We are extremely glad to be moving on to our next to the last leg of this journey. Today we traveled from Jiangxi (Samantha’s province) to Guangzhou (location of U.S. embassy). We took a half hour bus ride to the Jiangxi airport, then flew 90 minutes to Guangzhou. It was our first test on traveling with Samantha. You all will be surprised to know that she did wonderful.
Today she woke up with only a 101 degree temperature. That we felt was the first bit of good news we have had this trip. We were able to keep it under control with the Tylenol. She was much more pleasant and tolerated a lot more also. Her appetite is also getting better. She took a whole four ounces of formula this morning and ate a lot of real people food for breakfast. She was also able to nap this afternoon too. Over the past five days, eating and napping were something that eluded her. We are hoping that things will only get better from here.
Dur, our facilitator, was able to get us through lines at the airport and customs faster than any of the other groups. We feel that he must have something to do with the government in some way. We are kept in line and run with military precision. It was nice not to have to stand in line as long as some of the groups were.
When we arrived at the Victory hotel in Guangzhou, we were pleasantly surprised to see how much cleaner and less smelly our rooms were. Although I must admit, they are half the size, and the beds ARE SOFTER. I think I cried for a half hour after discovering that.
I can only hope I can sleep tonight, four days without sleep was really starting to wear on me. Don, for some reason was able to find a comfortable position, and sleep for the good part of the night, which I have been quite thankful for because he has been the rock that I have depended on. But yes, I have been quite jealous of his ability to sleep. Oh yea, they also have a water purifier in the room, which makes things a little easier too.
Tomorrow, the group is supposed to tour another temple in Guangzhou. I hope that Sam is feeling better so that we can go. I think it would nice just to get out for a while. We really haven’t gotten out of our room since she arrived, except for the hospital and a trip to the park. Oh, I forgot to mention, we had our first real meal tonight after we got here. Below is a picture of that meal. It made Don tear up.
Talk to you all soon
Karen, Don an Samantha
last picture of us in Jiangxi
passing over the Yangtze River
The sandwich that made Don cry.
Samantha slurping noodles, no she's not Italian.
May 20 --
After the first real food and four hours of sleep I have gotten since I have arrived in China, I think I feeling like one of the living again. The breakfasts here are very good. They have a buffet also, which Samantha and her dad just love. Those two sure get their money’s worth. We have also found out that Sam is not a morning person. Neither am I, so our house should be a real treat each a.m. It takes her a good hour just to open her eyes all the way and another hour to realize where she is at.
The pollution here is worse than Jiangxi. My sinuses have gone crazy, and don’t even remember having sinuses. My ears and throat feel raw. At least our medicine box will be lighter for the trip home.
Our group went on another outing in the afternoon. We saw another religious shrine. It was very big and crowded. This one was a working temple, so we got to see real Buddhist monks. We also went shopping in downtown Guangzhou. We were taken to a baby shop, not for the guys, a jade store and a book store. There were some in our group that bought so much stuff that others had to help them carry it. Then there were others, like us, who just bought a few things. I am sure that I will never see anything like that again in my life. There were thousands of tiny hole in the wall stores, selling everything from chicken feet to chairs and clothes. These stores went on as far as the eyes could see and you have to barter here. I am not good at that. I would rather walk away and Don would rather pay the entire amount. We will either get a whole bunch of stuff at way over the price that we should have paid or we will get nothing.
Samantha appears to be eating better but she still gorges herself until her belly is tight. She is good with baby food until we have something and then she wants whatever we have. She has eaten chicken and beef pieces and she only has two partially grown in teeth. She loves toast and banana bread. My mother should love this, since that and zucchini bread are her specialties.
Tomorrow we go for Samantha’s adoption physical. That should be interesting.
