In China
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Thursday, May 14, 2009 Hi everyone. Well, just when I thought we had wound down and couldn’t do anything more that was special, I was proven wrong, thanks to Veronica. We had a spectacular day, and I’m calling today’s theme A Day of Peace. The day started out just great with Ethan practicing brushing his teeth – this is a major milestone, since tooth brushing has been a bit of a battle. But today he pretended, and he played with his toothbrush and toothpaste, so I’m hopeful for a better tomorrow….. It all only goes up from there. First we went to the Temple of Heaven . Truthfully, I was completely unprepared – I thought it was just a round building to make sure we saw before we left, but now I know why it’s a Top 10 Must Do. First of all, the grounds are massive – it was built by the first Manchurian Emperor to conduct ceremonies for the Gods of Heaven and Sun and other natural things during the Winter and Summer Solstice. There are multiple buildings/temples/altars and the grounds are extensive - even larger than the Forbidden City . The round building everyone sees on advertisements is magnificent – a bright blue with gold and intricate detailed illustrations in color. It has multiple layers and it was built without any nails – an architectural achievement if not a work of art. The photo here does not do it justice (what can I say, I thought the one with the kids was cuter than the one of just the building). And like the Forbidden City , the stone carvings along the stairs are originals. The building is actually the second built temple – the first one burned down in the 1700’s, but thankfully this one still stands. As amazing as the building is, however, the grounds are the best part. Walking through the grounds we came upon the morning exercises – tai chi, tai chi with swords, tai chi with balls and a racket (for added balance apparently), umbrella dancing, and…..ballroom dancing! Ballroom dancing is considered an exercise, and ladies, let me tell you, there were just as many men engaged in dancing….how do I bring that home??? Now for the best part - there is an enormous rose garden, and when you walk into it, you are literally hit with the sweetest fragrance you can imagine. There were so many different varieties – more than I could count, and they were all in full bloom. We obviously came at the right time of year. It’s no surprise that the garden was so beautiful, because even the highways are lined with absolutely beautiful rose bushes – full and in bloom like you can’t imagine – and along the highways no less! But this garden was unbelievable – it will stay with me forever. After our multi-hour visit there, Veronica took us to a tea house which is apparently famous, but I can’t remember the name. We had a formal tea service sampling 5 different teas and learning the traditional ways to prepare and serve. What a great way to end our touring part of the day. I picked up some great teas to bring home – things I’ve never heard of in the States, and very yummy. The afternoon was spent packing and Veronica helping me with the paperwork in advance of our consulate meeting in Guangzhou . Then we ate at a delicious Cantonese restaurant also right here in the hotel, but tucked back in a corner and I never knew it existed. It was beautifully decorated in gold and purple with crystals hanging, and the food was excellent. Our last night in Beijing …I’m a little sad to leave, but truly ready. Its time to get not just our little guy home but all of us. I can’t believe its been 2 weeks already here, but I feel like we got to see and experience so much, and we have so much to share with Ethan as he gets older about his birthplace and all the city had to offer. As much as I love having Ethan finally with us, its also been an amazing trip, and I am reminded (or just affirmed) of all there is to appreciate about China – its ancient history, culture, art, people (definitely the people!), and how it balances its own ideals with more contemporary needs. Having said all that, I am not blind to the differences between our countries – our social and political belief systems, both current and historical - but at the more human and personal level, I will forever appreciate what I’ve come to see and learn about China though our experiences in Beijing. And I’m really looking forward to coming back and seeing the rest of the country! Tonight at dinner, Veronica was kind enough to help us explain to Ethan that from now on, Mama and Baba and family will be calling him “Ethan” – he said “OK,” or rather “Hah” which means “Ok”, and then when Emma called him Ethan he turned to her with a smile, so hopefully he will transition to his new name easily.

Emma and Ethan at the Temple of Heaven Tai Chi with a ball and racket Emma tries the Tai Chi Rose Garden Tea Service Enjoying the tea service

Tomorrow we will receive Ethan’s passport and then we have an evening flight (who arranged that??) to Guangzhou . We won’t have any posts tomorrow, but please stay tuned. When you hear from us next, we’ll be at the beautiful White Swan, and we will probably have some good tidbits from both the flight as well as the medical review. I’m taking all good wishes and prayers for our travels tomorrow…my real introductory test to being a mom with two kids – a three hour flight on China Air and all the fun at the airport to go with it!…..oy. Take care everyone, Lots of love, Dawn, Emma and Ethan

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