Tuesday,
November 11, 2008
Today was a sightseeing and shopping day. We started with
a group tour of a Chinese Folk Art Museum, where we saw
many beautiful examples of Chinese handicrafts, including
intricate carvings and embroidery. After that the group
split up and the other families headed back to the hotel
for the kids to nap. Our family took a taxi over to Shamian Island, where we spent the remainder of the day
shopping and bargaining with the local shopkeepers. Any
time we attempted to walk away or balked at a price they
would follow us out of the store lowering the price and
trying to lure us back in. We got some really neat stuff
for some pretty good prices and hopefully we have managed
to get a good selection of items for Maili to have as she
gets older to remember her country. We are trying to get
enough small gifts to have one to give her each year on
her gotcha day anniversary until she turns 18 but we
haven’t quite found that many yet. Luckily prices are
reasonable on the island and hopefully we will be able to
finish our shopping tomorrow when we return for our
consulate appointment.
We are pretty sure Jamie almost got pickpocketed today;
luckily we were able to see what was going on and avoid an
incident. As we were walking up to the White Swan hotel a
Nigerian guy stopped Jamie to talk to him and began to
walk along with us, asking about Maili and where we were
from, even asking for his cell phone number to call him.
He pretty much followed him up to the hotel talking, where
from nowhere another guy appeared on Jamie’s other side
trying to distract him. Unfortunately Jamie’s pocket flap
had the button missing and his wallet was hanging out the
back in a rather obvious manner and I’m sure that’s what
attracted their attention in the first place. He figured
out what they were up to and cut the conversation short
and took off into the hotel, where they tried to follow us
a little ways and then we finally lost them. Definitely
they were up to no good; the crime rate is generally low
in China but then again these guys were not Chinese
nationals.
Tomorrow we head to the US consulate, where we will pick
up Maili’s visa which will allow her to enter the US. On
Thursday we have our swearing in ceremony where we promise
to love her and take care of her always and they will give
us her final paperwork to go home. China has been fun,
particularly Guangzhou, but we are ready to sleep in our
own beds and eat some American food. Maili already loves
American food, especially French fries dipped in ketchup.
She also loves shopping and SHOES, could this girl be any
more perfect for this mommy? She picks out new shoes
everywhere she goes and sleeps with her favorite pair
beside her pillow since we won’t let her sleep with them
on her feet. She is suddenly showing interest in jewelry
as well- the first few days she refused to let me put
jewelry of any kind on her and suddenly she wants to buy
every bracelet and necklace she sees. Of course her Daddy
can’t resist and buys them for her when she asks. She is
getting quite the collection of jewelry to bring home with
her and so is Holt. He has managed to talk us into quite a
few pendants and bracelets and even a ring. He is partial
to jade while Maili prefers cloisonné. I guess we should
be thankful they’re not into diamonds . . .
|
Meme and Pa on Shamian Island
Holt of the jungle
This girl loves her noodles
Holt and Maili made a new friend
Travel group friends |
