Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Steve, Heather, Ed, Joe, Emily, Hana, Zeke and Samuel!
November 27, 2007 Day 2 with Sam
This morning was a little more rushed than the previous mornings since we had to be back at the Civil Affairs building at 9:00am. We got up to take showers, get dressed, and generally prepare for the day, while Joe and Sam slept. We were very quiet so we wouldn’t wake the boys. Needless to say, we learned that a bomb could go off in the room and not wake Sam. Joe got up about an hour after we did and then it was time to wake Sam. What an experience.
We thought Joe was the hardest one to wake up in the family, but he’s now taken second place a long way behind Sam. That boy is one sound sleeper. Heather rubbed his back, his arms, moved his arms and hands, rubbed his head, and about 15 minutes after beginning, Sam finally opened his eyes, grinned his great grin, and said, “Good morning mom! Good morning dad!” With that the day began. What a great guy.
We zipped down to breakfast since we were following Mr. Energy himself who we have now nicknamed “The Bullet.” Sam ate with gusto (meaning that he can shovel food with amazing speed into his mouth with his chopsticks, slurping and making other interesting noises along the way.) After we were finished, we headed back to our room to prepare for our meeting.
The meeting at 9:00 am at the Civil Affairs building was the meeting to finalize Sam’s adoption. We completed all paperwork, assured the officials that we would not abuse or abandon Sam, and gave our gifts. Our final step in this process was to give our orphanage donation, and gifts, to the orphanage personnel. Well, needless to say, after everyone else was long gone, our people managed to saunter on in at 11:00 am, or two hours late. We gave them our gifts and donation, were able to ask some questions, and headed on our way.
As an aside, but a very important one, we have to tell you that some incredible women from a church in Albuquerque offered to make us blankets to take to the orphanage. What an incredible thing for them to do for us, and more importantly, for the children in Sam’s orphanage. We managed to pack, and bring to China, 82 blankets to give to the orphanage personnel. What a great gift these women provided and allowed us to take to China for them. We have to admit though that we’re glad to have delivered them because that was quite a load to bring half way around the world. Thank you so much for the blankets and they have been delivered.
All that said, the culmination of today’s meeting is that Samuel Zichang Allen is now officially our son as far as China is concerned. Tomorrow we go to the police station to apply for his passport.
After leaving the Civil Affairs building and returning to the hotel, we had lunch and then spent much of the day in search of tennis shoes for Sam. We failed, but are heading to a department store tomorrow at 10:00 am. We’re praying for shoes because his, to put it bluntly, stink. In fact, our whole room stinks now that he’s taken them off. They are several sizes too big, obviously hand-me-downs, and he has to tie the laces around his ankles to keep them on. In the past, we’ve kept everything for Hana and Zeke that they were wearing, or had with them, when they joined our family. This particular pair of tennis shoes, though, will be pitched and we will not be overly sad, nor concerned that we’ve discarded a part of Sam’s past. These shoes are clearly not returning to our room once we manage to find replacements.
We enjoyed a great dinner at a Thai restaurant, a short walk from our hotel, with the Patzer family who are here with us. And then we stopped to pick up a yo-yo that our newest son had ordered earlier in the day. There’s a long story behind the yo-yo order, but suffice it to say that we had nothing to do with it, didn’t exactly know that he had ordered it, but knew that having a yo-yo was something he’d talked about since yesterday.
When we went into the shop and they gave (sold us) Sam the yo-yo, we were shocked. Mr. Yo-yo man had the whole store watching, showed them how to string it and use it and he was teaching yo-yo skills. Earlier we’d learned that he knew how to play chess, pool, table tennis, mah-jong, etc. We’d also learned that he’s no better than we are kicking that feather-hacky-sack-like thing around. We had great fun in the park attempting to keep that thing in the air with our feet. We were the pits and sure that people were watching and chuckling at us. We now own two of those things so hopefully in time we’ll improve. Oh, as for the yo-yo, we bought two of them for 20 yuan which less than $3.00. The last thing we learned about our newest son is that he seems to be a math whiz. Steve was giving him numbers to add or multiply and he can give the answers without hesitation. So much to learn, but we’re ready.
Now, since we mentioned things we need to “fix” yesterday, we thought today required some additions to our list. First, and most importantly, when drinking tea in a restaurant and finding that you don’t like it, you don’t spit it on the floor behind your chair or your brother’s chair. This particular enduring trait might have already been “fixed,” but time will tell, when Heather clued in on what he was doing, told him “no,” and handed him his napkin to wipe up the floor. Second, when eating, with chopsticks or silverware, one does put their chin on the table, put their lips on the plate, and start shoveling and slurping/sucking in the food at a fast rate of speed. Third, when one decides that Sprite would be better than tea, and has finished the can, one does not raise his fist to smash the can on the table (in the same restaurant no less.) Fourth, parents are in charge and kids aren’t. With that in mind, kids don’t order things like yo-yos or cans of Sprite without first consulting with said parents. What an interesting challenge this will be, and definitely memories that will always make us smile for years to come.
Sam is an incredible boy and great fun. All has been going well and there have really been no problems. He was very quiet after leaving the Civil Affairs building and we think it hit him that he’s really leaving China and that the adoption is final. We hugged and told him we loved him and he’s doing well, but we expect to see these types of reactions along the way. Gosh, what a scary and uncertain time this must be for Sam, and at the same time exciting. We can’t imagine being 11 years old and facing what he’s facing.
Well, that’s pretty much all for now. Take care Ed, Emily, Hana, Zeke, Grandma and Aunt Sue. It’s great speaking to you daily and even better being able to see your faces via the webcams. Another two weeks and we’ll be home.
Blessings to all our friends and family,
Steve, Heather, Joe and Sam in China
Ed, Emily, Hana and Zeke at home, along with Grandma and Aunt Sue
