Day 16 - Home

Made it home!  Thanks for the many prays, thoughts and well wishes while we were away.  Many thanks to mom for sharing the journey with us and Gabbie and Poppy for taking care of Emma and Sophie for us.  The day was a little of a fog; feeling the effects of 24 hours of traveling.  We did manage to call the Hogs of course...

 

Emma and Sophie just love their baby sister; and she loves them.  They are being excellent big sisters.  Our welcome home from our house - a/c not working...hopefully something simple.



Day 15 - coming home

We stayed at the Regal airport hotel in Hong Kong prior to leaving in the morning.  It was by far our least favorite hotel; the room was much smaller and not near as updated or nice.  Essentially paying for the convenience of being able to walk to the terminal, which I have to say was very nice.  The flight was approximate 12.5 hours to San Francisco.  We had upgraded to economy plus but mom was split from us.  We asked if they could put us all together, but we assumed would still be in the econ plus, but they put us altogether in regular economy.  After some discussion they let us keep the 3 economy seats and mom got to keep her economy plus seat - actually turned out to be the best; Grace took a couple good long naps and it was a life saver being able to lay her down in her own seat.  After a near four hour flight to St Louis we were finally close to home.  We were warmly greeted by Gabbie, Poppy and the girls.

newest US citizen

Day 14

Our last day in Guangzhou; bittersweet.  This trip has exceeded all expectations I had.  Grace seems to be adjusting well; still the happiest little baby.  In addition to her two bottom teeth, her two front teeth are coming in.

Lunch was at the hotel bar - hotdogs and beer for mom and me; Malia opted for some noodle soup.  Was actually quite good.  The bar is having it's eight annual Octoberfest soon; looks to be a good time with German food and beer.

 

We said good bye to our excellent guide Jason and the rest of the CCAI families and took a van to Hong Kong.  We had the option of flight or much cheaper train ride, but with all the luggage and new baby we opted for the van and have no regrets.  We had our first rain in Guangzhou; it has been hot and sunny with a few days with a nice breeze.  Mom got one more scarf at the shopping area near the hotel; I believe they know us by name now...

 

 

Day 13

The day of course started with the breakfast buffet.  Today was visa day.  We drove to the consulate office and submitted our documents for Grace's US visa, should be ready the next day and we can start our journey back home, sure miss our other girls.

We then went as a group to a wholesale jewelry market.  It was a six level complex with all jewelry, pearls, gold, silver, jade, costume; a little overwhelming.  We were able to get our girls some pearls for later.  

We ate lunch back at the hotel for our last traditional style meal, although several of the dishes had an Indian and Thai flavor.  We have run into a couple from California that are with another agency, we had originally meet them in Nanchang and have seen them at several different of our stops.  They have a 7 year old they adopted when she was 9 months and their new baby girl is 13 months old; at our new hotel they ended up staying across the hall; it was nice getting to know them.

Orphanage visit

Just outside of the building

Earlier on our trip we were able to visit the orphane Grace was found/lived.
August 22.  Visiting the Orphanage.

Our adventure begins. We had a different driver for today's outing. Evelyn explained that the last numbers on the license plate indicate which day of the week the driver is not allowed to drive. Assumed that perhaps this was a way to reduce the number of vehicles on the streets, but apparently not.

We set out to find the orphanage. The driver knew how to find the orphanage by traveling the old road, but the director advised us to take the new road. Of course, the driver had to find the new road. He stopped to ask several people along the way. Finally, he was directed the correct way. The new road was a fairly new freeway. After forty minutes or so, we exited and went through a toll booth. We drove to a village and again asked for directions. Wrong way again, so we returned to the toll booth area and again asked for directions. No one seemed to know which way to go. The driver contacted the orphanage director for more accurate directions. We turned around and went through the toll booth plaza going the wrong way. Quite alarming, especially since we kept driving while seeing the over head signs facing the other direction. Fortunately, there was very little traffic. We did occasionally meet another vehicle. Finally, it did become clear that this road was not completely finished as would have to change sides of the freeway. There were no signs and no exits! We continued our adventure passing several locals who were working on the road. Again our driver stopped to ask for directions and called the director. After speaking to the director's driver, we turned around. 

The countryside was very beautiful with mountains in the background. Primarily farming country with rice being the primary crop. There were several incomplete concrete buildings. Evelyn explained that the farmers would move to the city to make more money to send home. Basically, they would build their house over a period of several years. Another interesting observation is that the farmers grow camphor trees. Evelyn said that once a tree reached a certain circumference it is required to be registered, and criminal action taken if cut down.

At last, the director's driver was on the opposite side of the road flagging us down. We followed him down an embankment off the side of the new road. We finally reached the orphanage. It was a very nice building with a beautiful view of the mountains and a small lake with a bridge and gazebo. The director welcomed us and had refreshments for us: watermelon, bananas, sunflower seeds (unsalted so they had a sweetness to them), candies, and bottled water. Everyone was very nice. We looked around and saw where AnZi spent her first nine months. She was well cared for and loved in this place. The director gave a newspaper with Grace's picture from when she was found.  It was an emotional trip but one i'm glad we made. 

Where she was left/found

The ride back to the hotel was less stressful since we knew what to expect.

Day 12

Today was a free day, or as mom and Malia like to call it a shopping day.  Jason had planned it as a day for the zoo; the other 3 families opted out and with my little reaction we decided to sleep in.  We took a cab down the road to a shopping center we had seen on the way the night prior.  It was actually a neat shopping area with about 6 levels of souviners.  The prices were good as well.  I believe it was called Onelink International.  We then ate lunch and Grace had her first McD's fries.

Grace seems to be adjusting well.  She had two bottom teeth and two front starting to come in with one of them partially showing since we arrived.  

Ready to shop

Day 11 -evening

In the evening we went as a group on a Pearl River dinner cruise.  I started to feel not so well on the drive over and got worse as we got there.  Just after we got on the boat I felt like I was going to pass out.  I took a Benadryl and drank some water and decided to stay.  I started feeling better and the night views lining the river we wonderful.  The food was ok and the ride was smooth.