Thursday,
May 28, 2010
LAST DAY IN CHINA AND DEPARTING FOR
HOME . . .
I woke up today at like 5 am and could not go back to sleep, so
I began to tidy things up and also try to get some updates to go
thru email. The internet connection here is very slow and
sending updates has been challenging due to the slowness, my
hope is to get caught up before we leave. Mel is still in a deep
slumber and Emma is sleeping sideways and is very peaceful. At 7
am I decided to take a walk around the island to take in the
early morning activity. Wow how different it is before the shops
open. The streets were quiet; the park areas were full of people
of all ages doing exercises. There was one large group doing tai
chi. I discreetly took photos of all that I saw. Unless you have
been to China to adopt a child you really can’t imagine the
mixed feelings I have at this time. Anxious to get home yes, but
very sad to leave a country so rich in culture and history and
the place were we have received the ultimate gift our two
daughters. As tough as this trip is, my hope is to one day bring
Ellie Lu and Emma back and show them all they have to be proud
of in their birth country and until then we will continue to
immerse them in all things both American and Chinese to help
them be aware and proud of both cultures.
Back to the packing, Mel took Emma to the Swan room so I could
get the packing done, if she was in the room she basically would
undo what I did all in a very helpful way. I finished it all up
and took 4 bags of stuff to our local Holt office on the 4th
floor and then began the rounds of picking up our final
purchases…painted bottle at Susan’s, our Chinese shirts at
Master Wong’s, our etchings at Lianna’s also known as Home of
Love, it is quite humid today so by the time I was done I was
drenched. Mel has Emma down for a nap so my turn to get ready…no
makeup needed for the brutal flight home…I hope I don’t scare
anyone that encounters us. We ordered room service for our last
meal…pricey but convenient and safe. Then very quickly 5 pm
arrives we request the porter and I go to check out. In China
checkout is a fiasco everytime,”did you use the mini bar?” no
“please review the bill”, sign the bill pretty painless then
some phone call happens and the cleaning lady says we have used
the mini bar, so basically the coke and sprite that I purchased
at 7 eleven yesterday I repurchased again today for 70 RMB just
to avoid stress. Each and every time we have checked out here a
similar scenario has happened. I suppose the same travel
aggravations happen everywhere. I trip has been lovely and we
have our girl…soon we will be home as families of four…see you
on the other side! |
Daddy and Emma breakfast of champions
Goodbye China
Sleeping Beauty |
