Guangzhou--A Whole Different Kind of China

After a low key day in Zhengzhou yesterday--which we spent hunting (successfully) for dramamine for our carsick-prone girl and walking around the local park with our friends--we said our goodbyes to our awesome CCAI guides Yisha (who we also had when we adopted Lilly) and Vivien and boarded our flight to Guangzhou.

Our arrival was late and it was hard to keep my eyes open to listen to our guides explain the schedule for the next few days. Ya Ya didn't even try to stay awake and had a nice snooze as our bus made its way through Guangzhou traffic from the airport to the China Hotel.

We arrived so late we took no time whatsoever to familiarize ourselves with the hotel, so this morning when we got to see the loveliness of the hotel where we're staying for the next week, we were struck by the luxuriousness of it all. The breakfast buffet has no trouble whatsoever holding a candle to the buffet at the White Swan--the hotel on Shamian Island where adoptive families traditionally stay in Guangzhou but which is currently under renovation. Every kind of cuisine you can imagine is available, all freshly prepared before your eyes. And cappuccino. Mmmmm. OK, enough about the food. We are so roughing it.

This morning we headed on the bus to the medical exam--a very cursory exam for all adoptees. Ya Ya did great--not showing any signs of fear even when faced with a TB test prick. The doctor who examined her, when looking over her paperwork and seeing her identified special need as "low intelligence/delayed development" asked us if we felt like she was delayed at all. We told him from our observationns she really appears pretty normal; he seemed to agree though he didn't really use words to express it. He genuinely seemed to wish us the best, however, as he finished up her file and sent us on our way.

We got to spend about an hour on the island visiting the shops and buying some items--and some of the shopkeepers remembered us from 2009. We headed back to the hotel for some noodles for lunch and some down time.

The three of us then walked around the area around the hotel, found a place to drop off the disposable cameras I had sent to have the photos developed, and just took in the Guangzhou scenery. Ya Ya seems content to just hold our hands and walk with us; she also enjoys our hallway or play room playdates with other families, so she and I went to the playroom while Baba hit the treadmill this afternnoon. This place is filled with adoptive families from all over the world--even some Mennonite families are here adopting.

Ya Ya (she is still learning to say Bella) is truly coming alive before our eyes, showing more personality each day. When we are driving on the bus, it is fun to watch her face as she gazes out the window at passing scenery. She is most quiet on the bus, making me wonder what might be going through her mind as the sights whiz by her eyes. Maybe she is just mesmerized; maybe she is remembering where she came from and wondering about her life ahead. Only God knows. But I am pondering up all of these moments in my heart for now. I look forward to someday hearing what she remembers from her past life.

In this hotel, I feel more disconnected form the other families in our travel group because we are scattered throughout the hotel, but we have many fun group activities planned so we can still be connected.

I know all of us are VERY readyy to be home and reunited with our families at home. I simply cannot wait to see Bella with Jared, Anna, and Lilly and let them meet their sister. I am praying for a harmonious integration for Bella into the family and family rhythms; and for open hearts from her siblings as she begins to be grafted in.

OK, enough words for now, off to dinner with the group for us.