To China and Back!

When we left for China, my plan was to update the blog every few days but when we arrived in mainland China we discovered the government had a block on Blogspot. I was able to pull up my blog but I was not able to post. The block was due to the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square. All coverage of the anniversary was blocked. Our guide in Nanchang had a very different version of what happened in Tiananmen Square, it was very interesting to hear her talk about it.

We loved China. It was great to experience the Chinese culture with our daughter.

We left Portland on 5/28 and arrived in Hong Kong on 5/29. From HK we took the ferry to Shekou in mainland China for a short visit with Jim, Rose and the girls. When the ferry docked in Shekou, the health officials (dressed in Hazmat suits) boarded the ferry and took everyone's temp and made us fill out a health form listing all the places we had been in the last 7 days. Needless to say, we were very nervous about being quarantined! After it was determined no one on board had a temperature, they let us get off. We had a wonderful time exploring Shekou with the Tyvands. They took us to a couple local restaurants where we received a crash course in eating with chopsticks. The next day it was off to Nanchang to meet our little girl!

The morning we left Shekou Jim put us in a cab and gave the driver instructions to take us to the airport. The driver was trying to talk with Tim even though he did not speak English and Tim does not speak Chinese. After a few minutes the driver gave up and we road in silence for the rest of the drive. It was a bit of a challenge when we arrived at the airport and he wanted to know which terminal we needed to be at. Finally he started naming cities and we said "Nanchang". It did not get any easier once we were inside the airport. We were the only Caucasians and the only people speaking English! When we go back for Mei's homeland tour, we will learn a little Mandarin. Tim and I were concerned that we were going to end up in some place other then Nanchang but all went well.

When we arrived in Nanchang our guide, Helen, was waiting for us. Helen's first question to Tim was "how tall are you?" Our first thoughts about Nanchang were; it is very hot and everyone is smoking. In Nanchang you can smoke wherever you want; airport, restaurant, hotel, hospital... Besides the smoking, we loved Nanchang. Helen was a wonderful guide, she made the adoption process seem so easy and she was a great tour guide. The BEST part about Nanchang was meeting our little girl. Words cannot express what I was feeling when I met our little one for the first time. It was nothing like I thought it would be. When they put her in my arms it was like we had know each other forever, I was her mom. We spent 6 days/5 nights in Nanchang. The adoption paperwork we had to do was over the second day, then we had to wait for Mei's passport, which took a few days.

We left Nanchang for Guangzhou on 6/5/09. It was a good thing Helen came with us to the airport. Our entire groups' tickets were messed up. It took a lot of smooth talking by Helen and another guide to get us all through security! Tim and I were very nervous as this was Mei's first time on an airplane, but of course our little one did great. When we arrived in GZ our guide Ann was there to met us. Ann was also a wonderful guide and made us feel like VIPS our entire time in GZ. The US consulate is in GZ so every family that adopts from China has to go to GZ. For her US Visa, Mei had to to be examined by a doctor and get her photo taken. After that, we were on our own to sightsee for the next four days. We had a wonderful time in China but it is good to be home and not living out of a hotel room.

I am writing this at 10:00 pm on 6/18 (one week after arriving home). This is the first opportunity I've had to post since coming home. It has taken a week but I think we are all over our jet lag and getting back to our normal routines. Can you believe it, after four years we finally have our little girl home with us!!! We are very happy! :)

Bags packed and ready to go!
First class lounge.
Waking up in Hong Kong. What a view!
Waiting to board the ferry to Shekou.
Talin and Alma
Eating with chopsticks. Believe it or not, we became very good at eating with chopsticks. We did not use a fork the entire time, except at the "Western Style Buffet" at our hotel.
The hotel in Nanchang had a crib set up in all our rooms.
Tim signing the official adoption paperwork. This was a few hours before we met Mei.
Mei's foot print.

Family Day! Mei and Mommy.

Mei and Daddy.



The next day we went to the Civil Affairs Office to make it official. It was very hot! The air condition unit in the corner was the only air moving, all the windows were shut.
Mei with two of her nannies.


After the Civil Affairs office, we had to go to the police station to get Mei's passport photo taken.
Helen trying to get Mei's attention.



This was the view from our hotel room in Nanchang.
Tengwang Pavilion. This Pavilion was only a few blocks from our hotel in Nanchang.
People came up to us all the time. The ladies always grabbed Mei's feet first then looked at her face.







Sleeping babies.
A group of people surrounded one of the families in our group to check out their baby. It was a little scary.




Tim, Mei, Todd and Kylee


The Tyvand's with our guide Helen.
The streets of Nanchang


Waiting to board the plane at the Nanchang Airport. Our flight was an hour late. It was very hot in the airport.
Mohawk Mei
This is the medical clinic in GZ.

Jim, Rose and the girls came to GZ to meet Mei.

Uncle Jim

Mei's first time in the pool. She loved it! Daddy cannot wait to get her into swimming lessons.
This was our travel group.


Our GZ guide, Ann, with Mei.
Gracie. What a cutie!
The streets of GZ.
I am not sure what happened to the cats. Tim told me they were pets, not food.


This was taken in the lobby of our hotel in GZ, The White Swan.


The traditional red couch photo. Mei, Gracie, Shui Lian and Kylee. Mei, Shui Lian and Kylee are all from the same orphanage. Mei is 7 days older then Kylee.


Mei and Mommy on the flight home. Mei slept in the front carrier for most of the flight.