Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Steve, Allison, Sean, Megan, Ryan and Katelyn!
June 29, 2008
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined
to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.
-An Ancient Chinese Belief
Today was an easy day. After breakfast we met our guide to complete U.S. paperwork for the adoption. Katelyn received her Adoption Barbie Doll from the White Swan hotel and Mattel toys...this created the biggest smile we have seen from Katie (I guess Barbie is more international than I thought)...and Allison captured the smile in a photograph!!! Soon afterwards, Katie expressed how perhaps 2 Barbies are better than 1. She proceeded to put a pony tail in Barbies hair to match her own.
All afternoon we played in the room while intense rain storms pasted through the area. Katie has been more interactive, talkative, and giggly...but as soon as the camera or video camera comes out she seems to stop (after about 30 minutes of video we gave up trying to capture it). We are understanding her more and more, and she is understanding us more. She is learning some english, while teaching us some Chinese. She was asking about the pictures in our family photo album, especially the grandparents and dogs.
In the evening we went for a walk around the island. Sean had fun posing with the various human statues, jamming with the band in one. All was fun and relaxing until the 12 pound ferocious dog walked by...sending Katie into a near scream and demanding to be lifted from the stroller into the protective arms of dad (dad did not mind at all, until about 10 minutes later when the 32 pound bundle of love seemed like 100 pounds). The architecture on the island is very classical in style (European as well since much of it was built by the British). Unfortunately much of it has been degraded by tacking neon lighting and signs. The landscaping on the island remains incredible and lush (the recent rains have certainly helped).
Katelyn seems to really come alive after 8:00pm...playing and laughing more than the entire day. She continues to take great pleasure in teasing her big brother Sean, and he has been a great sport in the abuse. She does not like to be bare foot, so her new silk slippers are popular in the hotel room.
Sean Says:
Breakfast this morning was awesome...excellent french toast with syrup (not honey)!!! Whoever decided to make french toast and serve syrup was brilliant. We watched an intense rain storm approaching across the river, then pass by from an outdoor balcony. Later we got caught at a store and had to walk back in a downpour (I didn't mind getting soaked). I really didn't like how dad was negotiating with the store owners...how can they make any money when he demands them reduce the price like that. I was so worried we were going to actually walk out without buying the cool silk shirt I wanted for the Chinese New Year Party (but at the last minute they reduced the price enough to satisfy my dad). Later he told me that was part of the bartering game...we were never going to actually leave without buying what we wanted (hopefully the store owners aren't reading this secret).
A big smile for the Barbie doll gift from the hotel
If it’s not too much trouble, can I have two?
Sean jamming with the band
Dad protecting from a ferocious small dog
Classic architecture with dramatic and tacky lighting
