Yorkee arranged for a somewhat American breakfast. We had fried eggs and pancakes- butter and banana, closely resembling square crepes. Kimmie munched on the vegetable dumplings and sweet potatoes- we skipped the chicken feet today.
Off to the train and yes we go soft sleepers. So comfortable and relaxing. The train compartments has 2 sets of sleeper that are more like bunk beds, with an small isle dividing them. The Banks family shared one, M & M shared the bottom bunks in the next compartment. Ali was lite up. As I was sleeping, the Aunts inquired more about Ali’s feelings and her visit to her orphanage. They asked her if she thought she was going to be left there. She responded emphatically no. More questions lead to her changing the subject but they did discuss what her life would be like if she lived in China. M & M said that her birth mother must have really loved her to leave her in such a public area and take the risk of being jailed for 3 years. Ali agreed. Ali thought she would be very happy, as that would be the life she would know. Yorkee told us that children go to school from 7am-11am, travel home from 11-12 where their parents meet them at home ( leaving their jobs) to give them lunch and have a rest, returning to school from 2pm-5pm. Ali looked at her watch during her conversation with M & M and said she would be on her way home to have lunch if she lived in China, and really liked this schedule. She thought she would like Chinese food and I added that she would probably enjoy seafood which she dislikes. She kept M & M entertained the entire 5 ½ train ride full of energy, laughter, and picture taking. A huge change in her disposition.
The Maoming diet continued with cookies, crackers and I continued to enjoy the Leiche.
The train ride went very fast this time. Before we knew it, we arrived back to Guangzhou, where Anna met us outside the station. Our luggage was gathered and we went to the White Swan Hotel, a five star hotel. Beautiful and well maintained. Jim and I stayed here with Kimmie when we got her. There we lots of families with their newly adopted Chinese girls. We had conversations with several families hearing about their adoption stories. It took us back. I most enjoyed the faces and reactions of Kimmie and Ali, as they got joy looking at the children, and seeing the faces of families so happy to receive their new daughters. The waiting period now is 3 years. Most of the families we spoke with waited at least that long.
We had a great dinner- Cantonese style, was very delicious. Anna gave us Chinese table etiquette, as we have a meal in a few days in the home of a Chinese family and don’t want to have manners that might be offensive.
The hotel has a beautiful swimming pool, a feature I wouldn’t have even thought about using 12 years ago when Kimmie was a baby. All the girls decided to take an evening swim. As we started to leave, we saw Jim in the hallway and he asked that I come toward him as he had a surprise. As I turned the corner, there stood Michael ( our guide when we got Kimmie and have kept in touch with these 12 years- he was with us when we went to Beijing 3 years ago and has been a guest in our home in Austin). I screamed and started to cry as I wasn’t sure if Michael was going to be able to meet us, so this was quite the surprise. As it turned out, he planned his business (he is in charge of adoptions for an agency in China) around our stay in Guangzhou. He took us to do some power shopping… got some great deals ( Eric and Trey – you will be happy). We shopped until 10pm, literally shopping until we dropped.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment