Finally settling down to sleep. It is 11:40 p.m. Lots of highs and lows today. I am exhausted and can barely keep my eyes open.
After breakfast we went walking around the hotel. Really like the area. We had another ice cream cone. Little did we know that would be our last real food for the day.
At 12:00 our guide picked us up. She was back to normal and acted like nothing happened yesterday. We spent a couple of hours at the Summer Palace before heading to the airport.
Our flight was delayed so we spent about 3 hours at the airport. We arrived in Zhengzhou airport at about 8:45. Our facilitator, Yoyo, was there waiting for us. It is going to be a long week. Yoyo speaks very little English. I will be counting down the days until Guangzhou.
Around 9:30 we arrived at our hotel. We have 2 adjoining rooms that are quite nice. Yoyo tells me I need all these copies that I don't have. Hopefully I have enough for Monday and then I can make some at the copy center.
Zachary and I attempted to get them but found out the business center was closed. Zachary and the lady at the front desk communicated through translator apps on their phone.
Won't be long until we get the boys. We meet our guide at either 8:30 or 9:00. Communication just isn't there. We know there are at least 2 other American families here adopting. Hopefully at some point we will run into them. It is going to be a long week.
Will add photos later. Still have not downloaded them from my camera.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Day 1- Great Wall and the Apple Store
What a busy day! We started the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast is included with our room so it is the meal we never want to miss .
Our guide, Vanessa, picked us up at 9:30 am. Traffic was quite heavy. We decided to go to the Mutinayu Section of the Great Wall. It took about 2 hours to get there.
After climbing many steps we arrived at the cable cars. We were able to ride the cable car up to the wall. Absolutely beautiful! Zachary and our guide ventured out for a hike on the wall. My sister and I decided to stay at the base and take photos.
After Zachary and Vanessa returned we rode the cable car down. Once again the scenery was beautiful. After exiting we had to walk down lots of stairs to get to our van. On both sides of us were vendors trying to sell their wares.
Earlier in the day our guide agreed to take us to the Apple store. The driver dropped us off at a upscale mall. Arrived at the Apple store and to begin with they were
booked for the day and could not see us. Our guide convinced that it was an emergency and they got us an appointment with the Emergency Genius. It was all rather comical. In this 3 story Apple store all of the technicians had the name Genius and a number. I was very pleased with our Genius when he returned with my computer. He was able to reset it and it was once again working. Plus it was still under warranty so it was free. I wanted to give our Genius a hug but didn't think it would go over very well with the very serious security officer.
Soon after our Genius brought my computer to life our guide received an emergency phone call. Her whole attitude changed. She stood in the taxi quay with us and told the taxi driver where to take us.
We decided it was our second day in China. It was time for Chinese food.
We had asked our guide where a noodle shop was earlier in the day. After a short walk we found it. For $12.00 we each got a huge bowl of beef noodles. It did not disappoint us. Even Zachary was pleased and he had wanted to go to Subway.
On the way back to room we stopped by McDonalds for an ice cream. Less than $1.50 for 3 cones. Tastes just like home.
Arrived back at the room around 7:00. We were finding it hard to keep our eyes open. My sister quickly fell asleep and by 8:30 I could no longer keep my eyes open. So now it is 2:30 a.m. and I am wide awake.
Looking forward to another busy day tomorrow and our flight to Henan.
Pictures of the Great Wall are on my camera. I will have to load those later.
Our guide, Vanessa, picked us up at 9:30 am. Traffic was quite heavy. We decided to go to the Mutinayu Section of the Great Wall. It took about 2 hours to get there.
After climbing many steps we arrived at the cable cars. We were able to ride the cable car up to the wall. Absolutely beautiful! Zachary and our guide ventured out for a hike on the wall. My sister and I decided to stay at the base and take photos.
After Zachary and Vanessa returned we rode the cable car down. Once again the scenery was beautiful. After exiting we had to walk down lots of stairs to get to our van. On both sides of us were vendors trying to sell their wares.
Earlier in the day our guide agreed to take us to the Apple store. The driver dropped us off at a upscale mall. Arrived at the Apple store and to begin with they were
booked for the day and could not see us. Our guide convinced that it was an emergency and they got us an appointment with the Emergency Genius. It was all rather comical. In this 3 story Apple store all of the technicians had the name Genius and a number. I was very pleased with our Genius when he returned with my computer. He was able to reset it and it was once again working. Plus it was still under warranty so it was free. I wanted to give our Genius a hug but didn't think it would go over very well with the very serious security officer.
Soon after our Genius brought my computer to life our guide received an emergency phone call. Her whole attitude changed. She stood in the taxi quay with us and told the taxi driver where to take us.
We decided it was our second day in China. It was time for Chinese food.
We had asked our guide where a noodle shop was earlier in the day. After a short walk we found it. For $12.00 we each got a huge bowl of beef noodles. It did not disappoint us. Even Zachary was pleased and he had wanted to go to Subway.
On the way back to room we stopped by McDonalds for an ice cream. Less than $1.50 for 3 cones. Tastes just like home.
Arrived back at the room around 7:00. We were finding it hard to keep our eyes open. My sister quickly fell asleep and by 8:30 I could no longer keep my eyes open. So now it is 2:30 a.m. and I am wide awake.
Looking forward to another busy day tomorrow and our flight to Henan.
Pictures of the Great Wall are on my camera. I will have to load those later.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Almost there and Arrival
We are almost to China. The flight was long but it wasn't too bad . Our seats were bulkhead so we had more room.
Eager to arrive and get settled in our room. First order of business may be a shower.
Tomorrow we go to the Great Wall, Sunday the Summer Place, and then we fly to Henan. Three more sleeps until we meet the boys.
----------------------------
Next part written after we arrived at hotel.
We were greeted at the airport by Olivia. She did not speak English very well but she was very kind. It was fun trying to talk with her. She absolutely loved Zachary's name. She kept trying to say it. The drive was about 40 minutes to our hotel.
We checked into our hotel. Nice hotel with some stores in walking distance. We walked down to McDonalds for dinner. First dinner in China and we have a Big Mac.
Only one issue my computer died. Dallas has big plans for us to find the Apple store today. We are hoping to figure it out after we get back from the Great Wall. Hoping our guide will assist us.
Also have to arrange for New Hope/Show Hope to pick up bags from us. We had them send us two suitcases of supplies to carry to China. They didn't show up at airport so we now need to arrange for them to be picked up.
After a few hours sleep we are now ready for our day. Didn't go to bed until 10:00 pm but woke up 11:22. Stayed up about an hour, slept until about 4:20. Been up since. Tonight I may try taking something to sleep.
Next post ... Our first day in China.
Eager to arrive and get settled in our room. First order of business may be a shower.
Tomorrow we go to the Great Wall, Sunday the Summer Place, and then we fly to Henan. Three more sleeps until we meet the boys.
----------------------------
Next part written after we arrived at hotel.
We were greeted at the airport by Olivia. She did not speak English very well but she was very kind. It was fun trying to talk with her. She absolutely loved Zachary's name. She kept trying to say it. The drive was about 40 minutes to our hotel.
We checked into our hotel. Nice hotel with some stores in walking distance. We walked down to McDonalds for dinner. First dinner in China and we have a Big Mac.
Only one issue my computer died. Dallas has big plans for us to find the Apple store today. We are hoping to figure it out after we get back from the Great Wall. Hoping our guide will assist us.
Also have to arrange for New Hope/Show Hope to pick up bags from us. We had them send us two suitcases of supplies to carry to China. They didn't show up at airport so we now need to arrange for them to be picked up.
After a few hours sleep we are now ready for our day. Didn't go to bed until 10:00 pm but woke up 11:22. Stayed up about an hour, slept until about 4:20. Been up since. Tonight I may try taking something to sleep.
Next post ... Our first day in China.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Here we go ...
We are sitting at RDU waiting for our first flight. Hard to believe this is actually happening.
No enlightening posts this morning. Way too tired for that.
Forgot to get Dallas to take a photo before he left so we got a random stranger to take one. Not a good one at all but here it is for memory's sake.
No enlightening posts this morning. Way too tired for that.
Forgot to get Dallas to take a photo before he left so we got a random stranger to take one. Not a good one at all but here it is for memory's sake.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
It is a Miracle!
Monday was a day I would like to erase from my memory, the day I wished never happened. It has taken me this long to be able to write about it and I still have tears in my eyes.
Our 17 year old had a seizure driving out of our driveway Monday morning. We still can't figure out how his car ended up where it did . We know at some point he hit the house and went flying in reverse into the flower bed in front of our house. Dallas heard the constant honking of his car's horn and went running out to see what was happening. He saw him flying towards the flower bed.
The miracle is he is still alive. He was not injured at all. He hit a tree in the flower bed or else he would have landed on a busy street. The flower bed is slanted like a ramp so his car would have really flown. There are so many other scenarios that would have ended in death.
I am thankful God was watching over him.
Otherwise he would not be with us today. My heart hurts for him and the disappointment he is facing now not being able to drive. He is a great kid and I am sad he has to face the challenges of having seizures. But he is alive and for that I will be eternally grateful!
Our 17 year old had a seizure driving out of our driveway Monday morning. We still can't figure out how his car ended up where it did . We know at some point he hit the house and went flying in reverse into the flower bed in front of our house. Dallas heard the constant honking of his car's horn and went running out to see what was happening. He saw him flying towards the flower bed.
The miracle is he is still alive. He was not injured at all. He hit a tree in the flower bed or else he would have landed on a busy street. The flower bed is slanted like a ramp so his car would have really flown. There are so many other scenarios that would have ended in death.
I am thankful God was watching over him.
Otherwise he would not be with us today. My heart hurts for him and the disappointment he is facing now not being able to drive. He is a great kid and I am sad he has to face the challenges of having seizures. But he is alive and for that I will be eternally grateful!
Friday, May 3, 2013
We just received confirmation of our flights. It is real this is really going to happen. It's okay that our flights aren't very good, our airtime is much longer than it should be, and the tickets are quite expensive especially since we had to upgrade to get seats together. After the flights last year I said never again. We were spread out and it was miserable going and coming home. It is even okay that we have to spend 2 extra days in China.
I go through this every adoption. I feel like it is all a dream and can't really be happening to us.
We are really going to China! I am going to have the twins I have dreamed of for as long as I can remember. Hope they like us.
I go through this every adoption. I feel like it is all a dream and can't really be happening to us.
We are really going to China! I am going to have the twins I have dreamed of for as long as I can remember. Hope they like us.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
We are going to China!
It is confirmed! We leave for China a week from today. We will meet the boys on May 13. Wow! Now if we could just get our international flights. We have been told by our travel agent that they have been booked but I sure would like to receive the confirmation email.
It has just been so odd. Another large check that we weren't expecting showed up today. We continue to be amazed!
Will be posting our itinerary once we get one. We can't get it until we give them our international flight information. Hoping it comes soon before the travel agency in China closes for the weekend.
It has just been so odd. Another large check that we weren't expecting showed up today. We continue to be amazed!
Will be posting our itinerary once we get one. We can't get it until we give them our international flight information. Hoping it comes soon before the travel agency in China closes for the weekend.
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