Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Steve, Allison, Sean, Megan and Ryan!
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 a day of relaxing and playing without any scheduled activities. After breakfast we walked a few blocks to see the storefront shops, each one being only about ten feet by twenty feet in size. Ryan was much more interactive then he was yesterday when we left the room. He now gets his shoes when we are getting ready to leave (and ours if we ask him), and jumps into the stroller and secures himself in (quite a difference from his first screaming reaction to the stroller). We didn't see much of interest to buy, but Allison did see a little boy open the flap in his split-pants and pee into a garbage can inside the grocery store lobby (no under-pants helped in the efficiency of this). We couldn't resist buying more goodies from the bakery.
We ordered lunch from room service (Ryan tried to place the call) and played in the room for a while. Ryan asked Megan to color with him (actually scribble on paper), and played with Allison more as well. We heard more squeals and giggles today then yesterday, and also saw the two-year old toddler in him (mischievous and testing the boundaries).
In the late afternoon we walked along the street with cart vendors...it was extremely crowded with vendors carts, shoppers, and cars forcing their way through the crowd (its hard to tell who has the right-of-way in this Country...we just stayed out of the way!). We even gained the courage to cross the street (there are very few traffic lights). We survived! We bought Ryan and Megan helium balloons. It may have been Ryan's first based upon the way he reacted and played with it (Megan was a bit more restrained in her joy). Ryan reached out to touch every car he could as we walked..perhaps a future car designer?
The evening brought more playing and we watched a video Sean made saying "hello" to Ryan. All the giggling and squealing brought the little guy to near exhaustion, and he cuddled with dad after a successful sponge bath (we found out most kids are sponged bathed once a week...whether they need it or not). Tomorrow we visit a huge public park, and we should have the photographs developed from the disposable camera we sent the foster family!
The Farrellys.
Cuddle time with dad
Watching video now of sean
Ryan ordering room service
Ryan putting on sox
I can eat anywhere
Al, Meg and Ryan at Red Hill Park
Sunday, September 3 --
Today we took a short drive to visit Red Hill Park and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum. The park is a hilly, substantially landscaped park on top of a rock formation (said to be a dragon that froze in place after coming from Heavens Lake) that is at the highest ground in the area. The panoramic views of the city are stunning, as well as the rides, games, and flowers within the park. Many locals come here in the morning to exercise and get away from the noisy, smoggy city.
The museum has exhibits of the 46 local ethnic groups and their heritage (housing, clothing, architecture, and lifestyle). Megan really loves seeing all of the beautiful dresses (and the preserved mummies...and daddies). Ryan enjoyed the stroller ride as well as all the attention. Steve and Allison enjoyed the gift shop that included hand made silk rugs (yes we bargained well and bought a small rug with three panda bears...one bear for each of our kids). The amount of history and numerous cultures is amazing.
We also developed the photographs taken by Ryans foster mother on the disposable camera we sent a few months ago. It was really cool to see him over the last few months with his foster family and playmates at the orphanage during visits.
The rest of the day was relaxing and playing in the hotel....more giggles
and squeals! Ryan loves to imitate what he sees us doing, and is a very quick learner. He has a lot of patience, and is determined to do things the way we do...such as putting on sox and shoes, folding a blanket, pushing the stroller, cuddle & feed his panda bear, comb Megans hair, etc.
The Farrellys.
Monday, September 4 --
We have been having internet problems for the last 24 hours (slow and disconnects often), so hopefully this email gets through. We have been receiving emails, but we have also heard about problems emailing through the link on the website...so if we haven't replied to your email, we most likely have not seen it.
Today was a show-off day for Ryan. He now understands that he is the star of the trip, and is performing accordingly. He absolutely loves animals. He feeds his stuffed bear and monkey, sung a lullaby to his bear as he cradled it in is arms, and squeals when he sees animals on TV or on the street while walking around (he tried to feed a puppy). After Allison and Megan had a "girls" afternoon doing their hair and nails, Ryan figured out that when he has a face full of watermelon juice, he can terrorize Megan and chase her into a corner! It’s been amazing watching how carefully he observes us doing things, then he patiently tries to do the same (and often succeeds).
The hotel staff know us well now (gee, we are the only Americans..especially with a Chinese toddler), so they all have been very nice and seem to all know our room number when we call for room service! The feeling of being watched and talked about when in public is really starting to get to all three of us. A man in a suit on the elevator reached over and caressed Megans face and hair! We love it when women try to get Ryan to come into their arms, and he turns away and comes to us...that'll show them!
We bought four pair of shoes and socks for the local orphanage charity to give to the kids, as well as donated extra toddler items we brought but don't need. We also watched an elementary school on the rooftop playground in military type formation (without movement for quite awhile) being "inspected" by the staff...Megan said "no way" would she want to do this at school! Its odd how much the Chinese admire Americans..in the advertisements billboards, clothing, music video (yes there is a Chinese Music Video Channel), etc.
We've gotten better at bartering on the wholesale market (when they see Americans they see $$$), but we lost Ryans tiny stuffed monkey late today...maybe we will see it for sale tomorrow!
