Hi there, C here...
Our workaround seems to be working fine.
I am posting via AOL e-mail. I send the email to a special Blogger address and it posts automatically.
I cannot see my previous posts easily, so my apologies if I double-dip (especially given the missed post).
It left me a little mixed up since I lost so much.
Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up with this post...
If it's Tuesday, it must be Guangzhou and the White Swan...
Our flight down to GZ wasn't so bad.
It was a difficult leaving Shenyang, and especially the most excellent Miss Veronica.
It was a little misty for all of us, especially knowing that Dylan would be leaving his province for the first time.
Who knows if and when he might ever return? Hopefully, like Kyle, if their interest is strong, we'll try our best to accommodate their wishes.
MV hung around the other side of the Security Checkpoint until we were safely near our gate.
She made sure to maintain line-of-sight with Dylan as long as she could.
We hope she's made it safely home and we want to let her know how much she meant to us on this leg of our journey.
We were also leaving the only other person we knew who could speak to Dylan for us in Chinese.
Not to worry, Life is all about new challenges.
If we weren't up for it we would not have come...
After a fairly significant swerve about 1/2 way through the takeoff roll, we were airborne.
In the excitement, I quickly checked my phrase book for some of the comments I heard in the cabin.
I thought that I may have heard the Chinese phrase for "goat on the runway - I can't be certain though...
Regardless...the flight was fairly uneventful (unless you are Lisa).
While waiting in line for the restroom, the Flight Attendants decided that it would be a good time to bring out the drink cart.
As they pushed up the aisle, they got to Lisa who mentioned politely that there were 4 more people behind her and perhaps they might wait for a moment or two? Clearly they had a schedule to keep - they pretty much plowed through the restroom line and basically barked something in Chinese at Lisa and shoved her into a row of seats right into a none-too-happy fellow traveler.
Luckily no fisticuffs ensued (I think the man had a hold of Lisa's hand so she wouldn't take a swing) - RUDE much?
Dylan had a little rougher time than we had hoped - he was restless for most of the flight but finally passed out from frustration with about 1 hour remaining. He is not as good a traveler as young Kyle. Kyle was really unusually calm during his flight from his province to GZ. (However, it was a shorter trip. He played with a half-full water bottle as I recall. It's funny the details that you do recall about a trip that happened over two years ago.)
As we descended from our cruising altitude on final approach, the Flight Attendants led a 10 minute in-seat exercise routine.
If this was a US flight NO ONE would participate and many would ridicule.
One our flight, Lisa and I were the only ones NOT participating!! (Actually just Lisa, because I joined in during the elbow stretches...)
When we got to GZ, Miss Judy was waiting eagerly at the Arrival Hall and escorted us to our van.
It was hot, but luckily it was humid too! We all broke sweats as soon as we left the Air Cond. of baggage claim.
Miss Judy (MJ) is very nice and told us all about our upcoming itinerary for the week on the way to the hotel.
She also gave us a rundown of many of the changes on the island (Shaiman) since we last visited.
After check in we took a walk around the Island to reacquaint ourselves. It is quite small and we do remember vividly many of the shops and the park. GZ has been rainy (as MJ explained due to the remnants of a Monsoon that was just about cleared out...) and we've seen rain every day to some degree.
There is a noticeable difference in the families that we've seen around the hotel and the Island.
There are many more older parents and families than we experienced with Kyle's trip.
In addition, there appear to be many more special needs children (us included).
On Kyle's trip, the rule was two young parents with a healthy baby girl (9-15 months).
On this trip this is the exception. It is really heartwarming and moving to see some of the families that we have seen.
- A late middle-aged father apparently traveling along with a year-old little girl.
- Many mixed families with bio. children AND previously adopted Chinese children
- A large family of SIX (three older bio. children PLUS a little adopted girl) enjoying every minute
- Many other families with parents older than Lisa and me with easily identifiable special needs
We can only imagine the love and compassion that these families share by accepting these children into their lives.
It's a humbling thing to see...
The island brings back a flood of memories for us, as well.
Walking with Kyle two-and-a-half years ago in a borrowed stroller down the main road, picking up large leaves from the hundred-year-old trees for him to carry and play with. One of my favorite photos of him is with one of these leaves.
Conversations with other first-time families can be recalled almost verbatim at the exact spots where they happened.
There is now a Starbucks here as well (what took so long!).
We miss the "old" coffee shop - they had free Internet and free use of in-house computers!
That shop is now a restaurant - we spent many hours there last time.
On the upside, there is a newer Italian Restaurant - La Dolce Vita, where we've eaten twice already!
(I think we're headed back there as well tonight.) The pizza is excellent, and the other meals are good too.
It's a safe choice in a sometimes uncertain environment.
We've also made the obligatory trip to Lucy's - same as it ever was!
Our room is smaller than we remember, but they have small kid-sized beds this time since the boys are older.
(No cribs necessary.) These beds are a good fit for the fellas and they nap and sleep comfortably.
Sometimes, if they're restless, we'll let them fall asleep in the big beds with Mom & Dad and move them into their own beds once asleep. They are both very good, sound sleepers. We are lucky and thankful for that.
I do need to run along but there is still much more I have not gotten to...
- The GZ Zoo
- The Pool and Kyle "Phelps"
- D-mans "extensive" medical exam...
- Dylan's clothing details...
- Play-Doh Pizza
- more GZ stories...
Oh yes, I almost forgot -
When I picked up the laundry the other day - it seemed like the whites were brighter and the colors bolder than we expected.
I asked them how they did it, and the young woman replied: "Ancient Chinese Secret"!
Ba-dum-Bum.
Thanks for following.
See you soon...
C
Our workaround seems to be working fine.
I am posting via AOL e-mail. I send the email to a special Blogger address and it posts automatically.
I cannot see my previous posts easily, so my apologies if I double-dip (especially given the missed post).
It left me a little mixed up since I lost so much.
Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up with this post...
If it's Tuesday, it must be Guangzhou and the White Swan...
Our flight down to GZ wasn't so bad.
It was a difficult leaving Shenyang, and especially the most excellent Miss Veronica.
It was a little misty for all of us, especially knowing that Dylan would be leaving his province for the first time.
Who knows if and when he might ever return? Hopefully, like Kyle, if their interest is strong, we'll try our best to accommodate their wishes.
MV hung around the other side of the Security Checkpoint until we were safely near our gate.
She made sure to maintain line-of-sight with Dylan as long as she could.
We hope she's made it safely home and we want to let her know how much she meant to us on this leg of our journey.
We were also leaving the only other person we knew who could speak to Dylan for us in Chinese.
Not to worry, Life is all about new challenges.
If we weren't up for it we would not have come...
After a fairly significant swerve about 1/2 way through the takeoff roll, we were airborne.
In the excitement, I quickly checked my phrase book for some of the comments I heard in the cabin.
I thought that I may have heard the Chinese phrase for "goat on the runway - I can't be certain though...
Regardless...the flight was fairly uneventful (unless you are Lisa).
While waiting in line for the restroom, the Flight Attendants decided that it would be a good time to bring out the drink cart.
As they pushed up the aisle, they got to Lisa who mentioned politely that there were 4 more people behind her and perhaps they might wait for a moment or two? Clearly they had a schedule to keep - they pretty much plowed through the restroom line and basically barked something in Chinese at Lisa and shoved her into a row of seats right into a none-too-happy fellow traveler.
Luckily no fisticuffs ensued (I think the man had a hold of Lisa's hand so she wouldn't take a swing) - RUDE much?
Dylan had a little rougher time than we had hoped - he was restless for most of the flight but finally passed out from frustration with about 1 hour remaining. He is not as good a traveler as young Kyle. Kyle was really unusually calm during his flight from his province to GZ. (However, it was a shorter trip. He played with a half-full water bottle as I recall. It's funny the details that you do recall about a trip that happened over two years ago.)
As we descended from our cruising altitude on final approach, the Flight Attendants led a 10 minute in-seat exercise routine.
If this was a US flight NO ONE would participate and many would ridicule.
One our flight, Lisa and I were the only ones NOT participating!! (Actually just Lisa, because I joined in during the elbow stretches...)
When we got to GZ, Miss Judy was waiting eagerly at the Arrival Hall and escorted us to our van.
It was hot, but luckily it was humid too! We all broke sweats as soon as we left the Air Cond. of baggage claim.
Miss Judy (MJ) is very nice and told us all about our upcoming itinerary for the week on the way to the hotel.
She also gave us a rundown of many of the changes on the island (Shaiman) since we last visited.
After check in we took a walk around the Island to reacquaint ourselves. It is quite small and we do remember vividly many of the shops and the park. GZ has been rainy (as MJ explained due to the remnants of a Monsoon that was just about cleared out...) and we've seen rain every day to some degree.
There is a noticeable difference in the families that we've seen around the hotel and the Island.
There are many more older parents and families than we experienced with Kyle's trip.
In addition, there appear to be many more special needs children (us included).
On Kyle's trip, the rule was two young parents with a healthy baby girl (9-15 months).
On this trip this is the exception. It is really heartwarming and moving to see some of the families that we have seen.
- A late middle-aged father apparently traveling along with a year-old little girl.
- Many mixed families with bio. children AND previously adopted Chinese children
- A large family of SIX (three older bio. children PLUS a little adopted girl) enjoying every minute
- Many other families with parents older than Lisa and me with easily identifiable special needs
We can only imagine the love and compassion that these families share by accepting these children into their lives.
It's a humbling thing to see...
The island brings back a flood of memories for us, as well.
Walking with Kyle two-and-a-half years ago in a borrowed stroller down the main road, picking up large leaves from the hundred-year-old trees for him to carry and play with. One of my favorite photos of him is with one of these leaves.
Conversations with other first-time families can be recalled almost verbatim at the exact spots where they happened.
There is now a Starbucks here as well (what took so long!).
We miss the "old" coffee shop - they had free Internet and free use of in-house computers!
That shop is now a restaurant - we spent many hours there last time.
On the upside, there is a newer Italian Restaurant - La Dolce Vita, where we've eaten twice already!
(I think we're headed back there as well tonight.) The pizza is excellent, and the other meals are good too.
It's a safe choice in a sometimes uncertain environment.
We've also made the obligatory trip to Lucy's - same as it ever was!
Our room is smaller than we remember, but they have small kid-sized beds this time since the boys are older.
(No cribs necessary.) These beds are a good fit for the fellas and they nap and sleep comfortably.
Sometimes, if they're restless, we'll let them fall asleep in the big beds with Mom & Dad and move them into their own beds once asleep. They are both very good, sound sleepers. We are lucky and thankful for that.
I do need to run along but there is still much more I have not gotten to...
- The GZ Zoo
- The Pool and Kyle "Phelps"
- D-mans "extensive" medical exam...
- Dylan's clothing details...
- Play-Doh Pizza
- more GZ stories...
Oh yes, I almost forgot -
When I picked up the laundry the other day - it seemed like the whites were brighter and the colors bolder than we expected.
I asked them how they did it, and the young woman replied: "Ancient Chinese Secret"!
Ba-dum-Bum.
Thanks for following.
See you soon...
C
![Dylan's referral picture](http://<a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://ladf.lilypie.com/h1VQm4.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie" /></a>)
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