts and 2 jackets that she had on when we got her. She also had 2 pairs of socks that are to big and no underwear. We brought her back to the room, stripped and bathed her and put new undies on her as soon as we got her. She thought that undies where the best thing she had ever seen and they fit. The shirts we got her fit as well but the pants were all too big because she is so tiny. She had to go around pulling them up all the time.   Anyway, back to the shoes. We tried several pair but she is picky about what she likes. Finally, the lady brought out a pair of tennis shoes, Pink on Pink, and she went crazy. She loves them! I think this is the first new pair of shoes she has ever had. We tried them on and they fit perfectly. We had to pay for them before shopping for anything else because she refused to take them off!   Next Stop, Clothes. We tried several sets and found out that she needs pants 1 size smaller than the tops to fit. By the time it was over, $323 later, She had 6 new shirts, 5 new pants, a jacket and a skirt. She also made them leave a set of those on so we had to pay for them before moving on.   Stop 3 was electronics. Olivia's DSI battery was dead and the charger stopped working. I think the converter ate it just like the little fan and clock. We found a station that sold all Nintendo gear and we found the DSI section. It was hard to explain to both Jane and the workers that we wanted to buy just the charger. They kept saying that the plug and voltage was different and I kept saying the output plug is the same and so is the output voltage. I told them that I would use it while we were in China and then give it to someone when we left and buy a new one in the US when we got home. I finally convinced them to take the one out for the display and let me plug it in while Olivia was busy showing Jane how the display worked. I think they were convinced that it would blow up and were amazed when the charge light came on to indicate it was charging. the lady went and called the factory to ask permission to sell us just the charger. She came back in a few minutes and explained that the only place to buy the charger alone was Shanghai. She could get it shipped but we would probably be gone by then. She was nice and offered to leave Olivia's charging while we shopped around so we headed for the grocery section.   Stop 4, Dairy Queen! That's right, Dairy Queen. As soon as we rounded the corner Olivia almost fell out. She said I never thought I would be so happy to see Dairy Queen. So after new shoes, new clothes and a first trip on an escalator, Lian had her first taste of Dairy Queen. I think the pictures speak for themselves, both girls left smiling.   After Dairy Queen, we headed back to collect the DSI and then called for the driver to carry us back to the hotel. By now it was after 1 and everybody was ready for lunch. Once again, Joy and I opted for Chinese dishes and the girls both had french fries. It was very cold today, unseasonable so according to Jane. It was sleeting pretty bad when we got back so we headed to the room for the afternoon and watched movies. As usual a tickle fight ensued and Olivia ended up winning today. I had the girls pose by the window to show off one of Lian's new outfits. I told them to put their arms around each other and Lian commenced to pinching her sister. She is the little stinker and thought it was funny. We may have bitten off more than we can chew with these 2.   Tomorrow we are touring the old section of town which is over 600 years old, including the City Wall and Temple. On Friday we get her Passport and Chinese paperwork and head off to Guangzhou to finish the adoption. For those of you who heard about the Earthquake today, we are all fine. The quake was over 1000 miles away from us and we checked, they don't have them here.   Enjoy the pictures of today's first!

Day 2 - Love and Kisses

We slept well last night and started out the day at the breakfast buffet in our hotel. This truly is a 5 Star hotel. The buffet has hundreds of items both Western and Chinese including 2 Chefs that make omelets and traditional Chinese dishes while you watch. Rachel Lian (we are calling her Lian for now since she recognizes that as one of her names) ate and ate and finally told mama, no more. I was afraid she was going to pop or spew like a hot coke in the van.   After breakfast, we went back to the Civil Affairs (CA) office to sign the official paperwork and finalize our adoption for the China side. We were scared that Lian would get very upset again when she saw the orphanage employees and did not know what to expect today. After we came to the hotel last night she was tired but started feeling better after french fries and then we had a great night. I think she was more tired and sick from the car ride than anything else. She likes music and will color for hours. She likes to hug and gives us lots of kisses.   Today when we went back to the CA she was happy. She hugged the nanny and director and then sat with them and colored as we completed the paperwork and paid the fees for her adoption. She told them we were her mama and daddy and then waved for them to leave. She even hugged Jane, our guide, and told her to go too. Jane thought that was funny and told her that she could not leave yet. Lian talked to her for sometime in mandarin and I could pick up a word every now and then. I asked Jane what they said when she was done. Jane said that she had asked her if she liked her sister. Lian said she did like her sister and that her parents loved her very much. She told that to Jane without being asked and this shocked Jane. Then she gave us all a big kiss, took our hands and motioned for us to leave. We were shocked and happy. We are so blessed.   After the paperwork was done, we went back to the hotel and Jane ordered Pizza Hut for delivery to our room, a large Cheese pizza. It was GOOD! I really like the Chinese food and Joy and I both have opted for that at breakfast each day but it was good to have a real old fashioned American style pizza and it was delivered to the room for about $11 US. After lunch I went back to the grocery store that is about a half mile down the street. The walk is not bad if you forget the big hill that leads up to our hotel. I bought new socks and a pair of shoes for Lian and 2 kinds of building blocks since her teacher says she really likes to play with them. The girls all stayed at the hotel and a tickle match broke out while I was gone. They were having a blast and only stopped when I came back because I had toys and Oreo's. She likes to break them open and eat the middle first and then the cookie. we all laid down and took about an hour nap which is part of her normal schedule each day.   After the nap, we colored more and took turns blowing bubbles out the window. They really travel far since we are so high up. Tomorrow we have a big day of shopping planned. We are going to a huge department store to buy clothes, shoes and a suit case for Lian. We may have to send the luggage in a separate plane if this keeps up. We could not be a more happy family and it seems that every hour we see something new from our newest family member. She is catching on to English quickly, something i think is attributed to her being in a foster home that spoke a good deal of English. She has started saying several words in both languages, such as, shay shay-thank you. She really is very smart and hyper!   Here are a few pictures from last night and today.

GOTCHA-We Have Her!

It has been a blessed day. We started out for the Civil Affairs office around 1:30. We made it there a few minutes before the van from the Orphanage and went in to watch out the window. The office was locked and we stood in the lobby while our guide, Jane, went up the elevator to find someone to open the office. By the time Jane returned the van pulled up and we could see her right away. She got out of the van with the Nanny, the Associate Director and a driver. We went  into the office to start the paperwork. We found out that she had been in a foster family for the last 3 months to help her get used to being in a family setting. The family had 4 other children and they said her language development had gone up tremendously during this time. They even spoke a little English around her and she knows a few words already. She would stay with them at night and be driven to the orphanage for school time each day. This morning they explained again what was happening and let her hug all of her friends goodbye. The ride to Nanjing was almost 5 hours and she was very tired and upset when we got her. At the civil affairs office she became very upset when the caregivers got ready to leave. She was crying uncontrollably for a while and then got sick to her stomach. Jane explained to her that we were her parents and sister and that we would stay in a hotel and then come back tomorrow to do more paperwork and see the caregivers again. I am a little conflicted about that. Now that she has calmed down I think she might be better off not to repeat today's events. Once everyone else left, she calmed down and drank some juice and ate a sucker. the ride back to the hotel was about 30 minutes and she was fascinated by the big buses. We went to our room and Jane helped her to the potty and then left as Olivia got out the bubbles and the girls started blowing them all over the room. They did that a while and then started to color. She loves to color and is pretty good at it too. We colored several pages while Daddy ordered room service. She loves french fries and Sprite. After dinner, she sat and watched daddy put her pictures on the computer, then she wanted to take pictures. I let her help me take pictures of Mama and sister watching TV. The Goodnight Show came on and the words were all in Mandarin. She sat on the end of the bed and watched and laughed at the whole show. Everyone is fast asleep now even though it is only 7:30. We did not sleep at all last night and she is worn out from today's long trip and the events of the day. She has made much progress in just a few short hours. She already calls Joy, da mama and me da baba. She even gave us both a kiss tonight. She keeps her eye on Olivia most of the time. Please pray that she will continue to bond with us and that her day tomorrow will not be a setback. We can already tell she has a spunky personality and we already love her with all our heart. Thanks for standing in the gap for us.   Good Night from Nanjing, China,    Coy/Joy