N O V E
M B E R 5 - 7
Ni Hao
for the last time in China. By the time many of
you are reading this we will hopefully be on our long
flight from Guangzhou back to the US. We depart from
China on China Southern Airlines on Sunday evening at
9:00 P.M. China time (that is 8:00 A.M. EST Sunday
morning). From the time we leave our hotel here in
China, until we walk through the gate at Tri Cities,
it will be approx. 38 hours. This includes a 15+ hour
layover in L.A, and we will get a room at a hotel near
the airport in an attempt to rest.
At 6:30 P.M. Monday evening EST, our flight on US
Airways touches down in the beautiful TN mountains and
we couldn't be more ready to come home! Our trip has
been amazing, challenging, exhausting, and we wouldn't
trade one minute of it, but we want to be together
again with our Son John, and begin to settle into a
"normal" life with our precious Elizabeth.
Speaking of Elizabeth, she is still very much a
Daddy's girl. She loves me from afar, but wants to be
held by Dave, rocked at night by him, etc.. We truly
feel there had to have been a very special male figure
in her background with the Foster Family because she
doesn't relate well to females in general. But, she
has a very happy personality, and as long as Dave is
in the room, she is a delight!! I look at her and
can't imagine our lives without her already.
When we look around at life's circumstances and think
about all the little things that bog us down, and then
turn and look into her big dark eyes and know that she
came to us with nothing... and depends now on us to care
for her, everything is quickly put into perspective.
Most of our travel group is already gone, and we are
now 'on our own' so navigating back to the airport
will be interesting. Our agency did arrange
transportation, but we will have to communicate in
"Chinglish"
by ourselves.
We once again took Elizabeth out for a walk along the
streets and visited many quaint Chinese shops that are
within walking distance to the white swan. One of
them was a very interesting "Tea House" that had
vintage tea pots and rare and exotic tea.
We begin the daunting process of packing in a few
hours and will then determine if another piece of
luggage is needed! Ahhh so.
I think some of our sweetest days have been here in
Guangzhou. By the time we arrived in GZ, we were much
more familiar with Elizabeth's habits, needs, rhythms,
and patterns. She was also more comfortable with us
and most of the paperwork was behind us. We could just
spend time with her, and enjoy the different culture
here in China.
Some of the things we can't wait to do back at home
are:
#1 Be united with our Son John, Family and Friends
. See the stars at night
. See the clouds and sky during
the day
. Brush our teeth and be able to
drink Tap Water
. Shower and feel clean
. Not Sweat!
. Understand what you are eating
. Enjoy fresh lettuce
. Deep Breathe without coughing
. Watch Fox news
. Watch VA Tech football games
. Play with our dog
. Walk to the mailbox
. Relish what's left of Autumn
. Savor the Holidays and the real
reason for the
Season.
. Have Ice
. Shop without pressure and being
followed with a
calculator
. Communicate in English and be
understood
. Be able to ask directions without a
hotel card
translated into
Chinese
Ok, we will quit dreaming and start packing!
Later..,
Well, we did have to dash out and buy a piece of
luggage for a whopping $14 US dollars. Our van got us
to the Guangzhou airport in plenty of time, and we fed
Miss Lizzie Beth, and properly diapered her in one of
our cherished American diapers (they don't leak like
the Chinese version). She had no idea what was about
to happen next. We on the otherhand, were very aware
and the thought of the next 14-15 hours wasn't a
pleasant one.
There is no way to 'sugarcoat' the next 15 hours. I
have spoken with several friends who have made the
journey, and I think the agreement is that it is
indescribable unless you do it. Elizabeth didn't sleep
well at all on the plane, and as a result became VERY
unhappy. She would doze off only to wake 15-20 minutes
later. We encountered heavy turbulence over the Sea of
Japan, and several other places over the Pacific Ocean
and it would wake her. There was also an older Chinese
Gentleman seated in a nearby row that had a very loud
sneeze. Every time he sneezed (which was quite
frequently) I thought the cabin door had blown out.
The Cabin temp. was over 80 degrees and we were all
drenched including Elizabeth and Dave was who she
wanted to hold her, so I ran the bottle prep, kitchen
duty, and diaper geni service. We asked numerous
times for them to turn it down, but it was obvious the
Flight attendants liked it warm because whenever we
asked, they would turn it down 1 or 2 degrees (as Dave
supervised:) and then went and put on a COAT before it
even had a chance to do anything. As soon as Dave
walked away, they flipped it back up.
None of us got sleep and when those wheels locked down
for landing, and we touched down in L.A. we were ready
to kiss the ground.
Once in the Customs line, we must have looked like we
needed someone to pick us up from our puddle of mush,
because a kind Customs officer escorted us past the
multitude of people in the immigrant line to the
front. We were the first ones processed off our 777
and out of the customs area in less than 4
minutes!!!!! There is an old Scottish saying my
Grandmother would have said to that wonderful Customs
officer..."Long may your Chimney Smoke"!
The way the Law is written in the United States, as
soon as Elizabeth's feet touch American soil, she
becomes an American citizen. We captured the moment on
film (well, OK, digital "film"). Once again, she was
blissfully unaware, but we were crying.
We are about to collapse into the wonderful 'soft' bed
in our LA hotel room, in preparation for another
'short' day of travel to the East Coast beginning at
4:30 AM. Elizabeth is resting in yet another new crib
next to our bed and seems content. She smashed her
little fingers in a drawer she opened and then closed
on herself just as we arrived. We are anxious to give
this precious little child stability, consistency, and
more love than she ever has had in her life before.
We are only hours from home and can't wait to see our
family and friends. Thank all of you for following our
journey to Elizabeth, and keeping us in prayer
throughout these last few weeks. We have felt those
prayers in a mighty way.
Tomorrow our sweet Elizabeth, you will sleep in your
own crib in a very special room that Mommy, Daddy and
John fixed for you before we even knew who you were.
You will feel secure, and this will be your home for a
long long time.
Our next post will be from ***HOME***!
Stay with us as we introduce John to his new little
sister!!!
With joyful and full hearts,
Susan and Dave
GOD BLESS AMERICA! |
Chinese Biltmore
Keeping up on current events
Our
favorite store. All profits go to care for
orphans and they are Christian based.
This marketplace across from the White Swan
caters to adoptive families.
Chinese Tea Shop
A traditional Chinese Tea Room
Happy Family
New Chinese friends
Waiting to board the flight to America
My
'crib' for the night.
I haven't told my Mom and Dad yet,
but I'm going to let them know I don't like it.
Our pathway home as captured on the
in-flight monitor |
