Day 2 – September 5, 2010 and the Adventures of Peng

Sunday September 5, 2010

Early this morning we left Beijing headed to Guangzhou. After flying with China S*outhern Airlines and realizing that the Chinese people do not like anything cold i.e. air conditioner, cold beverages etc. needless to say that 3 hr. plane ride ended with a class on Chinese acupuncture coming across the TV monitors in the plane.

All of my preconceived notions about how Guangzhou was this tiny secluded place where I thought there would be a lot of rural areas were totally shot out the window when we arrived. Wow! Never will I let my predetermination's set the tone for what's to come. Our guide Lucy meets us at the Guangzhou airport. We head out talking about what our day will consist of tomorrow. Go exchange money at bank early in the morning. Make more copies of your passports and the list goes on! Meet us in the lobby at 2 pm to go to the Civil Affairs Office..here you will meet your daughter! Why is this so hard to believe? After all this time..less than 24 hrs. we will have our Nat!!! Amazing it has finally hit! The tears start flowing as we leave the airport. Just thinking I am in the city of my child's birth parents. Somewhere out there in this crowded place walks a woman who has no idea that in less than two weeks her daughter will be gone from here. Gone to be with her new family. I sit here and think about the huge sacrifice this woman has made. I pray for her conscious, I pray for her ability to know that somehow her child is loved already. I pray for Natalie to be able to see our actions in a positive light. Not just another couple who comes and take these children away from all they know. I can only imagine how Natalie is going to feel. After being in country for only 3 days now, the smells are different, the language is different, the people are different...I get it! I totally understand how hard this is going to be for our child. Please pray for her to jump back into life and understand that we love her even though we've never touched her soft hands. Only admired her photos from afar...

Peng takes and elevator. Peng missing his cell phone.

Hanging out in Beijing. Peng at the Forbidden City

Making one last call. Waiting for a bus.

Obeying traffic rules. Peng checking out.

Saying goodbye to Water. Checking out the White Swan.

View of Guangzhou from room.

Day 1 - Beijing

Hello from Beijing:

Well, it's 2 am here and I was hoping to be a little more acclimated at this point but I'm sure a few days will be better. Yesterday was crazy! Ashton and I started out around 0530 got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. So excited to see French toast & bacon! Yummy! Had a nice, satisfying breakfast and then headed outside to check things out.

Hotel restaurant

Our hotel

Not too much going on in Beijing at 0630. But let me tell you...it doesn't stay like that long. By 1000 the streets were packed, horns blowing in his strategically orchestrated dance of city traffic. Not an angry or stressed out face was to be seen. Amazing! Already China has taught me that there are some things in life you have to accept and realize it is what it is!

Our guide picked us up around 9 in the lobby. We were heading over to the Great Wall. On our way we stopped off at a local jade factory. Not only was it a museum, there were sculptors displaying their works and a huge store ready to be immersed with those American dollars. I am not a huge jade fan. Some people can pull it off...not me. I'm the same way with turquoise, really weird. So instead of spending money on something that I knew I would never wear, I decided to pick up a few small things for the girls. I'm sure before I leave there will be something I just can't live without.

Traditional way of putting on a jade bracelet

Those girls again

Lined up outside the Jade Factory

At the Great Wall the heat and aridness of the mountains really kicked in. Why had I never figured out that these steps were so steep? I'm talking nosebleed section here! Thank goodness I wasn't the only one struggling. Whew! I think my legs were still shaking when I went to bed last night. It was really random. Being the nerdy tourist that I am, Ash & I get our pics taken in the traditional Chinese garb. While standing there looking as out of place as we did, these random people just kept showing up in the middle of our photo shoot to stand beside us for family pics. It was almost flattering however the expression on my beet red face does not convey that at all. Great Wall “Great Crowd” on the Great Wall Our guide, Water Getting ready   Still getting ready The “Great Stairs” of China New friends Did I mention it was 400 degreesF!   The rest of the afternoon went well. Headed downtown to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Still smoldering from the Great Wall the walking around brought a hugely deserved breeze. Again while walking around this young Chinese teenager asked for our photo with her as well. Not that I mind that at all, it's just weird to know or not know rather where these pics are gonna end up. Lunch! Forbidden City Meiguoren Chairman Mao on Gate No.1 Tiananmen Square Off to acrobatic show. Boy, this day has really took it's toll on me and Ashton. Hoping to get some sleep.We fly to Guangzhou in the morning and still in denial that on Monday, less than 48 hrs, we get to meet our little princess...Cannot wait! See ya soon! Teresa & Ashton

We Made It!

Just got to our room in Beijing about an hour ago...it's now 7:41 pm  here...after a 2 hr delay from Chicago it has been a long, long day. Traffic is horrendous here in Beijing. Our guide "Water" is so nice. We are staying at the Holiday Inn-Downtown Beijing. If I weren't so exhausted Ashton and I might go look around. But I think I'm gonna take a rain check for now.

Headed to The Great Wall/Forbidden City & Tiananmen tomorrow...Will post pics later...

The Night Before Forever

Well, here we are! After 5 days of haggling with ticket agents and trying to adjust agendas, not to mention a little incident that came up with our agency, I can honestly admit I am exhausted!!! Physically, mentally and emotionally. The excitement of this journey still hasn't set in yet. Not sure because the travel came about so quickly that I haven't had time to enjoy it. But I think it was a saving grace of going now rather than later. If I had to wait two more weeks to travel, like we were supposed to then I think I would be a basket case, well more than I am now.

Ashton and I are headed out in the morning. We leave RDU @ 0745 headed to Chicago not much of a layover there. Then headed to Beijing. We arrive there Friday China time at 240 pm. Headed to Tiananmen Square BEFORE we check in to our hotel. By that point, I'm sure I will have shut-down. But in an attempt to get acclimated to our new time zone, I think it's the guide's duty to keep us as awake as possible.

Sunday we leave Beijing and head down to Guangzhou. We get Nat on Monday at 230 pm. Then the fun begins. I pray that she will not have hard feelings towards us because we are taking her away from all she's ever known. But I hope she will understand that a family and sisters and home...it will be good..I just know.

Headed out at 840...forgot to get my passport pics done...ugh! Where has my head been...

Until next time....Beijing!

T

MIA, I Know!

Well, soo much has happened since my last post! We received TA on Wednesday 25th. Originally requested 28th of September for our CA (consulate appointment). However, noticing that the 25th is on a Tuesday, the week after the Autumn Moon Festival in China. The Chinese offices will be closed the whole week before the 28th not allowing enough time to get Natalie's paperwork to take the CA appt that is mandatory. Thinking of how hard it is to already leave for 2 weeks, I asked our agency rep to see if it were possible to get an earlier CA. It will be so much stress on us initially but at least I won't be sitting in Guangzhou a whole week with nothing to do and still risk the possibility of not getting her documents. After sitting on pins and needles all yesterday afternoon and most of the night, I wake up to an email from Kerry stating that we got our appt on 09/14 @ 1030 am. Yippeeeee! I know it's gonna be tough but I also know that sitting here for another 2 weeks waiting to leave would be tougher. Let's get this show on the road! I will be home on September 17. The bad news is I have to depart/arrive from Raleigh..Ugh...that 2 hr drive home after flying for 30 hrs..not too enticing. I think Todd and I have decided to just stay in Raleigh that Friday night after we arrive home. Just to get some rest and get the girls together asap!

So, FINALLY, it is happening! After sooo many years of waiting! Your prayers and support have been tremendous! Thanks again for everything!

T

Monday,...Again!

So off to a new week. I've decided that I wanted to make these little envelopes for Caroline & Claire to open each day we are gone to China. So, after trying to figure out how to come up with something that wouldn't make them sad and something that would let me finish them without bawling my head off again I had quite a successful trip to Party City today. Bracelets, lipgloss, soccer ball erasers and who knows what else is in that bag. I plan on starting tomorrow. Because I STILL don't have a travel date, I'm not sure if I have enough goodies for every day. So, I will just keep waiting and waiting and waiting...and surely it will come sooner or later!

Friday night...I just had this huge tear fest...I mean downright boo-hoooing...it had no specific origin...It just finally sank in that my oldest will be a senior in 4 years....I can't believe it..I mean I still remember the ultrasound to confirm my pregnancy...where does it go? They are all changing so much...Claire has been asking me for a year if she could shave her legs when she turns 12. Poor little thing is a hairy little beast...so I caved...yes, against my best wishes I now have 2 daughters that have crossed into the dark side of being a woman...ugh! I want my babies back! I want them all to wear matching St. Paddy's, Halloween, 4th of July, Easter t-shirts & scooter skirts just like they did not so long ago!!!!

It's a harsh reality. Ready or not they will grow up and leave and then come back with more....YIPPPPPEEEE cannot wait!

Keep praying for a TA soon!!!!!

First Day of School

We did it!!! First day of school has come and gone! Wooohooo! Girls survived, everyone is glad to be home and the best part is tomorrow is Friday! I could sooo get used to this! Still nothing from China...geez..get on with it now people! Got a sweet little girl waiting on me who probably thinks we are never coming!!!!