Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Today I started adding “Quinn” to ZhouZhou. ZhouZhou is
pronounced JoeJoe. So, today I am calling him JoeJoe Quinn. He
tells everyone he sees he is
Lan Yong Zhou. I wonder how long it will take him to respond to
Quinn.
We had free time until 3:00pm today. Quinn and I dined at the
breakfast buffet and then spent a lot of time on Skype. We
called home and I was also able to introduce Quinn to the Swartz
family, Krystal and Raina! It was really nice to SEE everyone!
Skype is a beautiful thing.
I decided to venture out into the city to make my way back to
the bakery and grocery store. I felt pretty confident in finding
my way. The hotel loaned me a stroller for Quinn, but it was
completely worn out and the wheels did not even turn. It was
ready to collapse. I saw a baby store just a few shops up from
our hotel. That was stop #1. No one spoke English. So, the
charades began. I was looking for a cheap stroller just to get
me through the next two weeks. The employees at the baby shop
were so kind and sweet. They did figure out what I needed and in
my price range. We all had a few good laughs. The male employees
helped me load Quinn in and got him and the stroller down the
stairs and away we went. They smiled and waved us on. Quinn
yelled bye-bye!
Most of the streets in this city have underground walkways to
keep people from crossing the actual streets. People still cross
the streets, but most take the tunnels. They are a lot safer. As
we walked along people were literally stopping and starring. I
did not see any other non-Asian people today. Quinn would wave
to everyone and smile. I just smiled and kept walking like I
knew where I was going and what I was doing. LOL
We made it to the bakery! This time I got Quinn (2) packs of
dinner rolls for his noodles. They are really small and he has
been eating them as a snack. The guide selected them for him
yesterday. She said they are not a sweet tasting roll. I think
this should last him until Guangzhou where I know there are more
bakeries.
We then headed for the grocery store. It is in a basement of a
shopping plaza (mall). So, this means stairs just like the
underground tunnel and Quinn has to get out of the stroller and
walk. NOPE – NOT gonna happen. He was afraid and wanted me to
carry him. This is wonderful as he is trusting me more and more,
but picture me w/a fanny pack, backpack, stroller and Quinn all
going down a flight of stairs. At least down was better than
going UP! OMG – I was sweating like a PIG and my jeans were
falling off and I am sure my undergarments were showing. What a
wonderful sight for the locals! The days are just getting more
and more comical!
Anyhow, we did actual make it into the grocery store. We weren’t
in there 5 minutes when two Chinese women come up from behind me
and were pointing at my backpack and telling me something in
Chinese. I just smiled. One then grabs my water bottle out of my
backpack side pocket and starts pointing to my backpack. I
thought maybe it was leaking??? I look at Quinn for a
translation. What was I thinking….Then the light bulb – she was
trying to tell me to put the open bottle in my bag! I figured
that out once she started to unzip my backpack. Oh my – what a
riot. They were both very sweet and very happy that I did
understand them FINALLY. I guess they didn’t want anyone to
think I stole it.
I bought enough snacks and water for us to make it until Friday
(I hope). I loaded up my backpack with our goods and headed for
the escalator to avoid carrying Quinn up the stairs. Once in the
mall area I found the exit and continued down into an
underground tunnel. Little did I know at that moment that it was
the WRONG tunnel! We come up on the other side of the street and
I “thought” I knew where I was by the HUGE electronic store
across the street. So, I hung a right and walked and walked. We
did not find our hotel. I knew I wasn’t really lost, but where
was I? I turn around and realize I have no idea where I am.
Quinn now is telling me he has to pee. I try to distract him
because he did this a lot yesterday and I think he has watered
almost every tree in town. Our guide helped him though. She told
me while in China do as the Chinese. She even jumped out of the
car yesterday with him in the middle of a horrible traffic jam
so he could pee on the side of the road. She told me to wait in
the car. I apparently do not have the skills for this yet. Well,
Quinn was starting to cry so I knew he really had to go bad. I
found a tree and he went. Unreal….
Then I was back on our adventure of trying to figure out where
our hotel was. I saw another electronic store – same name – and
realized there are several on the SAME BLOCK! So, word of advice
– do not follow landmarks in China. They multiply. This was
“our” electronic store though and I could now see our hotel. BUT
we needed to cross the street again and this time there was no
underground tunnel. The traffic was insane so I just pushed
Quinn’s stroller right on the heels of some Chinese women and
crossed to safety.
Once we got back to our room I made Quinn some lunch. GREAT NEWS
– he loves peanut butter and no allergic reaction! He soooo fits
into our family. All this excitement and the day was only ˝
over.
We met our guide and driver at 3:00 today to drive by the old
and new orphanage and to also visit Quinn’s finding spot. Our
first stop was the old orphanage. It was very close to our
hotel. I don’t think Quinn even realized we were driving by it.
He was moved from the old orphanage to the new location back in
the summer of 2011. He has also spent some time in foster care.
It was in a very, very old area and the building was in very bad
shape. It really is unbelievable that just a short time ago the
children actually lived in there. We could not get out of the
car so I took pictures through my window. We then traveled to an
industrial section of the city where the new orphanage was
built. It is a major – major improvement. Some areas are still
under construction, but I was able to get a few pictures of the
entrance way. Quinn was quiet as we drove by the new location
where he has been for the last 10 months. He definitely knew
where we were. They guide spoke to him and reassured him that he
is staying with Mama forever. He just watched out the window and
said good-bye. Today brought some closure for Quinn.
The driver then took me to Quinn’s finding spot. It was a little
tricky as Quinn was found at an old karaoke center. It is no
longer in business. Our driver is truly an amazing man! He
called a friend who lives in this area and his friend helped
locate the old center. As we drove up to the karaoke center I
wondered if Quinn’s birth mother was near. We were in a very
busy area with lots of people around. There were lots of shops
along this busy street. As I sat on the steps with our new son I
could only be thankful to his birth mother for choosing to give
him life. I will forever be grateful to her for the sacrifice
she made that day she left him on those very same steps.
|
NEW "Ride"
So Handsome!
View of the street where the old orphanage was located
Front Entrance - old orphanage
Front View - new orphanage
(one of the caregivers walking in)
Quinn looking back....saying good-bye
Quinn's Finding Spot
"Thank you" |
