Wednesday, May 28, 2008
We have been officially home for one week. We woke up this morning and looked at each other and said that we are so glad that we are home! Yay!!
Maddy is doing so well. She is crawling everywhere around the house, exploring and discovers something new every day! Madeline is very tactile she loves to touch everything and examine it. She is cooing, babbling and imitates us very well. Some of our favorite imitations so far are that she growls like a dog and scrunches up her nose and sniffs. This is because she saw me using saline spray everyday in China. She is so adorable and she has captured our hearts and we love her more and more every day. Her molars are coming in so she is very tired and a little cranky right now but other than that she is adjusting well or as far as we know anyways.
Well, basically after trying to recover from jet lag, the overwhelming responsibilities of parenting and sleep deprivation I went shopping for Madeline’s spring wardrobe yesterday as I completely underestimated her clothes size and we had no clothes that were the right size. (This was an unintentional ploy that worked in my favor Hee..Hee..=) According to her paperwork from China, she would be wearing 18 month old clothes. Instead, she is so petite that she wears size 12 month clothes comfortably and they are even a tad too big. She will be wearing her 18 month old clothes next year! Wow, she is all set to go and that is thanks to all of you. Jim stayed with Madeline while I went to Babies R Us and it was a nice break for me to get out of the house. I purchased a couple of adorable outfits for Uncle Justin’s wedding as well.
We have introduced Madeline to her car seat, high chair and baby food. Today, she sat in the high chair for the first time and threw pears all over the place. It was funny. Her favorite activity though is splashing around in Abby’s dog bowl.
Tomorrow we are off to have Maddy’s blood drawn for labs so it should be an interesting experience. Then we are going to run some errands and then home to relax. Jim is going back to work on Friday so I will be with Maddy by myself for 5 weeks! Yikes! Luckily, I have a great support network and many people I can call when I am on the verge of tears. No, it will be fun and I know I won’t want to return to work but alas reality will set in the week before I am to return to work.
More updates to come….
Please pray for our family friend Ken Dickey and his family as he is ill and we wish him a speedy recovery and of course all of the victims of the earthquake and their families.
Crystal
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Jet lag…what jet lag? Where has the time gone. We have been home four days now and have slept a good portion of it. I am feeling better from the cold I caught the last couple of days in China and Crystal is sleepy, so she is back to normal. Madeline is adjusting. Everyday she does more and more new things, and she talks more and more. We have taken a few pictures of her exploring her new surroundings and getting used to her new home. She is crawling really well and is starting to follows us around the house. She and Abby our dog met on Thursday. Abby was really excited to see her and wanted to give her kisses. This scared Madeline some so we were keeping a close eye them both for most of Thursday. Since then this has not been a problem. Abby still wants to kiss her however she minds well and leaves Madeline alone when we tell her too. The first night was interesting. Madeline has been sleeping in our room in a Pack-N-Play, so Abby stood guard on our bed staring at her all night. This has gone on every night since. Madeline is sleeping well through the night. She has only been waking up once each night. We give her a bottle and she goes back to sleep. We are gradually getting into a routine for sleeping and eating which seems to be going well for all of us. A baby’s life.
Madeline’s doctors appointment went well on Friday. No pokes this time. Blood draws and other tests will be done next week. She weighs 17 pounds which we understand is in the 5th percentile. Her height is in the 25th percentile and her head circumference is in the 50th percentile. Hopefully she is not like her Dad, if she was, then as much as she has been pooping her head would be a lot smaller today. The poop thing has not bothered me so much since I have been following Abby around the neighborhood picking up her poop. In fact Crystal has only had to change two poopy diapers. How about them apples.
Abby took us all out for a stroll around the neighborhood this evening, Madeline got to use her stroller. We are not sure if this was fun for her or not as she fell asleep. We met some of our neighbors on the walk and introduced Madeline. We have plans with our neighbor’s across the street tomorrow to met their son Braeden who is around 3 months old and only a couple of pounds lighter than Madeline.
Other than that not much has been going on. We have had some visitors and want to apologize for not being more sociable. Thank you all for the food and support.
Madeline’s doctors appointment went well on Friday. No pokes this time. Blood draws and other tests will be done next week. She weighs 17 pounds which we understand is in the 5th percentile. Her height is in the 25th percentile and her head circumference is in the 50th percentile. Hopefully she is not like her Dad, if she was, then as much as she has been pooping her head would be a lot smaller today. The poop thing has not bothered me so much since I have been following Abby around the neighborhood picking up her poop. In fact Crystal has only had to change two poopy diapers. How about them apples.
Abby took us all out for a stroll around the neighborhood this evening, Madeline got to use her stroller. We are not sure if this was fun for her or not as she fell asleep. We met some of our neighbors on the walk and introduced Madeline. We have plans with our neighbor’s across the street tomorrow to met their son Braeden who is around 3 months old and only a couple of pounds lighter than Madeline.
Other than that not much has been going on. We have had some visitors and want to apologize for not being more sociable. Thank you all for the food and support.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Crocodile Restaurant
Thursday, May 22
Hi – it’s Crystal.
As previously stated by Jim we are home safe and sound. Thank you for all of your prayers and supportive thoughts while we were gone on our journey to meet our daughter. We will think every day of our wonderful, life changing trip but also feel so much grief for the victims of the earthquake. This life changing event makes us so thankful that we were not hurt or others that we know of first hand in China but we will pray for those lost lives and for those who are survived and are having to pick up the pieces from square one. Please keep praying for the victims and their families.
We arrived home yesterday at 7:30 am and were met at the airport by family and friends. They had to wait about one hour or so as we went through immigration and customs. It was a very smooth process for us. It is good to be home with our Maddy but to be honest I could of stayed at least another week site seeing, eating and receiving top notch service at the hotel.
Madeline did quite well for the rest of the day. We all took naps at different times and then Maddy laid down for the night at 10 pm ish. She woke up at 3:30 am and sat up with Jim until I woke up at 5 am and managed to put her back to sleep for a couple more hours. I had an acupuncture appointment today at 1pm so my parents, Jim and I piled in the car and went to Vancouver. Then we went to lunch and called it a day as Maddy had a meltdown in the car on the way home from the restaurant. She went down for another nap for only an hour or so and then we put her down at 10:30 pm. Maddy met Abby our dog, daughter #1 today. Abby was so excited to see her dad (she is daddy’s girl) that she initially scared Madeline so Jim kept Abby a safe distance away from Maddy. Tonight, though Maddy liked Abby and now Abby is the one that is a little scared and unsure of what to think of this little one who will soon be torturing her. It is truly amazing how resilient children are in general and how well they can adapt to change.
Okay, back to pictures from Tuesday – we started off the day with our exit meeting. We were given paperwork to take with us and to guard with our lives to deliver to immigration in Portland. After the meeting we went to the restaurant featured in National Geographic Magazine that serves Crocodile. The restaurant was amazing. First of all our driver pulled up to the place and there were two Rolls Royce’s parked in the front and roped off. These cars belong to the owner. Then you walk into the lobby and there are huge crystal chandeliers with gold all over the place. In the room adjacent to the huge dining room there is a Koi pond with turtles and three very fancy sports cars on display – I only remember one it was a Lotus. I thought this was all quite funny. Then we walked around and picked our lunch from tanks full of different seafood and other creatures. It was amazing. Yes, we saw the crocodiles and ordered some for all of us. They were about 4 to 6 feet long with their mouths taped shut. Jim observed the cook taking our croc out of the tank to prepare for the meal. He set the croc on the floor and kicked it all the way back to the kitchen. Now exactly how I would like to be treated before I take my last breath but maybe the cook was tenderizing it for us. We had absolutely fantastic food. It was served family style as we had two other families with us (all from Oregon I am proud to say) along with Catherine Han – the Holt office manager in Guangzhou, her intern Kenny and our van driver.
We ate chicken feet, pickled plums, pickled cabbage, scallops cooked in Garlic, Mussels, steamed fish, rice, noodles, greens and of course the main entrée was crocodile. Everything tasted very good. All of the entrees were very flavorful, fresh and very healthy. The crocodile was excellent. It was sautéed in a sauce and it was very tender. It tasted like chicken except it had a slightly different texture – it melted in your mouth. Catherine informed us that we indulged in the feet and arms of the croc as that by far is the most tender part of the croc. We had fruit for dessert. We ate all of this for $25.00 per person and that included the van driver’s fee. Wow! It was fantastic. I’ll have to run down to the local Safeway’s like my friend Christina suggested and put in a special order for some crocodile. I am sure that they would be willing to accommodate to our culinary needs. =)
After lunch we went the Consulate and with about 40 other families took our oath to take care of Maddy and she became a US Citizen! Yay! We received her passport and visa to take home with us to Oregon.
Jim went off for a massage to the parlor that I went to the day before. He said that it was excellent. He deserved it as he has been sharing the load of parenting and not feeling too well. It was relaxing for him. As he was off doing the massage thing, I ran to the supermarket one last time to buy some more formula for Maddy. I want to make sure she has enough as she only drinks formula and has been slow to transition to new things so we want to keep her well fed until she starts to eat solids or at least baby food. I returned to the hotel and started packing. We had a late night and were off to bed at 11 am and woke up at 4 am. Madeline was very cranky on the flight from Guangzhou to Tokyo. We were at the back of the plane so I stood up with her in the Ergo and tried to comfort her. An elderly Chinese gentleman was sitting next to Jim and I think he was a bit annoyed with Madeline but fortunately we were not the only ones on this flight with screaming babies. She was an angel and slept or played for the 10 hour plane trip from Tokyo to Portland.
I was very sad to leave China. Especially, in southern China where Madeline is from. I wanted to go to more places especially where she was found and explore more so I can recall as many details for her as possible when she becomes older. We enjoyed every moment of our trip – no regrets or complaints. Of course, we were blessed with the greatest gift of all – our beautiful daughter. We will return for a homeland tour when Maddy is between 8 years and 12 years old if not before then. It is good to be home to start the next chapter of our lives with family and friends.
Our adoption agency, Holt has been outstanding and we are so thankful for every single person that has helped us from A-Z.
Hi – it’s Crystal.
As previously stated by Jim we are home safe and sound. Thank you for all of your prayers and supportive thoughts while we were gone on our journey to meet our daughter. We will think every day of our wonderful, life changing trip but also feel so much grief for the victims of the earthquake. This life changing event makes us so thankful that we were not hurt or others that we know of first hand in China but we will pray for those lost lives and for those who are survived and are having to pick up the pieces from square one. Please keep praying for the victims and their families.
We arrived home yesterday at 7:30 am and were met at the airport by family and friends. They had to wait about one hour or so as we went through immigration and customs. It was a very smooth process for us. It is good to be home with our Maddy but to be honest I could of stayed at least another week site seeing, eating and receiving top notch service at the hotel.
Madeline did quite well for the rest of the day. We all took naps at different times and then Maddy laid down for the night at 10 pm ish. She woke up at 3:30 am and sat up with Jim until I woke up at 5 am and managed to put her back to sleep for a couple more hours. I had an acupuncture appointment today at 1pm so my parents, Jim and I piled in the car and went to Vancouver. Then we went to lunch and called it a day as Maddy had a meltdown in the car on the way home from the restaurant. She went down for another nap for only an hour or so and then we put her down at 10:30 pm. Maddy met Abby our dog, daughter #1 today. Abby was so excited to see her dad (she is daddy’s girl) that she initially scared Madeline so Jim kept Abby a safe distance away from Maddy. Tonight, though Maddy liked Abby and now Abby is the one that is a little scared and unsure of what to think of this little one who will soon be torturing her. It is truly amazing how resilient children are in general and how well they can adapt to change.
Okay, back to pictures from Tuesday – we started off the day with our exit meeting. We were given paperwork to take with us and to guard with our lives to deliver to immigration in Portland. After the meeting we went to the restaurant featured in National Geographic Magazine that serves Crocodile. The restaurant was amazing. First of all our driver pulled up to the place and there were two Rolls Royce’s parked in the front and roped off. These cars belong to the owner. Then you walk into the lobby and there are huge crystal chandeliers with gold all over the place. In the room adjacent to the huge dining room there is a Koi pond with turtles and three very fancy sports cars on display – I only remember one it was a Lotus. I thought this was all quite funny. Then we walked around and picked our lunch from tanks full of different seafood and other creatures. It was amazing. Yes, we saw the crocodiles and ordered some for all of us. They were about 4 to 6 feet long with their mouths taped shut. Jim observed the cook taking our croc out of the tank to prepare for the meal. He set the croc on the floor and kicked it all the way back to the kitchen. Now exactly how I would like to be treated before I take my last breath but maybe the cook was tenderizing it for us. We had absolutely fantastic food. It was served family style as we had two other families with us (all from Oregon I am proud to say) along with Catherine Han – the Holt office manager in Guangzhou, her intern Kenny and our van driver.
We ate chicken feet, pickled plums, pickled cabbage, scallops cooked in Garlic, Mussels, steamed fish, rice, noodles, greens and of course the main entrée was crocodile. Everything tasted very good. All of the entrees were very flavorful, fresh and very healthy. The crocodile was excellent. It was sautéed in a sauce and it was very tender. It tasted like chicken except it had a slightly different texture – it melted in your mouth. Catherine informed us that we indulged in the feet and arms of the croc as that by far is the most tender part of the croc. We had fruit for dessert. We ate all of this for $25.00 per person and that included the van driver’s fee. Wow! It was fantastic. I’ll have to run down to the local Safeway’s like my friend Christina suggested and put in a special order for some crocodile. I am sure that they would be willing to accommodate to our culinary needs. =)
After lunch we went the Consulate and with about 40 other families took our oath to take care of Maddy and she became a US Citizen! Yay! We received her passport and visa to take home with us to Oregon.
Jim went off for a massage to the parlor that I went to the day before. He said that it was excellent. He deserved it as he has been sharing the load of parenting and not feeling too well. It was relaxing for him. As he was off doing the massage thing, I ran to the supermarket one last time to buy some more formula for Maddy. I want to make sure she has enough as she only drinks formula and has been slow to transition to new things so we want to keep her well fed until she starts to eat solids or at least baby food. I returned to the hotel and started packing. We had a late night and were off to bed at 11 am and woke up at 4 am. Madeline was very cranky on the flight from Guangzhou to Tokyo. We were at the back of the plane so I stood up with her in the Ergo and tried to comfort her. An elderly Chinese gentleman was sitting next to Jim and I think he was a bit annoyed with Madeline but fortunately we were not the only ones on this flight with screaming babies. She was an angel and slept or played for the 10 hour plane trip from Tokyo to Portland.
I was very sad to leave China. Especially, in southern China where Madeline is from. I wanted to go to more places especially where she was found and explore more so I can recall as many details for her as possible when she becomes older. We enjoyed every moment of our trip – no regrets or complaints. Of course, we were blessed with the greatest gift of all – our beautiful daughter. We will return for a homeland tour when Maddy is between 8 years and 12 years old if not before then. It is good to be home to start the next chapter of our lives with family and friends.
Our adoption agency, Holt has been outstanding and we are so thankful for every single person that has helped us from A-Z.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Day 16 – Wednesday May 21 home
4:00 am wake up on Wednesday May 21st. Bags in hall by 4:45am. Lobby at 5:30am. Guangzhou Airport at 6:30am. Off the ground at 8:20am to Tokyo then to PDX. Arrive PDX at 7:30am the same day, an hour before we lefts. (14 hours of flight time and we start the same day over???) WE ARE HOME. Madeline, Crystal, and I are home. Thank you family and friends who met us at the airport. Madeline had a tough flight to Tokyo, 5-hours. From Tokyo to PDX she was fine. She slept most of the way. tired now. time for a nap. I will include yesterdays pictures and explain them later.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Day 14 – Monday May 19, 2008
Having fun with Madeline. Crystal is having a message now and Madeline just laid down to nap. Very interesting…a few moments ago, all the siren's in the city went off at the same time. People pulled their cars over and blew their horn. At around 2:35 it was the 1 week anniversary of the earthquake and today starts 3-days of remembrance. I was speaking with Phoebe, one of the Holt staff, this morning and she was saying there will be no entertainment for 3-days. On the television there is only news broadcasts. All other television programs have been turned off and there is just a black screen with Chinese writing explaining why I assume.
This morning we went to the Six Banyan Buddhism Temple for Madeline’s blessing. Red couch photo’s were today. It was nice seeing all the kids in their Chinese outfits. Madeline looked wonderful. In the evening we took a Pearl river cruise. It was neat seeing all the buildings and bridges lit up.
This morning we went to the Six Banyan Buddhism Temple for Madeline’s blessing. Red couch photo’s were today. It was nice seeing all the kids in their Chinese outfits. Madeline looked wonderful. In the evening we took a Pearl river cruise. It was neat seeing all the buildings and bridges lit up.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Day 13 – Sunday May 18
Today is the one year anniversary of finding Madeline. We were told she was found on the 18th of May 2007. From the looks of her belly button they figured she was born the day before.
A short walking distance from our hotel there is a small church where they hold Christian church services in both Chinese and English. It was interesting listening to the hymns sung in Chinese then English. The Preacher spoke in short sentences to allow an interpreter to translate into English. The prayers and donations were all for the earthquake victims. Very sad.
A quick sandwich for lunch and off to the jade and pearl markets. We met Catherine’s son, Cormack. He is seven years old. Catherine must have really talked Crystal up to him as he stuck to Crystal the entire time. Everyone here has taken to Crystal, just like back home, I’m liked until you meet Crystal. Cormack is such a gentleman and flirt. At one point it started to sprinkle rain so he took his cap off and offered it to Crystal. Anyway there they were Crystal and Cormack off jade and pearl shopping while Madeline and I stayed away from the crowds and watched. Well I watched as Madeline fell asleep. Get used to this Madeline, you need to stay awake and act like you enjoy shopping.
Dinner was back at the “Cow and Bridge” Thai restaurant, it is really good, and then more bartering for gifts on our way back to the hotel. Off to sleep now.
A short walking distance from our hotel there is a small church where they hold Christian church services in both Chinese and English. It was interesting listening to the hymns sung in Chinese then English. The Preacher spoke in short sentences to allow an interpreter to translate into English. The prayers and donations were all for the earthquake victims. Very sad.
A quick sandwich for lunch and off to the jade and pearl markets. We met Catherine’s son, Cormack. He is seven years old. Catherine must have really talked Crystal up to him as he stuck to Crystal the entire time. Everyone here has taken to Crystal, just like back home, I’m liked until you meet Crystal. Cormack is such a gentleman and flirt. At one point it started to sprinkle rain so he took his cap off and offered it to Crystal. Anyway there they were Crystal and Cormack off jade and pearl shopping while Madeline and I stayed away from the crowds and watched. Well I watched as Madeline fell asleep. Get used to this Madeline, you need to stay awake and act like you enjoy shopping.
Dinner was back at the “Cow and Bridge” Thai restaurant, it is really good, and then more bartering for gifts on our way back to the hotel. Off to sleep now.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Birthday Party
Surprise!!! Happy Birthday Madeline. During afternoon tea with the Holt families in town the Holt Staff and Lotus Travel staff surprised us with a birthday cake for Madeline. Madeline was speechless. She could only coo. So, Crystal and I thanked everyone for making her birthday so special by allowing us to share it with them. Then we all ate cake. Thank you Holt.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Day 12 – Saturday May 17 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADELINE!!!
Last night dinner was Cantonese and it was very good. The menu choices were different and we took some photo’s; silk worm, water beetles, sand worms, eels, snake, turtle, frog…We choose chicken. We hear it tastes like silk worm. Across the Pearl river they light up the buildings like billboards. We will attempt to take other pictures. Last night was so humid that the air was very thick and it was difficult to take photo’s from such a distance.
This morning we meet up with the other two families we first meet in Beijing and got a chance to meet their adopted children. So cute. They flew in from the Province their children are from late last night. We have only had a chance for small talk so far as we all had adoption business to take care of this morning; Photo for VISA , paper work check and medical exam. This afternoon we all meet for tea, get to celebrate Madeline’s birthday with the group, have a chance to hear their stories and to meet two other families in our travel group.
This morning we meet up with the other two families we first meet in Beijing and got a chance to meet their adopted children. So cute. They flew in from the Province their children are from late last night. We have only had a chance for small talk so far as we all had adoption business to take care of this morning; Photo for VISA , paper work check and medical exam. This afternoon we all meet for tea, get to celebrate Madeline’s birthday with the group, have a chance to hear their stories and to meet two other families in our travel group.
Friday, May 16th
Friday, May 16th
Hi – it’s Crystal.
Our experiences with Madeline keep getting better and better every day. We have seen a huge change in her personality since Monday. She is no longer stoic and reserved. She is more relaxed and it is so much fun to watch her discover what is going on in the world. She is very tactile and loves anything with texture. I played with her on my lap this afternoon for at least 2 hours. Today, we were delighted as she smiled some more and as we were getting ready for bed she starting babbling and squealing with joy! It made us so happy that our little girl’s personality is starting to appear before our very eyes. She is so precious and we are treasuring every moment with her. We will see what tomorrow brings for her as it is her first birthday. We will go to the bakery next door and get her a small cupcake or something similar to that to celebrate the special occasion!
Jim is the concerned responsible parent. He is such an excellent care taker and loves Madeline so much. He is concerned if she is drinking enough formula; he does not want her to be dehydrated and wants to make sure everything is okay. It breaks his heart every time she cries. I think Madeline is doing just fine as each day passes she is drinking more, her cold symptoms are improving and my attitude is: “Well, this kid has been through a major life transition. If she is showing any signs or symptoms of failing to thrive we will just have the doctor make another house call.” Maddy already has daddy twisted around her finger.
Yesterday, as Jim posted earlier we had an excellent time at The Banyan Gardens. It was so beautiful. The foliage is so different than what we are used to seeing since we are in this subtropical region of the world. The air was cleaner than in downtown Guangzhou and it felt good to be outside for awhile. It was cooler being at a higher elevation and there was a slight breeze. I have thoroughly enjoyed site seeing and interacting with natives from the north and the south. The two parts of the country are so different. Language, food, attitudes, etc. I am so proud to say that our daughter is Cantonese.
Also, I had the best massage I have ever experienced. This massage therapist has worked here at the hotel for 25 years. She performed deep tissue work, along with acupressure and then the grand finale consisted of her massaging my back with her feet! Yes, she walked on my back. It was awesome! I think I might have to give her a go one more time before we leave for home. Her rate was so reasonable by American standards.
Today was a lovely day as Maddy and the two of us slept in this morning. We did not have to be anywhere and it was nice and relaxing. This afternoon we went The Chen Imperial Temple. The venue was absolutely gorgeous. In this part of China, they are well known for wood carvings instead of the ornate painting that one would see on buildings in the northern part of China. I was in awe of the workmanship at this place as it was so detailed oriented and elegant. I asked Joyce, our tour guide if it is still possible to order doors or windows with this style of carved wood. She said that there are some places that still do this type of trade. I think this is wonderful. Unfortunately, though, western influences have brought in high rise dwellings for natives to call home so this part of Chinese culture is fading. What a bummer. Also, Ivory carvings including fans were on display as well. Ivory carvings were done until 1989 in the south of China but it was banned for obvious reasons. Now, bone carving is the trade. I was fascinated by the craftsmanship that went into all of the different pieces. It was interesting speaking to Joyce about The Chen’s Family Temple as we talked about the Cultural Revolution and how many traditional venues were torn down all over China. It is so sad to think about how this part of Chinese culture was lost.
We decided it was time to go out on our own and enjoy some Cantonese food. We went to a highly recommended restaurant that was excellent. Jim was the only Caucasian American in the place. We had chicken and steamed vegetables. There were also many different types of delicacies displayed in the front of the restaurant fresh for dinner. Among the more exotic choices were sandworms, snake, turtles, toads and water beetles. I know these sound so appealing for those of you who watch Survivor.
We are very excited as Catherine is taking us to the restaurant that is featured in the latest version of The National Geographic Magazine - China on page 83 on Tuesday! We are going to try Crocodile! It is supposed to be very healthy for you and I say what I heck when will be able to have an opportunity to try this again? So why not just go for it and at least give it a try! I am interested to see how it will be prepared and most importantly what kind of taste and texture it will have. More updates to come regarding this new adventure!
I have been reading the newspaper and we have been watching television regarding news about the earthquake. The government is trying to keep the country’s morale up as everyday on the front page of The China Register there are stories about people who have been saved from the ruins of the earthquake. The nation has come together as an entire entity as many have donated money, time or supplies for those who are less fortunate. There are many orphans who are already being adopted by other families. Something that is very sad is that there are now parents who have lost their only child. Most families here have only one child due to the family planning policy enacted sometime in the early 1980’s. There were several schools full of hundreds of children that collapsed and the children were killed instantly. The pictures we have seen of the devastation are beyond anything I could ever imagine. In one city near the epicenter all of the buildings collapsed and only one building remains halfway standing. It is heartbreaking to us.
Tomorrow, we have a lot of official business to take care of for Madeline. We will have her visa photo taken, fill out all pertinent paperwork and have her medical examination. We may not see many smiles tomorrow after all of the above is done!
Hi – it’s Crystal.
Our experiences with Madeline keep getting better and better every day. We have seen a huge change in her personality since Monday. She is no longer stoic and reserved. She is more relaxed and it is so much fun to watch her discover what is going on in the world. She is very tactile and loves anything with texture. I played with her on my lap this afternoon for at least 2 hours. Today, we were delighted as she smiled some more and as we were getting ready for bed she starting babbling and squealing with joy! It made us so happy that our little girl’s personality is starting to appear before our very eyes. She is so precious and we are treasuring every moment with her. We will see what tomorrow brings for her as it is her first birthday. We will go to the bakery next door and get her a small cupcake or something similar to that to celebrate the special occasion!
Jim is the concerned responsible parent. He is such an excellent care taker and loves Madeline so much. He is concerned if she is drinking enough formula; he does not want her to be dehydrated and wants to make sure everything is okay. It breaks his heart every time she cries. I think Madeline is doing just fine as each day passes she is drinking more, her cold symptoms are improving and my attitude is: “Well, this kid has been through a major life transition. If she is showing any signs or symptoms of failing to thrive we will just have the doctor make another house call.” Maddy already has daddy twisted around her finger.
Yesterday, as Jim posted earlier we had an excellent time at The Banyan Gardens. It was so beautiful. The foliage is so different than what we are used to seeing since we are in this subtropical region of the world. The air was cleaner than in downtown Guangzhou and it felt good to be outside for awhile. It was cooler being at a higher elevation and there was a slight breeze. I have thoroughly enjoyed site seeing and interacting with natives from the north and the south. The two parts of the country are so different. Language, food, attitudes, etc. I am so proud to say that our daughter is Cantonese.
Also, I had the best massage I have ever experienced. This massage therapist has worked here at the hotel for 25 years. She performed deep tissue work, along with acupressure and then the grand finale consisted of her massaging my back with her feet! Yes, she walked on my back. It was awesome! I think I might have to give her a go one more time before we leave for home. Her rate was so reasonable by American standards.
Today was a lovely day as Maddy and the two of us slept in this morning. We did not have to be anywhere and it was nice and relaxing. This afternoon we went The Chen Imperial Temple. The venue was absolutely gorgeous. In this part of China, they are well known for wood carvings instead of the ornate painting that one would see on buildings in the northern part of China. I was in awe of the workmanship at this place as it was so detailed oriented and elegant. I asked Joyce, our tour guide if it is still possible to order doors or windows with this style of carved wood. She said that there are some places that still do this type of trade. I think this is wonderful. Unfortunately, though, western influences have brought in high rise dwellings for natives to call home so this part of Chinese culture is fading. What a bummer. Also, Ivory carvings including fans were on display as well. Ivory carvings were done until 1989 in the south of China but it was banned for obvious reasons. Now, bone carving is the trade. I was fascinated by the craftsmanship that went into all of the different pieces. It was interesting speaking to Joyce about The Chen’s Family Temple as we talked about the Cultural Revolution and how many traditional venues were torn down all over China. It is so sad to think about how this part of Chinese culture was lost.
We decided it was time to go out on our own and enjoy some Cantonese food. We went to a highly recommended restaurant that was excellent. Jim was the only Caucasian American in the place. We had chicken and steamed vegetables. There were also many different types of delicacies displayed in the front of the restaurant fresh for dinner. Among the more exotic choices were sandworms, snake, turtles, toads and water beetles. I know these sound so appealing for those of you who watch Survivor.
We are very excited as Catherine is taking us to the restaurant that is featured in the latest version of The National Geographic Magazine - China on page 83 on Tuesday! We are going to try Crocodile! It is supposed to be very healthy for you and I say what I heck when will be able to have an opportunity to try this again? So why not just go for it and at least give it a try! I am interested to see how it will be prepared and most importantly what kind of taste and texture it will have. More updates to come regarding this new adventure!
I have been reading the newspaper and we have been watching television regarding news about the earthquake. The government is trying to keep the country’s morale up as everyday on the front page of The China Register there are stories about people who have been saved from the ruins of the earthquake. The nation has come together as an entire entity as many have donated money, time or supplies for those who are less fortunate. There are many orphans who are already being adopted by other families. Something that is very sad is that there are now parents who have lost their only child. Most families here have only one child due to the family planning policy enacted sometime in the early 1980’s. There were several schools full of hundreds of children that collapsed and the children were killed instantly. The pictures we have seen of the devastation are beyond anything I could ever imagine. In one city near the epicenter all of the buildings collapsed and only one building remains halfway standing. It is heartbreaking to us.
Tomorrow, we have a lot of official business to take care of for Madeline. We will have her visa photo taken, fill out all pertinent paperwork and have her medical examination. We may not see many smiles tomorrow after all of the above is done!
Day 11 – Friday May 16th
Not much happening today. Madeline woke Crystal and I up this morning, awake sitting up in her crib, banging the back of her head against the side. It was past our normal wake up time and we were tired so we slept in as long as Madeline would let us. Knock on wood…She has been sleeping so well that we hate waking her up. This will change of course. We believe she is feeling better. Still some occasional rasping in her chest and her nose runs a little once or twice a day. She hasn’t been taking a bottle as often or as much of one as the orphanage said she was however it has only been a few days with us. When we go outside, it is so humid and hot, that I worry she is not taking enough fluids. This won’t be the last time I worry about her. She is playing on Crystal’s lap now. She enjoys sitting on Crystal’s lap and touching toys and water bottles. Different textures. She also enjoys typing on the computer with Crystal. With me she enjoys glaring at me with a look like she is hoping I was not here and would go away soon. This will change. We take naps well together.
Today, we took an early afternoon excursion to the Chen Clan Classical Learning Academy. It is one of the most attractive tourist sites in Guangzhou. Very ornate with intricate hand carved wood ceilings and pillars. It was very beautiful. The Chen Clan was very wealthy during the Ming dynasty so the extendef family from 72 provinces collected funds and built this place for their family to study for yearly government exams. Off to dinner. Cantonese we are thinking.
Today, we took an early afternoon excursion to the Chen Clan Classical Learning Academy. It is one of the most attractive tourist sites in Guangzhou. Very ornate with intricate hand carved wood ceilings and pillars. It was very beautiful. The Chen Clan was very wealthy during the Ming dynasty so the extendef family from 72 provinces collected funds and built this place for their family to study for yearly government exams. Off to dinner. Cantonese we are thinking.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Day 10 – Thursday May 15
A day to relax. Trip to White Cloud Mountain (Baiyun Shan) and Bird Spring Valley Park (Mingchun Valley) with Catherine and the son, Kenny, of one here friends. Kenny graduated college this week and wanted to volunteer with Holt. Catherine is our Holt escort. Crystal had a massage while Madeline and I took a nap. Madeline’s personality is starting to come out. We are having fun trying to figure her out and trying to figure out our routine.
The park was beautiful and the weather was such that we felt we were on a white cloud. Lunch today was at an outdoor restaurant on White Cloud Mountain. Catherine mentioned having frog as one of our entrées however changed her mind when Crystal and I said we would try it. I also surprised her with my proficiency with chop sticks. I surprised myself as well since I was holding Madeline with one arm and using chop sticks with the other. This evening we walked around Shamian Island, ate again at the Cow and Bridge Thai restaurant, and looked through the local shops planning our bartering assault at a later time.
The park was beautiful and the weather was such that we felt we were on a white cloud. Lunch today was at an outdoor restaurant on White Cloud Mountain. Catherine mentioned having frog as one of our entrées however changed her mind when Crystal and I said we would try it. I also surprised her with my proficiency with chop sticks. I surprised myself as well since I was holding Madeline with one arm and using chop sticks with the other. This evening we walked around Shamian Island, ate again at the Cow and Bridge Thai restaurant, and looked through the local shops planning our bartering assault at a later time.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Day 8 – Tuesday May 14th
She smiles and laughs…..and cries
It started this afternoon. Madeline started playing with Crystal. She was really playing with one of her toys. She has for the most part been hands off when it comes to playing. She just sits there looking at things with her hands in the air. Whenever we try to place a toy in her hand she normally pulls her hand away. However this afternoon she was really playing, touching, and moving all the parts. We hated to stop playing however we were getting hungry so off we went and off she we went. As we were walking down the street she was starting to become vocal, humming or muttering, and then she started laughing with Crystal and smiling!!!! We all were so happy we continued laughing all the way down the street. The locals and tourists alike were watching us and smiling and laughing with us. Just wonderful.
Then…and then after dinner, on our walk back to the hotel, the crying started. She has cried before but just for brief moments like when we were administering her medications and for her grieving, this time she meant business. Our pace back was brisk however not brisk enough. She cried the whole way to the hotel and to our room. She continued crying in the room. We felt that since she was in a good mood anyway why not get the medications over with and a quick sponge bath, so we did. She cried the whole time. We changed diapers and into bed clothes…cry, cry, cry. I attempted to sooth her however Crystal was the one to succeed. She is asleep in her crib now. Just wonderful.
It started this afternoon. Madeline started playing with Crystal. She was really playing with one of her toys. She has for the most part been hands off when it comes to playing. She just sits there looking at things with her hands in the air. Whenever we try to place a toy in her hand she normally pulls her hand away. However this afternoon she was really playing, touching, and moving all the parts. We hated to stop playing however we were getting hungry so off we went and off she we went. As we were walking down the street she was starting to become vocal, humming or muttering, and then she started laughing with Crystal and smiling!!!! We all were so happy we continued laughing all the way down the street. The locals and tourists alike were watching us and smiling and laughing with us. Just wonderful.
Then…and then after dinner, on our walk back to the hotel, the crying started. She has cried before but just for brief moments like when we were administering her medications and for her grieving, this time she meant business. Our pace back was brisk however not brisk enough. She cried the whole way to the hotel and to our room. She continued crying in the room. We felt that since she was in a good mood anyway why not get the medications over with and a quick sponge bath, so we did. She cried the whole time. We changed diapers and into bed clothes…cry, cry, cry. I attempted to sooth her however Crystal was the one to succeed. She is asleep in her crib now. Just wonderful.
Visa Appointment
Wednesday, May 14th
Hi – it’s Crystal.
Madeline realized last night that she was not going back to the orphanage so she was more emotional. She cried and was very sad all night long but was we calmed her down she went to sleep and slept for 10 hours straight without making a peep. We had to slowly wake her up this morning. Today we are going to attempt to give her a bath in the sink. A real bath would completely freak her out as even the huge bathtub here freaks me out! I am however going to take a nice bath in the tub as it is so beautiful.
This morning we went to breakfast and then we walked around the island. It was nice and cool in the shade of the Giant Cypress Trees. The older people were out exercising. It was very cool to observe. Then I walked into a store armed with my bargaining demeanor and bought a ton of Chinese outfits, regular clothes and 9 pairs of shoes for Madeline. The Chinese pieces are so beautiful that I had to take pics of them to share with you. In this area you have to bargain to get what you want – I am fairly cut throat so the lady adds all of our stuff up and then gives me the line that she gave us 40% off so then I said this is the price that I want and we went back and forth, attempted to leave the store, she had to call her boss for approval and then she gave us all of the stuff for the price that I wanted. Yay! Jim stood there and was a good support person for me. I am practicing my bargaining skills as we are going to the Pearl and Jade market this week and I want to be adequately prepared to get some awesome deals!
When we go out for excursions and if I am holding Madeline the Ergo has been a lifesaver for my back. There is no way that I can carry her for any period of time longer than 10 minutes without experiencing back pain in the shoulders and neck. I love this thing and thank you to our friend, Christina who has let me take hers to China.
This afternoon we are off to apply for Maddy’s visa. Once we get back we will relax, have dinner and play with Maddy. A nice routine to settle into for all of us.
Hi – it’s Crystal.
Madeline realized last night that she was not going back to the orphanage so she was more emotional. She cried and was very sad all night long but was we calmed her down she went to sleep and slept for 10 hours straight without making a peep. We had to slowly wake her up this morning. Today we are going to attempt to give her a bath in the sink. A real bath would completely freak her out as even the huge bathtub here freaks me out! I am however going to take a nice bath in the tub as it is so beautiful.
This morning we went to breakfast and then we walked around the island. It was nice and cool in the shade of the Giant Cypress Trees. The older people were out exercising. It was very cool to observe. Then I walked into a store armed with my bargaining demeanor and bought a ton of Chinese outfits, regular clothes and 9 pairs of shoes for Madeline. The Chinese pieces are so beautiful that I had to take pics of them to share with you. In this area you have to bargain to get what you want – I am fairly cut throat so the lady adds all of our stuff up and then gives me the line that she gave us 40% off so then I said this is the price that I want and we went back and forth, attempted to leave the store, she had to call her boss for approval and then she gave us all of the stuff for the price that I wanted. Yay! Jim stood there and was a good support person for me. I am practicing my bargaining skills as we are going to the Pearl and Jade market this week and I want to be adequately prepared to get some awesome deals!
When we go out for excursions and if I am holding Madeline the Ergo has been a lifesaver for my back. There is no way that I can carry her for any period of time longer than 10 minutes without experiencing back pain in the shoulders and neck. I love this thing and thank you to our friend, Christina who has let me take hers to China.
This afternoon we are off to apply for Maddy’s visa. Once we get back we will relax, have dinner and play with Maddy. A nice routine to settle into for all of us.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Tuesday, May 13th
Day 7
Tuesday, May 13th
Hi – it’s Crystal.
We thank everyone for your concerns regarding the earthquake. I am heartbroken over the devastation that it has caused people. Massive efforts for relief are pouring in locally and internationally. We are so fortunate that we were not caught up in this devastation.
We slept well last night and had an early start this morning as we woke up at 5 am in order to get out of here by 8:30 am. I wanted Madeline to have plenty of time to wake up slowly, play a little bit with us and we needed time to shower and get our stuff organized for the day. It worked out really well because no one was rushed. Kids are like animals and they can sense emotional turmoil. Maddy is going through enough right now and needs us to be soothing, calming influences to her. We almost have a routine set up already and working to constantly improve it for Maddy so that we make her transition as smooth as possible.
This is a lot for this tiny little girl to take in. Add not feeling well to what she is currently going through and it is a difficult time for her right now. We are doing our best to help her relax and adjust to new life.
I am a changed woman forever now because everyone knows that one of the top three priorities in my pre motherhood days were the following: sleep, good food and did I say sleep? My mother ‘s jaw is going to drop when she reads this posting as I do not know if she ever thought that this would happen to me. I can’t believe I am writing this because honestly, I never thought that my mind set would change regarding how much I love my sleep. In my previous life, my life was planned around naps and getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Now it revolves around our daughter's sleep and waking patterns.
Today we went back to the Civil Affair Office and filled out paperwork to finalize the adoption. It took maybe one hour and a half. Then we went to the supermarket and picked up some essentials. The most important product being Maddy’s formula. We returned to the hotel and thank goodness the Holt staff deals with first time parent’s like us because they showed us how to make the formula similiar to what Madeline is used to having at the orphanage. Her formula is so thick it’s like drinking a very, very thick milkshake. Basically, we cut off the tip of the nipple of her bottle so the thick paste like liquid can funnel through it very quickly. She downed her first official bottle in less than 3 minutes. The orphanage stated that she likes fruit juices or fruit but she didn’t want it this morning at breakfast.
We have been hanging out at the hotel this afternoon and went for a walk around the island. This area is very interesting as our hotel “The White Swan” is on the Pearl River and all of the buildings surrounding us resemble British architecture. It is very American friendly and there are many great places to shop and dine. I can’t wait to get out and buy some stuff. Tonight we are going to Thai food.
I do not care for the weather here. It is hot (mid to high 80’s) and very humid. The pollution is quite pronounced as I have had to use my medications for my Asthma and we have only been here one day. I usually do not need to use any meds back home in Oregon for my Asthma.
Even though this is a major city in the Southern part of China the pace is slower than Beijing. People are more relaxed and do not seem as stressed out. According to one of the Holt staff; “The Cantonese are very set in their ways and are more resistant to change than in Northern China.” I thought that was an interesting statement. She also stated that in this part of China it is still very family oriented and family tends to come back to the area they are from post University. Beijing attracts ambitious people who are very far from their families and return only once a year. Cantonese is a very difficult dialect to learn as it has 9 essential tones while Mandarin has only 4. Everyone can read the same characters though which is good.
One other comment…China has done an outstanding job preparing for the Olympics. The air quality is very good. I was skeptical about the pollution before we left for our trip but left feeling very good about Beijing. Also, I noticed a couple of other cultural differences that I think would be more prominent if The Olympics were not in Beijing. Spitting was virtually non-existent. Usually, men are spitting everywhere. I observed on this trip that if a gentleman needed to spit, he would actually walk over to a trash can and spit in it. Also, the squatty potty situation has not been as bad as I thought it would be. I was concerned about the hygenic conditions of them prior to our trip. They were actually clean (I am a germ a phob and do not use port a potties in the US unless it is an absolute emergency) and the smells from the potty’s in Beijing were not prominent. This is speaking from an experienced squatty potty user as I used one in just about every public tourist spot in Beijing because I drank so much water to stay hydrated. A must though is to bring your own toliet paper and hand sanitizer.
I’ll let you know how it goes down here in southern China regarding the potties….I know all of you are SO interested in this disgusting topic.
Oh by the way we can’t view our blog in China so if you would like to e-mail us comments feel free to do so at crystalm7@hotmail.com We would love to hear from you. Off to dinner at the local Thai place.
More tomorrow….
Tuesday, May 13th
Hi – it’s Crystal.
We thank everyone for your concerns regarding the earthquake. I am heartbroken over the devastation that it has caused people. Massive efforts for relief are pouring in locally and internationally. We are so fortunate that we were not caught up in this devastation.
We slept well last night and had an early start this morning as we woke up at 5 am in order to get out of here by 8:30 am. I wanted Madeline to have plenty of time to wake up slowly, play a little bit with us and we needed time to shower and get our stuff organized for the day. It worked out really well because no one was rushed. Kids are like animals and they can sense emotional turmoil. Maddy is going through enough right now and needs us to be soothing, calming influences to her. We almost have a routine set up already and working to constantly improve it for Maddy so that we make her transition as smooth as possible.
This is a lot for this tiny little girl to take in. Add not feeling well to what she is currently going through and it is a difficult time for her right now. We are doing our best to help her relax and adjust to new life.
I am a changed woman forever now because everyone knows that one of the top three priorities in my pre motherhood days were the following: sleep, good food and did I say sleep? My mother ‘s jaw is going to drop when she reads this posting as I do not know if she ever thought that this would happen to me. I can’t believe I am writing this because honestly, I never thought that my mind set would change regarding how much I love my sleep. In my previous life, my life was planned around naps and getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Now it revolves around our daughter's sleep and waking patterns.
Today we went back to the Civil Affair Office and filled out paperwork to finalize the adoption. It took maybe one hour and a half. Then we went to the supermarket and picked up some essentials. The most important product being Maddy’s formula. We returned to the hotel and thank goodness the Holt staff deals with first time parent’s like us because they showed us how to make the formula similiar to what Madeline is used to having at the orphanage. Her formula is so thick it’s like drinking a very, very thick milkshake. Basically, we cut off the tip of the nipple of her bottle so the thick paste like liquid can funnel through it very quickly. She downed her first official bottle in less than 3 minutes. The orphanage stated that she likes fruit juices or fruit but she didn’t want it this morning at breakfast.
We have been hanging out at the hotel this afternoon and went for a walk around the island. This area is very interesting as our hotel “The White Swan” is on the Pearl River and all of the buildings surrounding us resemble British architecture. It is very American friendly and there are many great places to shop and dine. I can’t wait to get out and buy some stuff. Tonight we are going to Thai food.
I do not care for the weather here. It is hot (mid to high 80’s) and very humid. The pollution is quite pronounced as I have had to use my medications for my Asthma and we have only been here one day. I usually do not need to use any meds back home in Oregon for my Asthma.
Even though this is a major city in the Southern part of China the pace is slower than Beijing. People are more relaxed and do not seem as stressed out. According to one of the Holt staff; “The Cantonese are very set in their ways and are more resistant to change than in Northern China.” I thought that was an interesting statement. She also stated that in this part of China it is still very family oriented and family tends to come back to the area they are from post University. Beijing attracts ambitious people who are very far from their families and return only once a year. Cantonese is a very difficult dialect to learn as it has 9 essential tones while Mandarin has only 4. Everyone can read the same characters though which is good.
One other comment…China has done an outstanding job preparing for the Olympics. The air quality is very good. I was skeptical about the pollution before we left for our trip but left feeling very good about Beijing. Also, I noticed a couple of other cultural differences that I think would be more prominent if The Olympics were not in Beijing. Spitting was virtually non-existent. Usually, men are spitting everywhere. I observed on this trip that if a gentleman needed to spit, he would actually walk over to a trash can and spit in it. Also, the squatty potty situation has not been as bad as I thought it would be. I was concerned about the hygenic conditions of them prior to our trip. They were actually clean (I am a germ a phob and do not use port a potties in the US unless it is an absolute emergency) and the smells from the potty’s in Beijing were not prominent. This is speaking from an experienced squatty potty user as I used one in just about every public tourist spot in Beijing because I drank so much water to stay hydrated. A must though is to bring your own toliet paper and hand sanitizer.
I’ll let you know how it goes down here in southern China regarding the potties….I know all of you are SO interested in this disgusting topic.
Oh by the way we can’t view our blog in China so if you would like to e-mail us comments feel free to do so at crystalm7@hotmail.com We would love to hear from you. Off to dinner at the local Thai place.
More tomorrow….
Monday, May 12, 2008
Day 7 – Tuesday May 13th
Wow. Oh my. She’s here and the instructions are in Chinese. What a wonderful experience. I had no idea this is what all you fathers have experienced. I have never felt this way.
I don’t know if I was bawling like Crystal said when they brought Madeline out however the room suddenly got very dusty. I was not able to speak and I was not able to keep my eyes from watering. Always wear eye protection, I guess. Regarding the pictures which only show me holding Madeline in an awkward way, we also had a video camera which our Holt escort, Catherine, was using when they handed Madeline to Crystal. I held her for most of the rest of the day. Crystal gets her back when there is a diaper change.
Crystal mentioned that Madeline was not feeling well and we were lucky to get a house call from a Doctor. We gave her the medications last night and this morning and we believe she is feeling better. She did not take a bottle from us last night, even though we had the assistance of Catherine and Phoebe from Holt in preparing the bottle. They mentioned this can be normal and they told a story about a particularly stubborn child who held out 7-days before willingly taking a bottle. We were lucky and Madeline was feeling comfortable enough to enthusiastically take a bottle for lunch today. It did help that we went out this morning to complete more official paperwork with Phoebe who took us to a market where we purchased the formula Madeline was used to. She was hungry this morning and willing to take a bottle of the stuff we brought from Portland however it was not to her liking. She persevered and did take ¾’s of a bottle which is more than I would have done. In fact right now I am taking tomatoes off my sandwich.
We both fell asleep last night laying across our bed staring into Madeline’s crib. Crystal mentioned in her posting our earlier than Crystal & I would normally need, wake up was to be 6:30am however at 5:00am we woke and were only a little late to our 8:30am appointment.
Madeline is quite. Only when we are giving her medicine or attempting to clean out her nose have we heard her express herself and this is a “what are you doing to me” and “I do not like this” type of cry. I have not seen her smile yet. She has a serious look about her or a frown expression. Oh well, she is not feeling well and doesn’t know who we are. Some information we received about her stated “she is wary of people she does not know” and that is us. She will soon get used to Crystal’s laugh which now seems to startle her.
Mother and daughter are sleeping soundly now. I held Madeline and patted Crystal’s bum until both were down. We have a short walk this afternoon with Catherine to show us around Shamian Island as a tour and to show us where to go for other services such as shopping, dinning, laundry and messages. Shamian Island is in Guangzhou and is where our hotel, The White Swan Hotel, is located.
I called my folks this morning and they said there was a big earthquake here in China yesterday as well. The stories in the local papers indicate there was great loss and we hope the best for everyone effected. Crystal and I were in the Guangzhou getting ready to meet Madeline .at the time of the quake and did not feel anything. Our legs were wobbly however for another reason
By the way I have already changed Madeline’s diaper and will be changing more in the future.
I don’t know if I was bawling like Crystal said when they brought Madeline out however the room suddenly got very dusty. I was not able to speak and I was not able to keep my eyes from watering. Always wear eye protection, I guess. Regarding the pictures which only show me holding Madeline in an awkward way, we also had a video camera which our Holt escort, Catherine, was using when they handed Madeline to Crystal. I held her for most of the rest of the day. Crystal gets her back when there is a diaper change.
Crystal mentioned that Madeline was not feeling well and we were lucky to get a house call from a Doctor. We gave her the medications last night and this morning and we believe she is feeling better. She did not take a bottle from us last night, even though we had the assistance of Catherine and Phoebe from Holt in preparing the bottle. They mentioned this can be normal and they told a story about a particularly stubborn child who held out 7-days before willingly taking a bottle. We were lucky and Madeline was feeling comfortable enough to enthusiastically take a bottle for lunch today. It did help that we went out this morning to complete more official paperwork with Phoebe who took us to a market where we purchased the formula Madeline was used to. She was hungry this morning and willing to take a bottle of the stuff we brought from Portland however it was not to her liking. She persevered and did take ¾’s of a bottle which is more than I would have done. In fact right now I am taking tomatoes off my sandwich.
We both fell asleep last night laying across our bed staring into Madeline’s crib. Crystal mentioned in her posting our earlier than Crystal & I would normally need, wake up was to be 6:30am however at 5:00am we woke and were only a little late to our 8:30am appointment.
Madeline is quite. Only when we are giving her medicine or attempting to clean out her nose have we heard her express herself and this is a “what are you doing to me” and “I do not like this” type of cry. I have not seen her smile yet. She has a serious look about her or a frown expression. Oh well, she is not feeling well and doesn’t know who we are. Some information we received about her stated “she is wary of people she does not know” and that is us. She will soon get used to Crystal’s laugh which now seems to startle her.
Mother and daughter are sleeping soundly now. I held Madeline and patted Crystal’s bum until both were down. We have a short walk this afternoon with Catherine to show us around Shamian Island as a tour and to show us where to go for other services such as shopping, dinning, laundry and messages. Shamian Island is in Guangzhou and is where our hotel, The White Swan Hotel, is located.
I called my folks this morning and they said there was a big earthquake here in China yesterday as well. The stories in the local papers indicate there was great loss and we hope the best for everyone effected. Crystal and I were in the Guangzhou getting ready to meet Madeline .at the time of the quake and did not feel anything. Our legs were wobbly however for another reason
By the way I have already changed Madeline’s diaper and will be changing more in the future.
Gotcha Day!
Day 6
Monday, May 12th
Gotcha Day!
Jim and I had an early start this morning. I was sad to say goodbye to Beijing. We had a wonderful time there. I slept very well last night. Poor Jim – he did not have a good night’s rest . The plane ride to Guangzhou was uneventful. We were met at the airport by a travel escort from Lotus Travel (they work with Holt) and was greeted by the Holt staff at our swanky hotel. It is gorgeous!
We had about two hours until we met Madeline so we ate some lunch and organized gifts to give to the director and the staff. We left the hotel at 3:30 pm, arrived at the Civil Affairs building at 3:45 pm. We went up to the 8th floor and this is where the orphanages bring the little ones to meet their new families. Walking in, I caught a glimpse of Madeline sitting on her nannies lap looking like she was about to fall asleep. We waited around for another 5-10 minutes or so and then they brought her out to meet us. She is so beautiful! Jim and I both bawled and the previous feelings of “what have we done” and “we liked our current status as non parents” changed immediately. She has stolen our hearts and we are completely in love with her. Now, I finally get it when parents say that once they first meet their child for the first time it is a love that is felt so deep and it is unconditional.
After we had our first moments with Madeline, we were able to sit down with the orphanage director and one of Madeline’s favorite nannies to ask some questions. She has been a quiet child from day one. Loves bright, interactive toys and has had no significant illnesses. Unfortunately, though she has developed some congestion and has a possible sinus infection. So we had a doctor make a house call tonight to our room and she is on antibiotics and should be feeling better soon. Our Holt escort stated that 3 out of 4 children last week who travelled to Guangzhou from local orphanages to meet their forever families developed upper respiratory tract infections. I am not too concerned as we are in good hands here.
She has not taken a bottle as of yet. When she is hungry she will let us know. She is very tired after traveling by bus 3 hours to come here today. She is sleeping soundly in her crib.
We have some more business to do tomorrow at The Consulate – we have to be in the lobby at 8:30 am. Normally, we would maybe wake up at 7:30 am and have plenty of time to get ready and have breakfast. Now, since we have to get organized and packed up with Maddy’s things we will be getting up at 6:30 am at the latest. Welcome to parenthood! Enjoy the pictures!
Monday, May 12th
Gotcha Day!
Jim and I had an early start this morning. I was sad to say goodbye to Beijing. We had a wonderful time there. I slept very well last night. Poor Jim – he did not have a good night’s rest . The plane ride to Guangzhou was uneventful. We were met at the airport by a travel escort from Lotus Travel (they work with Holt) and was greeted by the Holt staff at our swanky hotel. It is gorgeous!
We had about two hours until we met Madeline so we ate some lunch and organized gifts to give to the director and the staff. We left the hotel at 3:30 pm, arrived at the Civil Affairs building at 3:45 pm. We went up to the 8th floor and this is where the orphanages bring the little ones to meet their new families. Walking in, I caught a glimpse of Madeline sitting on her nannies lap looking like she was about to fall asleep. We waited around for another 5-10 minutes or so and then they brought her out to meet us. She is so beautiful! Jim and I both bawled and the previous feelings of “what have we done” and “we liked our current status as non parents” changed immediately. She has stolen our hearts and we are completely in love with her. Now, I finally get it when parents say that once they first meet their child for the first time it is a love that is felt so deep and it is unconditional.
After we had our first moments with Madeline, we were able to sit down with the orphanage director and one of Madeline’s favorite nannies to ask some questions. She has been a quiet child from day one. Loves bright, interactive toys and has had no significant illnesses. Unfortunately, though she has developed some congestion and has a possible sinus infection. So we had a doctor make a house call tonight to our room and she is on antibiotics and should be feeling better soon. Our Holt escort stated that 3 out of 4 children last week who travelled to Guangzhou from local orphanages to meet their forever families developed upper respiratory tract infections. I am not too concerned as we are in good hands here.
She has not taken a bottle as of yet. When she is hungry she will let us know. She is very tired after traveling by bus 3 hours to come here today. She is sleeping soundly in her crib.
We have some more business to do tomorrow at The Consulate – we have to be in the lobby at 8:30 am. Normally, we would maybe wake up at 7:30 am and have plenty of time to get ready and have breakfast. Now, since we have to get organized and packed up with Maddy’s things we will be getting up at 6:30 am at the latest. Welcome to parenthood! Enjoy the pictures!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Day 6 – Gotcha Day
On the airplane to Guangzhou now. Staring at the new pictures of Madeline and re-reading the instruction manual they gave us at the orientation meeting. I can not wait to meet her. Hope she feels the same. I am a little tired as I did not sleep very well last night. Kept waking up thinking about playing golf…nice easy swing, visualizing making good contact and hitting the ball straight down the fairway. Playing softball… getting in front of the ball, watching the ball into my glove, quickly coming up to make the throw. Oh now basketball…replaying a rec game I played 5 years ago. Go up strong for a 3-point shot, follow through, swish. All these thoughts no wonder it was a restless night.
We packed all but the essentials before sleep and we were up, showered, completely packed, and in the lobby by 5:30. Check out was fast as we paid our hotel bills the night before. Meet up with our escort in the hotel lobby and off to the airport where she checked us in for our flight. No problems. It is like she has done this before. She was our group tour guide yesterday and it was nice to have one on one time with her. Crystal found out her husband is a Chinese medicine doctor and we had a pleasant informative conversation on the way to the airport. We have been very lucky. No traffic problems to speak of and most of our tours have been with groups of three, just us and the tour guide. This allowed us to go at our own pace, ask questions, and get to know our guides.
Staring at the pictures of Madeline. The airport terminal we departed from was different from the one we arrived at. This one is brand new, beautiful, and huge. The terminal itself appears to be a large dragon and a parking garage looks like a turtle. Our escort led us to the security gate and we were off. Our flight was still a couple of hours away at 8:30. A cup of coffee, another look at the instruction manual, and walking around looking at all the stores passed the time. We arrive in Guangzhou around 11:50. - Jim
We packed all but the essentials before sleep and we were up, showered, completely packed, and in the lobby by 5:30. Check out was fast as we paid our hotel bills the night before. Meet up with our escort in the hotel lobby and off to the airport where she checked us in for our flight. No problems. It is like she has done this before. She was our group tour guide yesterday and it was nice to have one on one time with her. Crystal found out her husband is a Chinese medicine doctor and we had a pleasant informative conversation on the way to the airport. We have been very lucky. No traffic problems to speak of and most of our tours have been with groups of three, just us and the tour guide. This allowed us to go at our own pace, ask questions, and get to know our guides.
Staring at the pictures of Madeline. The airport terminal we departed from was different from the one we arrived at. This one is brand new, beautiful, and huge. The terminal itself appears to be a large dragon and a parking garage looks like a turtle. Our escort led us to the security gate and we were off. Our flight was still a couple of hours away at 8:30. A cup of coffee, another look at the instruction manual, and walking around looking at all the stores passed the time. We arrive in Guangzhou around 11:50. - Jim
Day 5 - Happy Mother's Day
Our Holt orientation meeting was this morning and we received two updated photo’s of Madeline. She has long hair!!!!! The same chubby cheeks. She weighs almost 21 pounds and is 27 ½ inches tall. Very cute. We can hardly contain ourselves. The room must have been dusty as my eyes became watery.
After hiking to the top of the Great Wall and back yesterday my legs were like noodles, very wobbly, so I went to sleep early and Crystal stayed up to write. Did I tell you we received two more pictures of Madeline? Yes we did. We also meet two other adopting families at the orientation. One couple from SE Portland and another from NE Iowa . We all ate lunch together and took a half day tour of the Temple of Heaven and Tian’An Men Square. This has been a fantastic trip for sightseeing. I am not able to amply describe all these experiences. Fantastic, awesome, breathtaking…and that just begins to describe Crystal. The weather today did not start out well. It rained this morning while we were inside for the orientation and lunch. It was very windy and very chilly during our tour of the Temple of Heaven. However the sun came out while were touring Tian’An Men Square and it was quite nice. Madeline, Madeline, Madeline. Back at the hotel we had a small dinner with the other families and off to our rooms to pack for tomorrow. Check out is 5:30am for us for our flight to see Madeline in person. Currently we are making sure all our batteries are charged.
Have you seen our new photo’s of Madeline???
After hiking to the top of the Great Wall and back yesterday my legs were like noodles, very wobbly, so I went to sleep early and Crystal stayed up to write. Did I tell you we received two more pictures of Madeline? Yes we did. We also meet two other adopting families at the orientation. One couple from SE Portland and another from NE Iowa . We all ate lunch together and took a half day tour of the Temple of Heaven and Tian’An Men Square. This has been a fantastic trip for sightseeing. I am not able to amply describe all these experiences. Fantastic, awesome, breathtaking…and that just begins to describe Crystal. The weather today did not start out well. It rained this morning while we were inside for the orientation and lunch. It was very windy and very chilly during our tour of the Temple of Heaven. However the sun came out while were touring Tian’An Men Square and it was quite nice. Madeline, Madeline, Madeline. Back at the hotel we had a small dinner with the other families and off to our rooms to pack for tomorrow. Check out is 5:30am for us for our flight to see Madeline in person. Currently we are making sure all our batteries are charged.
Have you seen our new photo’s of Madeline???
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Day 4 tours
Today’s experiences were wonderful. We went to The Great Wall, The Cloisonné Factory, a traditional tea house and Hutong Road.
We left the hotel this morning around 8 am and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was sunny and in the low 70’s. We left the hustle and bustle of Beijing, although that took awhile as traffic was crazy, even on a Saturday morning and drove through the beautiful countryside to The Great Wall. Once we arrived at The Great Wall vendors were setting up many different tourist items for guinea pigs like us but we resisted the urge until we go shopping in Guangzhou. Many Chinese natives were there as well to get an early start. You have the choice of walking the entire portion of The Great Wall or taking a cable car to another part of The Wall and hiking up it to the tallest point. We were easily convinced by Juan to take the cable car. Riding in the cable car reminded me of the information I have read about on eco friendly transportation that is used in Costa Rica. The cable car ride was quite enjoyable.
No words can describe the beauty of the Great Wall especially on a day like today. It is surrounded by such lush green foliage combined with the mountains. We were so lucky it was a clear sunny day as we had views from every possible angle of The Great Wall and its surroundings. This year is the 20th anniversary of when this portion of The Great Wall was opened to the public.
Our guide informed us that during the time that The Great Wall was built if you were one of the unfortunate laborers picked to work at The Great Wall you were destined to work there until you died. Once you passed away your body was buried under the wall. The bricks that were used to build the wall were somehow transported from SW China. Can you imagine what kind of a process that involved? Also, no wonder it took so long to build. I have included pictures of the brick because there are shade variations of the color of the brick along The Great Wall as you hike along it. The darker the color of the brick the newer it is in origin. Jim and I walked about half way up the wall together. Jim, I am proud to say climbed to the very top. Whoa! Way to go! I stayed behind and enjoyed the scenery. It was so refreshing to spend time breathing the fresh air and enjoying the scenery.
The original intent of The Wall was to serve as a protective barrier for the Emperor from the Mongolians. You will see some pictures of the watch towers. They consisted of three levels. The first level housed supplies, the second level provided sleeping quarters and the third level consisted of the guards keeping watch for the enemies. Once some type of threat was detected huge fires compiled of wolf dung were made in the towers and this is how word made its way to The Emperor that something was not right. It was an absolutely remarkable experience and we can thank Madeline for bringing us to one of the great wonders of the world!
Next, we had another fantastic lunch at The Cloisonné Factory. Authentic pieces are only manufactured at one this one site in Beijing. Every part of the process is done the old fashioned way. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
We stopped by area where the Olympic Village is going to be housed. Very impressive. The Bird’s Nest as it is called here will be the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held as well as some events. Housed adjacent next to it is the cube shaped aquatic center. Also, all of the broadcasting will be done from a building that was built in the shape of the torch.
I love tea and we had the opportunity to sample some tea and learn about their health benefits in a traditional tea house. It was lovely and the tea rocked. It was delicious.
Then we ended the day in Hutong Village. This is the authentic part of Beijing dating back to when the officials lived adjacent to the emperor. We observed “old Beijing” and learned a vast amount of the history behind these architecture dwellings. Most importantly, we were able to interact with the people of this area and that what really made this visit a very culturally enriching experience.
First of all we were whisked around the area via rickshaw. It was fun. Hutong has two meanings: narrow streets and well water. The streets were very narrow and windy. This area of homes/buildings has its own community. There were stores, barbershops, hair salons, restaurants, open air markets, etc. In the community square there is a bell tower. Men were sitting around playing Mahjong. Others were just observing the street traffic passing by on a Saturday afternoon. Families were with their children. It was fun to observe the locals “just doing their thing.”
We had the honor of visiting with a gentleman at his home in Hutong. His family originally bought the area where he lives in 1936 but once the Cultural Revolution came around the land was seized back by the government. Fortunately his family had the money to buy the property back from them for what would roughly equal to around $200,000 in today’s day and age. His home is beautiful. The government remodeled it for him and it represents old China in that there is a courtyard with a beautiful garden surrounded by two to three buildings that represent old China. The windows were handmade with the signature Chinese styles and the front of the dwellings that were part of his home were restored with ornate designs.
We had a very nice chat with him in his sitting room which was decorated in traditional Chinese décor. We asked him many questions about his life, Chinese culture and the way of life in Hutong. He was very gracious.
The government is very strict about preserving this part of Beijing culture. If there are any renovations or changes to a dwelling it must be approved by the government. The homes must mimic its original style. The entrance to the homes are red, the exteriors of the homes are gray. There is no way to efficiently introduce a sewage system and also preserve the Hutong area so people use public washrooms to take care of their hygienic needs. Coal is the primary method of heating the dwellings although the gentleman we visited with today has an electric furnace he can use as needed. Electricity is very expensive so it is more cost effective to use coal.
Hutong was beautiful. I enjoyed the slower pace of life and I could see, hear and feel the sense of value the Chinese have towards family and the commitment to their community. I completely identified with these people even though I live halfway across the world. I have treasured each and every moment that we have had to learn about Maddy’s cultural roots. I am looking forward to learning even more especially with her! Enjoy our pictures!
We left the hotel this morning around 8 am and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was sunny and in the low 70’s. We left the hustle and bustle of Beijing, although that took awhile as traffic was crazy, even on a Saturday morning and drove through the beautiful countryside to The Great Wall. Once we arrived at The Great Wall vendors were setting up many different tourist items for guinea pigs like us but we resisted the urge until we go shopping in Guangzhou. Many Chinese natives were there as well to get an early start. You have the choice of walking the entire portion of The Great Wall or taking a cable car to another part of The Wall and hiking up it to the tallest point. We were easily convinced by Juan to take the cable car. Riding in the cable car reminded me of the information I have read about on eco friendly transportation that is used in Costa Rica. The cable car ride was quite enjoyable.
No words can describe the beauty of the Great Wall especially on a day like today. It is surrounded by such lush green foliage combined with the mountains. We were so lucky it was a clear sunny day as we had views from every possible angle of The Great Wall and its surroundings. This year is the 20th anniversary of when this portion of The Great Wall was opened to the public.
Our guide informed us that during the time that The Great Wall was built if you were one of the unfortunate laborers picked to work at The Great Wall you were destined to work there until you died. Once you passed away your body was buried under the wall. The bricks that were used to build the wall were somehow transported from SW China. Can you imagine what kind of a process that involved? Also, no wonder it took so long to build. I have included pictures of the brick because there are shade variations of the color of the brick along The Great Wall as you hike along it. The darker the color of the brick the newer it is in origin. Jim and I walked about half way up the wall together. Jim, I am proud to say climbed to the very top. Whoa! Way to go! I stayed behind and enjoyed the scenery. It was so refreshing to spend time breathing the fresh air and enjoying the scenery.
The original intent of The Wall was to serve as a protective barrier for the Emperor from the Mongolians. You will see some pictures of the watch towers. They consisted of three levels. The first level housed supplies, the second level provided sleeping quarters and the third level consisted of the guards keeping watch for the enemies. Once some type of threat was detected huge fires compiled of wolf dung were made in the towers and this is how word made its way to The Emperor that something was not right. It was an absolutely remarkable experience and we can thank Madeline for bringing us to one of the great wonders of the world!
Next, we had another fantastic lunch at The Cloisonné Factory. Authentic pieces are only manufactured at one this one site in Beijing. Every part of the process is done the old fashioned way. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
We stopped by area where the Olympic Village is going to be housed. Very impressive. The Bird’s Nest as it is called here will be the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held as well as some events. Housed adjacent next to it is the cube shaped aquatic center. Also, all of the broadcasting will be done from a building that was built in the shape of the torch.
I love tea and we had the opportunity to sample some tea and learn about their health benefits in a traditional tea house. It was lovely and the tea rocked. It was delicious.
Then we ended the day in Hutong Village. This is the authentic part of Beijing dating back to when the officials lived adjacent to the emperor. We observed “old Beijing” and learned a vast amount of the history behind these architecture dwellings. Most importantly, we were able to interact with the people of this area and that what really made this visit a very culturally enriching experience.
First of all we were whisked around the area via rickshaw. It was fun. Hutong has two meanings: narrow streets and well water. The streets were very narrow and windy. This area of homes/buildings has its own community. There were stores, barbershops, hair salons, restaurants, open air markets, etc. In the community square there is a bell tower. Men were sitting around playing Mahjong. Others were just observing the street traffic passing by on a Saturday afternoon. Families were with their children. It was fun to observe the locals “just doing their thing.”
We had the honor of visiting with a gentleman at his home in Hutong. His family originally bought the area where he lives in 1936 but once the Cultural Revolution came around the land was seized back by the government. Fortunately his family had the money to buy the property back from them for what would roughly equal to around $200,000 in today’s day and age. His home is beautiful. The government remodeled it for him and it represents old China in that there is a courtyard with a beautiful garden surrounded by two to three buildings that represent old China. The windows were handmade with the signature Chinese styles and the front of the dwellings that were part of his home were restored with ornate designs.
We had a very nice chat with him in his sitting room which was decorated in traditional Chinese décor. We asked him many questions about his life, Chinese culture and the way of life in Hutong. He was very gracious.
The government is very strict about preserving this part of Beijing culture. If there are any renovations or changes to a dwelling it must be approved by the government. The homes must mimic its original style. The entrance to the homes are red, the exteriors of the homes are gray. There is no way to efficiently introduce a sewage system and also preserve the Hutong area so people use public washrooms to take care of their hygienic needs. Coal is the primary method of heating the dwellings although the gentleman we visited with today has an electric furnace he can use as needed. Electricity is very expensive so it is more cost effective to use coal.
Hutong was beautiful. I enjoyed the slower pace of life and I could see, hear and feel the sense of value the Chinese have towards family and the commitment to their community. I completely identified with these people even though I live halfway across the world. I have treasured each and every moment that we have had to learn about Maddy’s cultural roots. I am looking forward to learning even more especially with her! Enjoy our pictures!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Day 3
Hi everyone,
Okay, I have had my 8 hours of sleep now so it my turn to write about my experiences. Today, we had the incredible opportunity to experience the very modern, fast paced Beijing coupled with its rich history. Our morning started with our tour guide and our driver picking us up at the hotel. Her name is Guan or Linda and she is a fantastic tour guide. She is the “typical” young person that I have been reading about in the US who is from NW China. She went to college here in Beijing and has stayed here after completing her degree. Linda only returns home once a year during The Chinese New Year or Spring Festival as it takes over 40 hours by train to return home to see her family. She is full of ambition and represents the generation of Chinese who have left their roots to come to the big city for better opportunities. Guan was very well versed regarding the history of The Forbidden City and Summer Palace.
Before I speak about our site seeing excursions today I would like to comment on my observations of Beijing. The traffic is absolutely crazy since the economy has done so well cars are very popular. Although, there are designated bike lanes and many Chinese ride their bikes as a mode of transportation as well. Regarding the traffic – cars have the right of way and people drive like maniacs while yet not wearing seat belts. There were a couple of times we winced as our well experienced driver swerved in and out of places that I would not even attempt to try to park in the states.
There are some hard core efforts to prepare for the Olympics. New buildings, renovations, the effort to improve pollution, etc. These efforts are obvious as it was very visible to us as we drove around the city the great amount of labor and money that has been put into it for the Olympics.
Now on to the site seeing. Today was an incredible experience. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to experience these adventures. The rich history which is a part of Maddy’s heritage has touched my heart.
First, we went to the NW part of Beijing and visited Summer Palace. This is where the Emperor and the rest of his servants stayed for short periods usually during the summer for some R & R. The thing that struck me most was the tranquility. There is a huge lake with a man made mountain that is just breath taking. It is hard to describe the beauty of this place. I was overcome with a sense of peace and relaxation. There are several buildings that I tried to capture on film but I am sure it does not do it justice.
My favorite part of this place was the walkway that one of the emperor’s had built for his mother so that she could enjoy the view of the lake when it was raining outside. How’s that for a thoughtful son? In the interior on the ceilings, there are hand painted scenes that represent different places in China. The paintings were so beautiful and no two were the same. I imagined how peaceful and relaxing this place was for the Imperial family while walking through it. The Chinese find animals and certain numbers to have special significance. The theme here at this place was tranquility coupled with using the symbolism of the turtle and the bat.
Next on our whirlwind journey today we went to a world renowned silk factory. We were lucky enough to receive a private tour of how silk is made. It is amazing how durable and strong it is so that is why it is the obvious choice for natives to use during the 4 distinct seasons.
Lunch was excellent. We ate at a little Chinese bistro and enjoyed a very flavorful but again not greasy feast. The pictures of the strange sinks in which Jim has his hand on someone’s butt cheek is from this establishment. Funny, yet cheeky (no pun intended)
Our last outside outing for the day was The Forbidden City. This is where the Emperor and his family spent most of his time. I look back fondly of my initial impression of the vast courtyard with the words grand, stately and vast. There are no trees in the main courtyard. This was used as a tactic so enemies could not hind behind them. Also, I took a picture of the original cobblestone that lines the area. The cobblestones are stacked very deeply into the earth so enemies could not dig tunnels and pop up into the courtyard to hurt the Emperor. The City itself is shaped like a rectangle and the first half was only for the Emperor and other men to conduct official business, etc. The buildings were ornately decorated with fine craftsmanship of gold and paint. The Chinese have been working hard on renovating all of these structures before the Olympics and they have done an excellent job.
The second half of the building was the Emperor’s private quarters for some R & R. His many concubines were lived in the East and West part of the building. We were able to see where the Empress and Emperor slept when they were first married. They were only allowed to stay together for 3 days. Thereafter, they would have to obtain permission from the Emperor’s mother. She really is the one who ran the show.
Also, I would like to make a comment about the concubines. I did not know much about the life of a concubine but learned a lot today and found it very interesting. First of all, the empress would choose the concubines. I took a picture that shows a long wall on the outside of the palace. They would line up there and the empress would shoo away the attractive woman because she did not want them competing with her. Once a woman became a concubine, it was a rather isolated life. Generally speaking they were not allowed to return home to see family ever again and were confined to life inside the palace.
The Imperil Garden was beautiful. There were many similar plants and landscaping similar to The Chinese Garden in Portland. Absolutely peaceful. A wonderful place for meditating. Okay, Jim first thing when we get home we are turning the backyard into an Imperial Garden for Empress Crystal and Princess Madeline. One of the Emperors’s loved to go out there to feed his deer.
Overall, The Forbidden Palace was breathtaking. The grandeur combined with the very distinct architecture was very interesting.
The movie The Last Emperor was filmed there so when we return we will have to watch it again.
Our last activity of the day was the Chinese Acrobatic Show. It was fantastic. We are lucky because they have just perfected a new show that will be playing during the Olympics. These men and women are incredible artists and athletes. Obviously they have spent years in training to perform these incredible “moves” or “stances” with their bodies. The costumes were beautiful as well. Regretfully, no pics from the show were taken as it was not allowed.
Today was by all means just an incredible informative, visual experience that touched my heart.
The weather has been absolutely perfect for sightseeing. Today it was maybe in the 60’s and overcast with slight sprinkles and a little windy at times. No big deal for us native to the Northwest.
Tomorrow, it off to The Great Wall, etc.
Happy Mother’s Day to all a little early. Only 2 more days to Madeline!
Crystal
Okay, I have had my 8 hours of sleep now so it my turn to write about my experiences. Today, we had the incredible opportunity to experience the very modern, fast paced Beijing coupled with its rich history. Our morning started with our tour guide and our driver picking us up at the hotel. Her name is Guan or Linda and she is a fantastic tour guide. She is the “typical” young person that I have been reading about in the US who is from NW China. She went to college here in Beijing and has stayed here after completing her degree. Linda only returns home once a year during The Chinese New Year or Spring Festival as it takes over 40 hours by train to return home to see her family. She is full of ambition and represents the generation of Chinese who have left their roots to come to the big city for better opportunities. Guan was very well versed regarding the history of The Forbidden City and Summer Palace.
Before I speak about our site seeing excursions today I would like to comment on my observations of Beijing. The traffic is absolutely crazy since the economy has done so well cars are very popular. Although, there are designated bike lanes and many Chinese ride their bikes as a mode of transportation as well. Regarding the traffic – cars have the right of way and people drive like maniacs while yet not wearing seat belts. There were a couple of times we winced as our well experienced driver swerved in and out of places that I would not even attempt to try to park in the states.
There are some hard core efforts to prepare for the Olympics. New buildings, renovations, the effort to improve pollution, etc. These efforts are obvious as it was very visible to us as we drove around the city the great amount of labor and money that has been put into it for the Olympics.
Now on to the site seeing. Today was an incredible experience. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to experience these adventures. The rich history which is a part of Maddy’s heritage has touched my heart.
First, we went to the NW part of Beijing and visited Summer Palace. This is where the Emperor and the rest of his servants stayed for short periods usually during the summer for some R & R. The thing that struck me most was the tranquility. There is a huge lake with a man made mountain that is just breath taking. It is hard to describe the beauty of this place. I was overcome with a sense of peace and relaxation. There are several buildings that I tried to capture on film but I am sure it does not do it justice.
My favorite part of this place was the walkway that one of the emperor’s had built for his mother so that she could enjoy the view of the lake when it was raining outside. How’s that for a thoughtful son? In the interior on the ceilings, there are hand painted scenes that represent different places in China. The paintings were so beautiful and no two were the same. I imagined how peaceful and relaxing this place was for the Imperial family while walking through it. The Chinese find animals and certain numbers to have special significance. The theme here at this place was tranquility coupled with using the symbolism of the turtle and the bat.
Next on our whirlwind journey today we went to a world renowned silk factory. We were lucky enough to receive a private tour of how silk is made. It is amazing how durable and strong it is so that is why it is the obvious choice for natives to use during the 4 distinct seasons.
Lunch was excellent. We ate at a little Chinese bistro and enjoyed a very flavorful but again not greasy feast. The pictures of the strange sinks in which Jim has his hand on someone’s butt cheek is from this establishment. Funny, yet cheeky (no pun intended)
Our last outside outing for the day was The Forbidden City. This is where the Emperor and his family spent most of his time. I look back fondly of my initial impression of the vast courtyard with the words grand, stately and vast. There are no trees in the main courtyard. This was used as a tactic so enemies could not hind behind them. Also, I took a picture of the original cobblestone that lines the area. The cobblestones are stacked very deeply into the earth so enemies could not dig tunnels and pop up into the courtyard to hurt the Emperor. The City itself is shaped like a rectangle and the first half was only for the Emperor and other men to conduct official business, etc. The buildings were ornately decorated with fine craftsmanship of gold and paint. The Chinese have been working hard on renovating all of these structures before the Olympics and they have done an excellent job.
The second half of the building was the Emperor’s private quarters for some R & R. His many concubines were lived in the East and West part of the building. We were able to see where the Empress and Emperor slept when they were first married. They were only allowed to stay together for 3 days. Thereafter, they would have to obtain permission from the Emperor’s mother. She really is the one who ran the show.
Also, I would like to make a comment about the concubines. I did not know much about the life of a concubine but learned a lot today and found it very interesting. First of all, the empress would choose the concubines. I took a picture that shows a long wall on the outside of the palace. They would line up there and the empress would shoo away the attractive woman because she did not want them competing with her. Once a woman became a concubine, it was a rather isolated life. Generally speaking they were not allowed to return home to see family ever again and were confined to life inside the palace.
The Imperil Garden was beautiful. There were many similar plants and landscaping similar to The Chinese Garden in Portland. Absolutely peaceful. A wonderful place for meditating. Okay, Jim first thing when we get home we are turning the backyard into an Imperial Garden for Empress Crystal and Princess Madeline. One of the Emperors’s loved to go out there to feed his deer.
Overall, The Forbidden Palace was breathtaking. The grandeur combined with the very distinct architecture was very interesting.
The movie The Last Emperor was filmed there so when we return we will have to watch it again.
Our last activity of the day was the Chinese Acrobatic Show. It was fantastic. We are lucky because they have just perfected a new show that will be playing during the Olympics. These men and women are incredible artists and athletes. Obviously they have spent years in training to perform these incredible “moves” or “stances” with their bodies. The costumes were beautiful as well. Regretfully, no pics from the show were taken as it was not allowed.
Today was by all means just an incredible informative, visual experience that touched my heart.
The weather has been absolutely perfect for sightseeing. Today it was maybe in the 60’s and overcast with slight sprinkles and a little windy at times. No big deal for us native to the Northwest.
Tomorrow, it off to The Great Wall, etc.
Happy Mother’s Day to all a little early. Only 2 more days to Madeline!
Crystal
Day 3 - Tours
Getting into rhythm . Today we meet our tour guide for the next two days, the lovely Ms. Juan (?spelling?). Sorry I got side tracked. Today we took tours of the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City, and enjoyed an Acrobatics Show. All were totally awesome. This is trip is going to be LEGEN...(wait for it)...DARY. We also visited a silk factory where we learned about Chinese silk, silk worms, how the silk is separated and made into comforters and clothing. Lunch was very good at a Neo-cuisine Chinese restaurant near the Forbidden City however the washroom there is interesting. Tomorrow more tours. - Jim
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Day 2
Day 2
After a good night’s sleep or is it a good day’s sleep? The Jiangou Garden Hotel has a nice breakfast buffet which we enjoyed. We then ventured out on our own for a walking tour of the local shopping. The weather is warm but bearable. We visited a couple of different shopping centers. Our main objective is finding bottled water, and we were successful. It was fun walking the malls and their food court type areas. We are looking forward to trying some of the local KFC’s, McDonalds, and Starbucks. After a few hours we ventured back to our hotel, which has a nice Japanese restaurant, for lunch. After a short rest back in our room we were off to our massage appointments, which were a relaxing 2 hours for Crystal and a new experience for me. I feel all oily now. Anyway Dinner was nice. We had a small but tasty meal at a Chinese restaurant here in the hotel. Tomorrow we are off on guided tours of the Beijing, The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, and a Chinese acrobatic show. - Jim
Hi everyone,
It’s Crystal – The travel was fine yesterday but I was exhausted flying the last leg from Tokyo to Beijing. Normally, I can sleep the moment I am on the airplane but my neck was bothering me and I could never quite get the seat to adjust right so I read, watched 27 Dresses and people watched. We did not have issues with delays and everything went quite smoothly which is wonderful.
I am glad that we had today off to relax and hang out. I know that I would not of done very well today if we had to get up at 6am our time here to go site seeing.
I do not have much to add to Jim’s blog other than the weather was gorgeous today. It was in the mid 70’s and the humidity was relatively low for this part of the world so it made walking around quite bearable.
The massages were wonderful and it was fun to do something with Jim that he would not interested in doing in the United States. The young lady that gave Jim his massage kept yelling at him to relax. It was funny. I can’t wait to get a massage in Guangzhou as well especially after carrying Madeline around for about 5 minutes.
We had wonderful Chinese food for dinner in one of the restaurants in the hotel. It was very good. Very flavorful, yet not greasy.
The hotel is gorgeous and right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Beijing. The staff is excellent and they have provided us with wonderful service.
The pollution was not much of an issue today but that is only addressing the issue based on observations around our hotel. Our escort that met us at the airport from Lotus Travel explained how hard China has worked on the pollution and other issues for the Olympics in August.
Signing off for now…..
After a good night’s sleep or is it a good day’s sleep? The Jiangou Garden Hotel has a nice breakfast buffet which we enjoyed. We then ventured out on our own for a walking tour of the local shopping. The weather is warm but bearable. We visited a couple of different shopping centers. Our main objective is finding bottled water, and we were successful. It was fun walking the malls and their food court type areas. We are looking forward to trying some of the local KFC’s, McDonalds, and Starbucks. After a few hours we ventured back to our hotel, which has a nice Japanese restaurant, for lunch. After a short rest back in our room we were off to our massage appointments, which were a relaxing 2 hours for Crystal and a new experience for me. I feel all oily now. Anyway Dinner was nice. We had a small but tasty meal at a Chinese restaurant here in the hotel. Tomorrow we are off on guided tours of the Beijing, The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, and a Chinese acrobatic show. - Jim
Hi everyone,
It’s Crystal – The travel was fine yesterday but I was exhausted flying the last leg from Tokyo to Beijing. Normally, I can sleep the moment I am on the airplane but my neck was bothering me and I could never quite get the seat to adjust right so I read, watched 27 Dresses and people watched. We did not have issues with delays and everything went quite smoothly which is wonderful.
I am glad that we had today off to relax and hang out. I know that I would not of done very well today if we had to get up at 6am our time here to go site seeing.
I do not have much to add to Jim’s blog other than the weather was gorgeous today. It was in the mid 70’s and the humidity was relatively low for this part of the world so it made walking around quite bearable.
The massages were wonderful and it was fun to do something with Jim that he would not interested in doing in the United States. The young lady that gave Jim his massage kept yelling at him to relax. It was funny. I can’t wait to get a massage in Guangzhou as well especially after carrying Madeline around for about 5 minutes.
We had wonderful Chinese food for dinner in one of the restaurants in the hotel. It was very good. Very flavorful, yet not greasy.
The hotel is gorgeous and right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Beijing. The staff is excellent and they have provided us with wonderful service.
The pollution was not much of an issue today but that is only addressing the issue based on observations around our hotel. Our escort that met us at the airport from Lotus Travel explained how hard China has worked on the pollution and other issues for the Olympics in August.
Signing off for now…..
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Day 1 - Travel PDX to Tokoyo to Beijing
Tired, Oh so tired. We made it, we are in Beijing and at the Jianguo Garden Hotel. No problems. Everything went smooth; flights and customs. We meet our escort(?) at the airport and made a quick trip to the hotel. Crystal was not able to sleep on the planes and is now asleep. I was able to catch a couple of hours of sleep however I am tired and will be short. Sorry, Crystal has the passwords to add the photo’s we took today.
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