Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Steve, Heather, Ed, Joe, Emily, Hana, Zeke and Samuel!
December 6, 2007 Thursday at the Xiangjiang Safari Park
Today we spent a few hours at the Xiangjiang Safari Park. The park is about a 40 minute drive from Guangzhou and we really had fun. We rode a little tram kind of thing that took us through the wildlife area, and then, following that ride, walked for a couple of hours through the park. It was a great place and it was really nice being outside. Also, the animals at the park were great, especially the pandas. This was the first time that we’ve been to a zoo, or something like this in China, that had pandas and they were actually awake and active. What a treat.
We can happily report that Sam killed no animals, rodents or otherwise, on this outing so that was a great improvement over our trip to the Guangzhou Zoo. We did have a problem, though, last night, and another problem after the park trip with Sam, but between our friend Cynthia at home, and Leila here, we think we have continued to make forward progress.
When adopting an older child internationally, there are competing difficulties it seems. There are cultural differences that are real and not to be minimized in terms of how they impact the interactions between people. There are differences in life expectations between an older child who has had little formal “training,” for lack of a better word, as to what’s expected when living in a family and having parents for the first time, let alone following basic rules. We’re working through these things, with Cynthia and Leila serving as mediators, with Sam. We are trying to be patient and caring and loving, while being firm in our expectations. We are making progress, with some bumps along the way, but it is progress. It’ll be better when we’re on our own turf at home, with our own language and cultural norms.
Now on to some trivial, but we think interesting, things that have happened while staying at the Victory Hotel in Guangzhou. We stayed the last two times at the White Swan, but this time decided to try the Victory. It’s actually a very nice hotel, the beds are more comfortable than the White Swan, and the rooms are bigger and less expensive, but it’s a 4 star hotel while the White Swan is a 5 star. We’ve always wondered what the differences might be between a 4-star and 5-star hotel. Thus far, we’ve found 3 differences.
First, there is no heat in the Victory Hotel. Our room is freezing and we had a space heater sent up since hypothermia was setting in. We keep our air conditioning off at all times, however, when housekeeping cleans, they turn it on and turn it way down. Thus, when we get to the room our first task is to turn off the air, turn on the heater (heat is not an option on the thermostat), and open the curtains. Unless we’re in bed we usually are wearing our jackets. Walking down the hall is a new experiment in cryogenics. Second, on one occasion so far, the hot water that has come out of the shower was brown. We’re not talking light brown, but dark brown. Needless to say, for one day we opted not to shower until we were sure the water was running clear again. We’re weird like that. We like clear water. And then third, and this occurred last night, we were treated to a little fish swimming in the toilet. Granted, it was a cute little thing, and we regret not getting a photo of it to share, but it was a little unnerving. Joe’s been wondering why his hair feels so soft here. We’re starting to think that between the brown water in the shower, and the fish in the toilet, maybe there’s fish oil in the water. Seriously though, we’re wondering if the water is actually coming from the canal just outside of the hotel and whatever system the hotel uses to filter it must have experienced a temporary failure.
Now we don’t know for sure if these little memories from the Victory reflect the differences between a 4 and 5 star hotel, but we never were treated to such things at the White Swan. And also, since we have stayed at the White Swan in the winter, we know they have heat that is accessible via the thermostat.
We’re not complaining, but wanted to share these three experiences because we did think they were kind of funny, although the brown water really grossed us out. And now that we’ve had a little fish swimming in the toilet, we’re wondering if it’s possible that such little vermin might come out through the shower head when we’re keeping our mouths and eyes shut tight in an effort to not pick up any parasites. We’ve also wondered if the water were to turn brown sporadically while we’re showering, would we ever know it since our eyes are shut? The possibilities are sobering. You can bet no one is going to the bathroom in the middle of the night without turning a light on for fear of what else might be doing the back stroke in the toilet. If it happens again we’re taking a picture.
Today we received Sam’s Chinese passport. Tomorrow we have opted to take Sam for his medical check-up, rather than wait for Saturday. Finally we feel like we’re moving closer to home. We’ll keep you posted.
Blessings to all our friends and family,
Steve, Heather, Joe and Sam, light at the end of the tunnel in China, and
Ed, Emily, Hana and Zeke at home, along with Grandma and Aunt Sue, missing us and vice versa.
