Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Steve, Heather, Ed, Joe, Emily, Hana, Zeke and Samuel!
Today has been a busy day. We started out by taking a taxi to a supermarket. For those who know us, we are not big on shopping, especially if it’s in a super Walmart type place or mall. Well, this place was like a super Walmart and mall all wrapped into one big shopping experience. Yikes!!
We started in the book section of the store. We discovered that Sam’s interest in books and reading is pretty weak. We learned prior to coming that he likes video games and comic books. That’s pretty much covers it now that we’ve met him. If there are not pictures on each page, lots of them or big ones, with very little text, he shakes his hand no, pitches the book down, and moves on. Needless to say, he’s not going to see many comic books in his new home, nor is he going to be allowed to play video games. We went ahead and selected several books in Chinese for him that cover topics that we thought might interest him, but also included pictures. For example, he’ll now have a book with all sorts of information pertaining to vehicles and engines. There’s one on marine creatures, and one on all the body parts and systems. They actually look very interesting, but they are not comic books. We also purchased a Chinese-to-English dictionary, but need to find an English-to-Chinese to help us out.
After the book section, we wandered around a bit trying to locate the shoe department. Once found, we ended our two-day search for new shoes for Sam. Interestingly, none of the places we visited had a device for measuring feet to determine the correct size of shoe. The person in the shoe department wanted simply to compare the soles of his current, really stinky shoes, to new possibilities. After several failed attempts at communicating that the current shoes were way too big, she finally willingly humored us and compared new possibilities to his actual foot. After a short while Sam was fitted with a brand new pair of tennis shoes that are acceptable for now. Once we get home we’ll have his feet measured and buy some shoes for him that are a little better quality-wise. These shoes cost 69 Yuan or about $10.00.
We also ended up with some board game that Sam and Joe played after we got back to the hotel room, but we’re not sure what it is exactly. Joe thinks he won the game, but even that wasn’t a given. It is amazing how little language really matters in the whole scheme of things. They just keep playing and, although there is a little confusion at times, it really doesn’t matter.
After what seemed like forever, going through the grocery section of the store, we finally headed back to the hotel. We had a quick lunch and a little break before we left for the police state to apply for Sam’s Chinese passport. It should be ready for us to pick up on Wednesday.
Not much was going on schedule-wise so Leila asked if we’d like to go to the park. Of course we would. We headed to Friendship Park where there were people all around singing, dancing, playing games and generally having fun. What a great place and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Like every park we’ve been to on our three trips to China, this one also had signs prohibiting walking on the grass.
We walked from the park to an underground shopping area. It was okay, but we much preferred the park, especially to shopping. We did decide to have dinner at McDonald’s and that was kind of fun. Each trip we’ve visited McDonald’s once and it’s fascinating to see the differences between McDonalds in China, or other foreign countries, and those in the United States. The meal was a nice change from what we’d been eating recently and we just had fun.
Overall, it was a long day, but we have completed the next step to bringing Sam home: applying for his passport.
Today we had our first run-in with Sam’s behavior/attitude. He’s doing very well, but we had been told that he does not take correction well and often cries when corrected. Guess what? It’s true. At the police station no less, Sam decided to throw trash on the floor, stick Joe with a toothpick and hit Joe with his yoyo. This all occurred because Joe, for the first time, told him that he wouldn’t give him a piggy back ride.
Well, Heather took his toothpicks (there were several), trash, took the junk he had in his pockets that he was dumping on the floor, and yoyo away. She threw out everything but the yoyo and stuck that in her pocket. She then told him, very clearly, “no.” Remember, we were in the police station.
This correction resulted in some silent tears and a couple of hours of sulking. We don’t think this will be the last time and know that limits must be clearly set now. He’s been fine ever since, but we’re staying on top of him.
Now for additions to our “things to fix” list. First, Sam must learn that there are limits in life. One can’t stick or hit his brother. Second, an 11 year old boy can’t just take off whenever he wants. We think Sam has pretty much been “on his own,” in the sense that he probably went to school and ate meals with his foster family and slept there, but the rest of the time he was “a free spirit.” He hasn’t gone far, but for example, if he has to go to the bathroom when we’re out somewhere, he just takes off. He comes back, but it’s the taking off part we’re concerned about. Leila spoke to him about this and he now has been told the meaning of the word, “stay.” So far it’s working. Third, we are not rich. We believe that Sam has been told that he’s rich now and we’ll buy him everything he wants. Well, we’ve been saying the word “no” a lot today. He wanted video games. “No!” He wanted an MP3 player. “No!” He wanted toys. “No!” And the list goes on. We bought him a pair of shoes and a game for both boys to play, oh, and the dreaded books with pictures, but way too many characters. He’ll soon learn that he’s joined one of those much less-than-rich American families. What a surprise that will be. Even worse, there’s nothing we, including his brothers and sisters, like much better than reading. Fourth, we do not run at high rates of speed down hotel hallways. And fifth, we do not go from the third floor of the hotel, to the first, sitting on the railings and riding all the way down. We have a little work to do starting now.
Even with one little rough spot in the middle of the day, things could not be going better with Sam. He’s really a character, quick to laugh and play, and a little on the wild side. It’s the wild side that will have to be tamed some. Good thing Steve and I are already gray.
Well, that’s pretty much all for now. Take care Ed, Emily, Hana, Zeke, Grandma and Aunt Sue. Two weeks from today and we’ll be home, not that we’re counting down or anything. Tomorrow we go to the zoo. Sam’s never been to a zoo before so it should be fun.
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
