Day 12 in Guangzhou- the visa day

Well gang, this little journey of ours is quickly coming to a close. Many of our group are leaving tomorrow, three couples of us are leaving on Friday, so we get one more day here.

Today we had our "swearing in" ceremony at the US Consulate here in Guangzhou. A large room full of probably 50 families who were all adopting children met at the Consulate this afternoon to get our kids visa's so that they can enter the US and become citizens thru one of two methods: 1.) In most states, since we have adopted them, as soon as we enter US airspace or land in the US, they become US citizens. 2.) In some states or if one of the adopted parents aren't here in China, the child has to be re-adopted in the US to become a citizen.

We are in the number 1) group, so as soon as we land, Coee is a citizen.

This morning, we had another leisurely breakfast and took a walk around the grounds of our hotel outside the breakfast restaurant (see picture below). It is a very peaceful place in this urban jungle of Guangzhou.

I went back to Liwan Plaza today for a little extra shopping for things that Michelle needed. If possible, I will take our video camera there tomorrow and video the scene. It is completely unlike anything I have ever experienced shopping anywhere (even New York City). In this one shopping center and surrounding streets, there are probably 1,000 stores or more in an area of about the size of our mall and mall parking lot. There are thousands of people there too, all the stores are doing good business.

My ability to do enough sign language to purchase what we need was tested today by our need for an Albuterol inhaler for Michelle. Her persistent cough has caused her alot of problem at night, so one of the Doctors in our group adopting a child (there are 3) told me to get her an inhaler. Well, let me tell you, trying to explain an inhaler to people who don't speak your language is quite a fun task. I drew pictures, mimiced asthma and breathing problems and anything else I could think of at the drug store that I found. Finally after the picture I drew, they understood a little and showed me the area they were in behind the counter. And no, you don't need a script for them. It is made by Glaxo Smith Kline, so I felt pretty good about it and got it for $4!!! I understand they are quite a bit more than that in the US.

Tomorrow we are going back to Shiamen Island and buying a few more things for Coee. After that, we are headed back to the hotel and start packing. We get our wake up call at 4:30 am on Friday. Our guides get our checked luggage to the airport for us and get us to the airport by 6:30 for our 8:30 flight to Hong Kong. We then leave Hong Kong at 11:00 and arrive in Chicago at 11:09 am the same day, but 14 hours later! The time change is gonna be pretty odd for us. We will have some kind of night of sleep and still arrive on Friday before noon!

We then leave Chicago at 3:30 or so and arrive in Nashville at 5:30 pm if everything goes as planned.

Well enough about all that, here is what Coee is doing!
We went to eat tonight at an Italian restaurant with most of our group and Coee showed out! She is very loud and is a camera hound! She also does many of her tricks on demand, so Trey and Dillon enjoy showing her off!

She had our whole table cracking up at her noises, faces and smiles.

Well I am going for now, we will post tomorrow night and then be ready to head home! We are all looking forward to getting back to the US and see how Coee adjusts to everything and to see everyone again. We appreciate all the love and support you guys have sent our way. It has made the time hear go by quickly having a routine of getting comments and posting everyday.

This is the waterfall outside our breakfast restaurant. We even found a "star fruit" tree in the garden and almost got hit by falling fruit!


Here are my two girls!!