In China
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Monday, July 4, 2011 PEARL RIVER CRUISE Today was another busy day in Guangzhou. Holt and I left after breakfast to shop with Ann of Red Thread. For those not familiar with the services she provides, Ann will act as your shopping guide and translator at the wholesale markets, getting you the best deals for the best price in the shortest amount of time. Truly a whirlwind trip but we found everything we were looking for in record time and were back at the hotel just in time to leave for Callie’s appointment to have her TB test read, which she passed with flying colors. After that our guide took us to the pedestrian mall, where we did a little more shopping while we waited to board our boat for the Pearl River dinner cruise. Guangzhou is beautiful at night and we enjoyed a dinner buffet on board the boat which consisted of a variety of interesting Chinese cuisine. Callie particularly enjoyed the chicken feet; she proceeded to eat three of them In rapid succession. Her commentary: “yummy yummyyummy in my tummy tummytummy! “ After eating we went up to the top deck of the boat to enjoy the lights of the city. Guangzhou is particularly beautiful at night and the kids were in awe of all of the lights. Most of the buildings and even the bridges had lights that changed colors periodically, making for some fascinating scenery. Callie kept saying “ Wow, Mama, wow!” the whole time. Her English is really starting to pick up and she seems to understand most simple requests with no problem. She says please and thank you and can now count to ten with no problem. She begs for “bubble, please, mama ( that’s what she calls gum) and holds up one finger and says “just one!” Her other favorites are ‘Stop, Maili” (yep, she hears that one a lot these days ) and GegeBuHao (not good) when she is mad at him. She is so funny, she assigns us all ratings based on whether or not we let her have her way. If Jamie refuses to let her drink out of his Coke, for example, she goes through her list. “ Mamahunhao (good), JieJiehunhao, Gegehunhao, Baba BU hao! Her ratings change many times a day, so we all just laugh at her and move on. It is obvious that she is accustomed to having her way, I think she was somewhat a favorite at the orphanage and probably not told no often. When we tell her no, she will pout a bit and go through her rating system, but when we stay firm she will roll her eyes and obey, even while making sure we know that she is not happy about it. She is so tiny and prissy that it’s all we can do to keep a straight face when she’s trying unsuccessfully to act like she’s mad at us. Yesterday she stomped her foot at me and stomped off in a huff, looking over her shoulder to make sure I knew she was mad. Jamie and I had to turn away so she wouldn’t catch us laughing at her, and after we ignored her a few minutes she gave up and came back , sighed, and gave in to whatever it was we had asked her to do. But not without a Mama, Baba BU HAO and a look of disdain, as if to say I’ll do it, but just so you know I’m not happy about it!”

sitting in the window of the boat being silly kisses for GeGe double trouble

on deck


waiting to board the boat


looking at the lights


Pearl River at Night


like father, like daughter


short cake and cupcake


short cake

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