Monday, March 13, 2006

It’s off on an early flight this morning and it’s snowing. We had a boxed breakfast on the way to the airport where we said goodbye to our guide, Peter, and caught our flight to Guangzhou. The check-in, security, and flight were almost effortless today. They give very good food service on these Chinese airlines, the best I’ve had anywhere.

Traveling with Hannah is like traveling with a celebrity everywhere we go. The rest of the adopted kids in our group are still very shy. Hannah smiles, waves, and hams it up every time someone comes up to say “nee-how.” I feel bad for the other parents because the Chinese people love to greet the babies and they pass the others right up and go straight to Hannah. We’re thinking model or movie star material.

Jane from Christian World Adoption is now traveling with us. Jane is born and raised in China and now works for CWA in Charleston, South Carolina. We have a new guide, Simon, a much younger man probably in his 30’s.

Our new Hotel is plush. This is where they put heads of state when they come to China, The White Swan Hotel. Check-in was quick and we are joining back up with some other couples who went to other provinces to adopt and now are coming here to complete the process. One couple is adopting an 8 year old boy who comes from a Muslim area. Race and cultural differences do not matter here, only the children. I met a black man married to a white woman adopting a Chinese baby. They are from Tennessee. I think it's great. There are no racial barriers in God's kingdom.

The weather here is usually tropical. Vietnam is close by. But today it is cold and rainy. We had to walk 3 blocks in the rain to see the doctors and get the babies approved to leave the country. Our Chinese paperwork is done and now we are completing all the details for the U.S. Consulate. Hannah threw a fit at the exam when we had to hand her to the doctors. She was confused and scared and cried off and on for the rest of the day. She was especially angry with Pam because she is the one who handed her off.

Pizza for lunch was a welcomed change. Pam had to go to paperwork meetings with Simon and the other parents while Kristin, Donna, and I watched Hannah. She was intent on getting the phone and pushing all the buttons. I would tell her “no no” and she would walk, holding on to the bed, back around to her bottle, get a quick swig for courage, and come back to the phone to repeat the whole process. She finally wore down and I did too. Donna and Kristin went shopping while father and daughter took a nap. We both get sleepy around the same times.

Supper was more Chinese food. It is a little different from the Americanized version. The only thing that bothers me is not knowing what kind of meat I’m eating. You can ask the waitresses, “Is this chicken?,” and they will say, “okay, yes.” I’m not into mystery meat, especially here. Hannah makes meal time exciting. We have already had to pay for a glass and a porcelain spoon. She loves to take the plastic chop sticks and hit everything. Our group liked the food better here. We have shifted from Hunan cuisine to Cantonese cuisine, not as spicy. Personally, I liked the spicy Chinese food. Hannah can already eat rice and chopped up vegetables and meat. Her teeth are coming in fast and she knows how to use them. She bit Kristin today. Kristin was thinking we should just let Hannah do what she wants since she is so little, innocent, and is going through so much this week...until she got bit...then it was, "HANNAH, NO!"

Kristin helped pick out the pictures today. She doesn’t like it when I pick ones that show her without makeup. I think she’s beautiful with or without.

Jeff