Is it really food? That’s what some of my children were wondering when we ate at our first Chinese restaurant in China. Having eaten Chinese food in America many times, they were unprepared for how different food would be in China. Hot and sour soup and sweet and sour chicken didn’t seem to exist. Instead, the menu had fried kidneys, sautéed eels and baby quail with the head still intact. At many restaurants you can even choose your own snake and have it killed at your table and be offered the blood to drink. Depending on how adventurous your children’s taste buds are, this might be either a positive or negative experience. Jeff and I ordered garlic pork at one restaurant thinking it... more

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I don't know that I have seen before the color truly drain from someone's face from top to bottom as his did. He dropped his head and when he looked up his eyes were red and welling with tears. His voice was very emotional as he said, "Well, actually, that day my mother died."

I think I felt small enough to crawl under the door as he shared his apologies for what happened that day and said in his halting English, "Actually I did come, but I was late. I know it is not excuse because it is my job and I must be there."

"You mean there is no one whom your... more

I am so glad to be back on Shamian Island where the weather is almost balmy and we are surrounded by many other adoptive families. We were starting to tire of Wuhan and the cold weather, so it is nice to have a break before we head off to Beijing which will be even colder than Wuhan.

Caleb admitted that he was afraid of flying and worried that the plane would fall out of the sky, but our guide in Wuhan assured him that he would be safe. His eyes grew large as we accelerated on the runway... more

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Both days of formal touring with a guide, lunch was included in our tour and they took us to fancy restaurants that were a bit too fancy for the young ones. Caleb is starting to test limits and see how obnoxious he can be and decided to put his chopsticks in his glass, bang them on his gold plated plate, etc. We told him no, but he would grin and finally a restaurant manager came over and chewed him... more

Continued from our-second-day-in-wuhan-part-3

We leave Wuhan this afternoon after finalizing our adoption this morning. We got Caleb's passport, his adoption certificate, birth certificate and abandonment certificate at two different offices and it only took about an hour total. When we were here 6 years ago for Ben's adoption we had to listen to a speech about Chinese/US relations that seemed to go on for quite awhile, but since we are the only family here this time, we grabbed the paperwork and were done. Yea!

We are more than ready to go as this city is cold, grey and filled with exhaust... more

Continued from Our second day in Wuhan part 2

After Pizza Hut which was a nice break from the Chinese food that Alyssa won't eat, we headed out for some shopping. I had hoped to hit some market type streets where we could bargain for good prices, but instead our guide took us to shops that were no different than what I could find in America. We went in a Jeans West store and bought some scarves and hats and gloves so at least we will be warmer now and won't freeze to death next week when we visit the Great Wall. What we bought is good quality, but I had hoped for cheaper prices.

After some... more

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After the paperwork, we gave the orphanage directors our gifts of blankets and knitted caps, and at least these two sweet women didn't tell us to send money instead like Benjamin's orphanage director did. They were very appreciative of what we gave them and gave us ideas for future gifts from families who have adopted from Yichang. When we left, they told us that Caleb had been a very popular and much loved child by others in the orphanage and we can see why, because he is quite the clown when he wants to be. He will have to be reigned in a little tighter because he thinks... more

Yesterday Jeff, Caleb, and I went back to the Civil Affairs office to finish the adoption registration. The first day, we filled out paperwork for the registration, and signed papers that gave us temporary guardianship for 24 hours. Then yesterday, they asked us if after 24 hours, we felt that Caleb was the same child who was promised us in our referral papers. I had to stifle a grin because Taylor had told me the day before to tease them and say we had decided we didn't want to keep him. I told Taylor that maybe we would get away with a joke like that in America, but no way was I going to say something like that to a Chinese government official. So, instead of teasing, we told them that he... more

After a mostly sleepless night, I was up by 6:00 a.m. and headed for the shower. We thankfully had noodles that the kids could eat in the room for breakfast since the buffet in our hotel left a lot to be desired. The butterflies in my stomach took away my desire for food and I couldn’t help but think that this was similar to the active stages of labor where if I had been actually giving birth, the nurses wouldn’t want me eating anyway.

As we arrived with our guides at the Civil Affairs office in Wuhan and climbed the stairs to the next floor, Taylor—our assigned videographer for the adoption-- asked if he should have the camera on and ready. I told him he probably wouldn't need... more

continued from Arrival In Wuhan part 1

Unlike the Victory Hotel in Guangzhou which had beds with luxuriously thick pads on them, we were reintroduced to a standard Chinese bed... let’s just say that I think the floor might be softer. The smell of cigarettes continues to be overpowering even in the room, so tomorrow we will make arrangements to transfer to a different hotel. The White Rose, a 4 star hotel which is just across the city plaza, has beautiful... more