Monday, March 2, 2009

Not much different in what our days have contained as of late.

Addison woke up again very happy! It has been a blessing that she is sleeping and waking up so well. We took our time in the hotel room before we went down for the breakfast buffet. Addison wasn’t too interested in the oatmeal that we were serving her so we tried some bananas. She loved them and decided to eat a whole banana. We’ll see how that will affect her.

Shyian asked that we stay close to our room during the morning. She was bringing all of our paperwork to the US consulate for Addison’s Visa. If there were questions regarding our paperwork she wanted to be able to get a hold of us. She told us, “No news is good news!” It was a good feeling not to hear anything from her. Thank you Denise (our social worker) for all your help!

In the afternoon some of our group went to visit a Folk Art Museum off of the island that was really neat. There was a lot of history in the old temple that the museum now calls home. The temple is a set of buildings that are over 400 years old, filled with intricate detail that must have taken many years as well as a patience that not many people have today to craft such fine art. There was a gentleman that was cutting paper into very small designs. Jen found one of his pieces that she liked. I thought it wouldn’t fit in the suitcase. She assured me that it would and she bought anyway, and let’s face it, she was going to get it whether I thought that we had room for it or not! When we got back to the hotel, she found our biggest suitcase and it just fit. I think that she was relieved, and was happy to say I told you so!

We ate together as a group tonight at a Chinese restaurant on the island. It was probably the best food we have had so far. Shyian did the ordering for everyone. We had these amazing green beans. I wish that we could make them that good. A couple of us guys wanted to be a little more exotic, so a turtle dish was ordered and tried by a few in the group. It had surprisingly good flavor, but was a little difficult to enjoy due to the small chunks that it was cut into and the many bones that we had to maneuver around. Shyian explained that the way the Chinese eat is much different than Americans. She said that eating diner with a group in China is an event where they take there time with the dish they order, usually with a bottle of wine or two sharing conversation or good company. Sounds like something that goes right along with what Jen and I have seen all over China – they are hard working people, but enjoy life in the most relaxing sense of the word when their work is done.

After dinner Jen and Debbie decided that they needed to go to Sherri’s one more time. Sherri’s is where Jen has bought Addison all of her squeaky shoes. When we got to Sherri’s the worker addressed Jen, Debbie and the girls (Ella and Addison) by their names. Actually they knew who Bill and I were too, and I can’t speak for Bill, but I hadn’t even been in this shop yet! I knew that I was in trouble!

Tomorrow we have our consulate appointment at 2:00. This is where we will take the oath, and finalize everything. This will be a moment we will always remember. I know that Jen is excited to finally have all the paperwork done and turned in. After our appointment we have to go around to all the little shops that Jen has ordered items from and pick them up. I think we are going to have pictures of Addison coming out of our ears. She has ordered three charcoal drawings, one oil painting, and three etchings. Luckily they are all of different pictures. I think the shop owners are going to be sad to see Jen and Addison leave the island.

We had another wonderful day! It’s going to be hard to leave China, it’s an amazing place to be! You would love it!

Until tomorrow,
Jason, Jen and Addison