Howdy All!

Today started out meeting back up with our group at breakfast. Most of them got in late last night so we never ran into anyone yesterday, although we are all staying in the same hall and wing of the hotel. All the babies are as cute as can be and the new parents are gleaming. It was great to meet back up with everyone and hear their stories from their provinces visited and share ours.

We all then, with babies in hands, walked down about 4 blocks to the visa medical examination office. It started out pleasant for Lyric with just a simple pose for a visa picture, but I remember this place last time we were here for Laine and knew things would take a turn for the worse very soon for her. In fact, I think I spotted claw marks on the wall from Laine when we were here in 2005, but I can’t be sure. I can tell you this, Lyric is brave and tough as hell. She was poked, prodded, received a TB test (which burns pretty bad) and although she cried, she gritted her teeth and took it. I hated to see her go through that!

After we were done, I had to meet our facilitator to fill out immigration paperwork for our up and coming consulate appointments. It took almost 2 hours and sucked. Lyric was just waking up for a nap when I finished so we headed out for lunch and some shopping for the afternoon. Although, this area is beautiful, the whole island is under construction. Every street is getting new pavers and quite a few of the buildings are under repair. With just the little bit of drizzle that we had today, it made quite a muddy mess.

For dinner our facilitators offered to take us for some good Cantonese. Only one other family in the group and us took them up on the offer. We then walked down the block to the restaurant and walked in. There were about 25 fish tanks in the large lobby which contained many different creatures including beetles. We bravely sat down and let out facilitators order for us. Dinner was surprisingly wonderful. I even tried a Guangzhou delicacy…….Pigeon! Maybe I’ve been in China too long, it was pretty good. The most shocking thing of the evening is when Lyric grabbed a pair of chopsticks and starting using them. Mar can’t even use chopsticks right. Our facilitators were even blown away by this and advised most children don’t start using them until they turn 5. Check out the pic, that’s all her with no help from us.

Mar and I did a little more shopping and then put Miss Busy to bed. This girl has a lot of energy and keeps us on our toes! I’m guessing she has never really been out anywhere so everything is new to her. Although she’s wearing Mar and I out, I’m happy to see she’s ready to put things behind her and take on the world. It’s obvious that she is in love with us as much as we are with her.

Tomorrow, Mar gets her chance to go crazy……we are heading to the pearl and jade market in the morning. What’s the chance of them having a bar in the middle of the store just like Beijing? I’m optimistic!

Doug