Thursday, January 12, 2006
Today is our last day in China and our daughter will
leave her homeland for her new life in America. It is a bittersweet day as
Brooke's life will be forever changed. She is leaving behind her heritage, her
culture and everything she has known for the past eleven months of her life.
We loved our visit to China and we hope to be able to travel here again with
both our children so that they can learn and experience China when they are a
little older. We will make it a point that both Brooke and Matthew are involved
in Chinese culture here in the USA. We are fortunate that there are huge Chinese
communities in and around the New York metropolitan area.
Last night and this morning I did marathon packing but I was very organized
because I want the unpacking to go smoothly on the other end too. We managed to
stuff and cram everything we came with plus oodles of gifts and purchases into
four very large suitcases. Our carry-on's were bulging too.
We had our last breakfast at the White Swan Hotel and watched as families and
travelers were being escorted to various other hotels. How lucky were we that we
did not have to move as this was our departure day. They would have heard the
wrath of Mandee, though I am sure it would have meant or done nothing. When
China says move out of the hotel, I suppose you move out of the hotel.
The secret visitor is still unknown but everyone is speculating that it is the
President of North Korea which is obviously a very very big deal here and around
the world. We will watch and see if it is broadcast on the news or not.
We will miss China so much especially since everyone is getting ready for the
Chinese New Year. When we arrived in China, the White Swan Hotel was decorated
so beautifully for Christmas and now it is in its glory decorated for the
Chinese New Year. What a wonderful time of year to be in China. I found a lovely
outfit for Brooke to bring in the Year of the Dog. She will look like a little
doll.
As we get ready to leave this wonderful country we wish all our new friends in
China, Asian as well as Caucasian, a very Happy Chinese New Year. May all your
wishes and dreams come true! Our wish surely did come true.
Love, Mandee, Howard, Matthew and Brooke
|
Beautiful Waterfall at the White Swan Hotel
Lanterns decorate the hotel for the Chinese New Year
We are in a tropical paradise
|
