Tuesday, December
23, 2008
Rob posting. We started off the day sick and tired of being in
China. We’re just ready to come back, is all. Lexi was crying
any time Susan left her sight, and Zoe was starting to act up a
bit, making for tension in the Arp clan. For example, Susan took
Zoe to the bathroom at breakfast and said she could hear Lexi
screaming all the way there and back (like a football field’s
length away, man!) I make it worse when I try to comfort Lexi,
as she squirms with all of her might to get away from me. The
Chinese women come up and look at me with a “you poor American
bastard” look. Susan threatened divorce.
Spending more money made us all feel better. Actually, we needed
more water, diet Coke, and especially wine for Susan.
Then, we needed to be in our rooms between 11:00am and noon, in
case someone from the American consulate called. Our sponsor,
Elsie, attended a meeting with the American consulate people on
our behalf. No one called, we’re in the clear, and Lexi is
coming home with us. Yeah!
We went with two families to the only American restaurant on the
island here, and I ordered beef fried rice (best GD fried rice I
have ever had). These other two families are super nice, and
each have a seven year old that Zoe can play with, and new one
year olds that are just precious. They laugh that I order
Chinese food at the place.
Zoe had another nutritious day of M&Ms, Pringles, old cheese,
more Pringles, cake, and water. It’s not my fault.
To work off all of her healthy food, Zoe and I went with a bunch
of families to an outdoor playground full of a strange
combination of slides, jungle gym stuff, and Nautilus-style
exercise machines. Zoe loves the stationary bike, but can’t
reach the pedals. So, I end up holding her up a bit while she
makes an attempt to pedal. She’s so friggin’ adorable, I can’t
stand it.
Starbucks is the American oasis here, and all of the gwai los
hang out there, no doubt (I found out from one of the locals
that ‘gwai lo’ means “ghost” and is what Chinese people call us
Caucasians). So, after the playground, a bunch of us went to
Starbucks for our lattes, hot chocolates, and hot teas. We have
met many other families from around the USA who have adopted and
are waiting to go home. Neat people.
Then, it was back to the hotel room to see mommy, mei mei, and
eat more Pringles. I’m just about at the point where I’ll be
able to breast feed, so I can’t wait to get back on a tread
mill.
I forgot to mention that we Skyped Aunt Cathy who is hanging out
with Granmommy, Grandaddy, Aunt Barb, Uncle Mike, Uncle Rob,
Aunt Melinda, and Cousins Jack, Nick, Sydney, and Charlie in KC
for Xmas. Lexi’s middle name is Catherine, named after Aunt
Cathy, so that was neat to see Cathy see Lexi for the first time
(even though it’s over the Internet).
At 4:30pm, all of the families met for a group photo of all of
the adopted children. It was cute and hilarious. Elsie placed
all of the kids on a red couch. Lexi was the last to be put
down. Lexi started crying, then, like yawning, one by one
Madison, then Taylor, then almost all of the girls started
crying! One of the parents looked at me and, in all seriousness,
said, “This is cruel. We need to get in there and get them out.”
A second later, Elsie said we could go and pick up the little
ones to comfort them.
Then, we walked to a Cantonese style restaurant to have more
good food. All went well until Jay picked up a fried chicken
head and started making it cluck. So, we passed the chicken head
around pretending to kiss it, eat it, and stick it in various
orifices. This still was not as neato as the birthday cake that
had all of the adopted kids’ names on it. And this was almost as
neato as seeing Lexi dig into her piece with both hands. Man!
She got it all over her face, hair, clothes, Susan’s face,
Susan’s clothes… too cute.
Susan took Zoe to the bathroom, and Lexi screamed blood murder
again. This time, it was Chinese people AND American people both
staring at me with the “you poor bastard” look. One guy said
sarcastically, “You’re doing a great job, Rob.” Thanks. :] As
Zoe noted so well, “Daddy, I can’t wait to get back to Buppalo…”
|
Going to lunch.
In dire need of a nap.
The couch of a thousand tears and tortures.
The Arps.
The Peanut with her Coming Home Barbie. |
