Gob Smacked!

Walking Street

Ou Gways, longevity.

The beach on Gu Lang Yu.

Awesome hotel in Xiamen!  Finally cooled down with real air conditioning.  Ahhh.

The view out our window.  Lili was sad I wouldn't let her swim.  Not a good idea be in clohrine while she has a sniffle and we're visiting kids in a SWI.

Our flight from Beijing left three hours late. Two of those hours in the plane on the run way, with no air conditioning. Oh my. It was so hot and stuffy that almost everyone on the plane slept.
When we arrived in Xiamen, Fujian, we got our luggage and went to arrivals looking for our guide Penny.  Straight ahead I see Jack!!!  Waving his hands, yelling out SHELLEY!!  What a surprise to say the very least! He was full of more surprises too.
I had to try and catch Lili up quickly, she was really surprised to see Mom hugging a strange guy.  Jack was our first guide, he was with us for Lili's adoption in Fuzhou.
Jack is now the Director of Adoption Affairs for Fujian Province!  In the same building we completed Lili's adoption.  When Michael sent our formal request to Fujian Province to visit Changting, it was Jack who approved our request.  Jack knows Miachael and they are working together to get more homeland visits and camps funded for families because he believes it is so important for the kids.  He also said Chinese families never want to take their kids back and they really like how we foreign families embrace the kids past because it is healthier for them.
So Jack knew we were coming.  Then a few days ago he was dealing with quides and found out when we were coming and decided to surprise us and take us to Changting himself.  I've been talking to Lili trying to get her to understand the importance and signifigance of what is happening. It's huge. She is starting to understand that something amazing is happening.
So cool.  Sooo very, very cool.
Eric he wondered right away where you were and was happy to hear we have two more girls from China.
Catherine, he still swaggers.
He's happy.  He loves his job.  I think he looks the same.  He kindly said the same of me.
He says Lili IS Hakka and she looks Hakka and he's going to give us a history lesson tomorrow in the car about the Hakka people. Oh and he will take us to the Hakka village but he thinks we should stay overnight somewhere nicer.  I don't think he'd 'get' camping.
He has one son with his first wife, another son with wife #2 and they just adopted a baby girl and named her Angel.
So, there are 65 SWI's in Fujian.  Only 20 submit for international adoptions.  He hasn't been to Changting in five years so he is happy to be going.  New Director there but staff that remember Lili.  Jack says they are VERY excited that we are coming.  He also says the orphanage staff make a big deal when he comes. Hmmm.  He is very aware of our purpose of the visit and is very respectful with his words.  His English is amazing.He speaks several languages from this area, plus a few foreign.
With the plane arriving late, we missed hearing piano on Gu Lang Yu, we did take the ferry over after walking some of the walking street. Once there we took an electric cart around the island so we saw most of it.  Very crowded and extremely interesting.
Lili saw a Pizza Hut when we drove to the hotel, so Jack said he'd get her one.  We came back to the hotel and he delivered pizza and spaghetti to our room.  Pizza was awesome.  Pizza is just so much better in China.  No idea why. The spaghetti was loaded in seafood, seafood we can't identify, but Lili ate the noodles anyway.
We've only been in Fujian a few hours and I already know I'm going to be hungry.  Everywhere we look there are venders with live stuff in bowls.  Meat of all kinds on a stick. You have to see baby octopus on a stick to really appreciate what that looks like as a snack.  Will try for photos, because I know you all want to see that now.  My tummy turns just thinking about all that we've seen so far.  Vastly different being in Fujian in the summer. 
Can't get the internet working, stuck on the phone.  No photos.

At the airport

On our way to Xiamen, some call it Shemen, some Shyamen and some Shyman.  No matter how I say it they scowl.

I'm feeling all teary.  The next few days are going to be so emotional. We're the only foreigners in the domestic gate area.  We thought we made a stir with babies, you should see it with older kids! 

I forgot to mention that James given name is also Qi. He didn't know the meaning.

James

Double Happiness Papercut.

Boxed lunch Chinese style in the electrical lab.

James's apartment building behind Lili.

The counters are mid thigh on me.  It's beyond amazing the meal that came out of there.

James's bedroom.  He has a computer under the blanket and a little balcony where his pet lives.  He has the biggest and best bedroom of the three.

 

He has two turtles, they don't have names.  He was shocked that we name his pets.  I asked if they would eat the turtles and he said no they were pets so I suggested he could name them.  It took a couple hours but he named them Michael and Maria.  I told him they were great names.

The baby photo is of James when he was three.  It is the only photo up in the house.  It was the last time he has worn Chinese clothing.  He was surprised to hear that we wear it.  He does wear red at Spring Festival though. 

 

Found this lovely old temple in the part near their home.

The Universal Language of Angry Birds.

I told Lili to take a picture of the food, but we took it to early.  The table was full to the edge and we all ate out of the bowls.  They finally after watching our struggles gave us little bowls to use.  Lili is loving the dumplings dipped in vinigar.  We also had ocra soaked in pineapple juice that was amazing and they served us tomatos sprinkled with sugar (sweet & sour).  Apparently Lili is very good with chopsticks and then they looked at me with pity.  Not fair though, I've eaten every meal with them and I haven't spilled and I get fed so I'm suggesting that's pretty good. 

 

Our new friend James and his family are awesome. We had a great time today. We're hot and tired (what else is new), it's 9 and we want to crash but have to pack. Wake up call is 4:30. Ug.

We went to a Foreign Language school and met the exchange students there. 34 families, 34 host families. We were matched with James, who is 13, going into grade 8, living with his Mom, Dad and paternal Grandparents. The kids and parents all learned some Chinese arts, we choose paper cutting. It was fun and relaxed, nice little ice breaker. Oh, first there were ceremonies and introductions and each bus had to get up on the stage and sing. Yup, Lili and I joined in that too. The Australians had clearly practiced, the Americans and Canadians, not so much :)

Then each student had a parent come pick them up with their guests. James Dad came to get us, nice little standard KIA. We went to his hutong, went through a gate with a soldier guarding them. Drove past tons of appartments and little shops on the street. Very cool. Very old. We went up the six floor walk up into their flat. Tiny kitchen, teeny bathroom, shower sprays right on the floor. Didn't take a picture, thought it might be rude. Three bedrooms and one combination dining/living room. SPOTLESSLY clean. Hot. They asked if we needed air conditioning and we said 'yes please' and then James asked if 26 would be cool enough...ha ha ha....really didn't have the heart to tell him as low as possible so said yes 26 would be good. Add the humidity and it was like an oven in there. Both Lili and I were visably sweating and she was turning red. Not sure what color I was, couldn't see me. The Mom and the Grandma were both checking her for fever. She has a sniffle. A bunch of the American kids were sick, so I suspect a cold is on the way, but she didn't have a fever.

Anyways, Dad and James took us for a walk around the neighborhood and to the park in their area. Lovely. Then we went back up into the heat for dinner. It was amazing. They made so much food for us! They taught us how to make dumplings. Oh my gosh were they ever good. Grandma even took the ones Lili made and cooked them seperate so that she was eating her own. She ate and ate and ate. The Chinese seriously love to watch kids eat and tonight was no different. James is the only child from only children. Grandma and Grampa have basically raised James. He goes to school for 9 hours a day, four to five hours of homework a day, extra classes on Sat. and Sun.  
Serious culture shock for both him and Lili.  They did bond over Angry Birds.  We see Angry Birds stuff everywhere.  He's seen them but had no idea what it was.  He was thrilled to have Lili show him.

Just lost the bulk of a long post, too tired to redo it.  Would love to talk about our day though, so ask me about it when you see me! 

Fei, Jame's Mom was thrilled to hear that I had three daughters from China, wondered if anyone minded us having three.  Nope.  Then I showed her your picture and she said "ah, a Jianxi girl" as translated by James.  She just thought Jia was cute.  They also want you and I to visit again, they want to make dumplings with and for FeiFei.  We exchanged e-mails.  What a fun program!

Putting the computer away now.   
Off to Xiamen tomorrow (Shemen).

The Great Wall and Peking Opera Lessons

The Great Wall just never gets boring.

She is half way up!

Lili wanted a picture of the weapons, isn't the picture cool?

Pretty proud of her hike.

Fa Mu Lan aka Ting Fu Qi aka Lili An Fu Qi Nelson finally conquers the wall!

Making dreams come true.

He's actual size :)

Most of the kids.

Silly girls at dinner.

Way too tired last night to blog.  We crashed again.  I couldn't even type on the bus.  Conrad had too much to say about today.  The cultural exchange day.  We're going to a school for the morning and then each family is going home with a local family (students matched with our kids from the school we visit).  We'll stay with the family for dinner in their home and then they will drive us home to the hotel.  We'll say our goodbys with the group at lunch today.  Wild.  The camp has flown by really fast.  Lili says she's going to miss all of our friends and is sad about today.  Last night when we got back we had to RUN to the grocery to buy a gift to take to the exchange family, we got grapefruit, oranges, peanuts, dried cherries, chocolate and cookies.  We should have brought something from Canada but we had no idea we were doing this and no one told us.  I do have some gifts here but Lili wanted to save them for the SWI.

Yesterday we did the Great Wall again.  We were there for two hours.  It was really foggy but it didn't rain so it was all good.  Lili didn't want to climb but the second she got on the stairs at the base she was itching to go.  There was yellow all the way up to the peak so I told her she could go but to stay with yellows.  So, yup, our little girl took off on her own and totally mastered the Wall.  She wanted to catch up to friends so was going really fast, I was having a hard time keeping my eye on her in the crowd but when she was half way up she stopped and waved at me and I knew she'd made it to friends.  She got to the top!   Eric, Mom, we were at the same spot as with Jia, but on the other side that is steep.  Lili was pretty thrilled that she's now climbed both sides.  I stood in the shade and chatted with travellers from Ireland. 

When she got down we shopped a bit, had a popsicle and then she had her photo taken and laminated on a certificate stating that she climbed the wall.  She was sooooo cute dressed as a warrior.  Canrad said she was dressed as a heroin. 

Did I mention the history lessons?  Conrad gives us talks almost every minute we're in the bus.  Extremely interesting.  Lili says she is totally going to miss listening to him.  I know I am.  Some of it has been a bit racey, especially about the past Emperors and their strange tastes and habits regarding women.  She hasn't questioned any of that but I've heard from other Moms that their kids were a bit shocked.  I've also heard from the other parents that they aren't getting the history lessons at all.  We are going to miss Conrad for sure.

The jade factory was fun.  I've been asked...Chinese mothers wear the bangles, and because jade is alive it becomes a part of you and you become a part of it, so your love and care, knowledge and experience goes into the stone, when your daughter becomes and adult you pass it on to her.  Some say at 18 with is legal, some say when you deem her to be adult and responsible.  I personally am thinking that when they become mothers and show some sacrifice will be when I deem them adult.  We'll see.  They put your elbow on the table and massage your hand and slip a plastice bag over your hand to get them onto your wrist while telling you the whole time to relax.  Ya' I know, I'm soooo not a relaxed person, it hurt until I did actually relax.  Now, honestly I have no clue how to get them off, but Debbie will show me how when I get home :)  I did choose bright colors for the girls and I'm a tad worried my lovely yellow shirt this week may have influenced my choice!  They are pretty, and they jangle.  Still loving them and you've all had another wee lesson.

Next was to the Peking Opera school.  We didn't get to see opera, we got to learn how to perform opera.  Very interesting.  Some kids got to do make up, Lili went as far away from that area as she could!  One teacher to show movement like fighting (kung fu) and riding a horse on stage.  One to show dance, grace and pantomine and one to show the kids the different musical instruments.

Lastly was dinner and the acrobats, different theater, it was good.  We were all so tired but at least it was cool in there.  Basically the same show as we've seen several times.  Still impressive though.

Time to get ready for the day of exchange and goodbyes.

Jade

Finally did it!  Got fitted for bangles for each of the girls.  I wanted to on each trip, just couldn't deal with shopping with the babies.  I'm a tad concerned about getting them off if I need to. I'm thrilled with them, love the colors.  Green for Lili, yellow for Fei, and orange for Jia.

Conrad and the other guides.

I know we've all had some fabulous guides here in China but I'm going to say that the guides we have for this Heritage camp might be the best of the best.  Their English is almost flawless.  Very literal.  I'm used to that hey Fei :)  The hospitality has been over the top amazing. 

There have been Govt. officials and reporters with us every step of the way.  Lili and I have been asked to pose for photos but haven't been interviewed yet.  They seem to be interviewing the families that have a Mom and Dad here.  I guess I look single.  The officials don't attempt their English with us but lots of smiles and thumbs up. 

We have the Officials, the over seer under him that stays with us most of the time, the head guide that he talks to and then three guides under Tony the head guide.  Tony also doesn't talk too much with us but he plays with the kids.  Yesterday he was playing basketball with the kids in the artisan courtyard and attempting to Chinese yo-yo. 

Each of the three quides has one bus, we're bus one, Irish, French and Canadians on the #1 bus, the head guide and COEC travel on our bus.  Political preference.  Bizarre.  I was 'especially welcomed as a Canadian'.

Bus #2 Americans.  Bus #3 Austrailians. 

We are not encouraged to mingle with the other buses.  How weird is that.  Lili and I keep trying to get to our Aussie friends and we keep getting reminded that bus one is 'over there'.  Different seating. 
Lili has made a few Canadian friends now so it's all ok.

Just updating those who are watching this camp thing carefully.

Awesome day.

Outside the noodle house with Tian, same age as Lili, from Toronto and she has the same Chinese name of Qi, different meanings though.

The Artisan Village

First glimps of what is to come ;)

Lili, Me and Nicola (from Australia)

For new comers, this is a squat pot, and it's a very, very nice and clean one.  It's easy to miss the pot apparently, there is often lots of pee on the floor around the pots and the smell comes from the waste baskets, the toilet paper isn't put into the system but thrown away instead.  There is your lesson for the day.  Happy to educate.

We weren't allowed to take photos of the Kung Fu show but this little guy was posed in the lobby.

Temple of Heaven was fun, not too hot.  The ladies in the park were dancing while balancing balls on paddles.  The most graceful thing I've ever seen.  After that we did the Pearl Market.  We had one hour, Lili and I got a few things and had time for fries at McDonalds, always a fun time in China.
Lunch was at a noodle house (1863), after about 20 appetizers they finally brought the noodles.  They were a huge hit.  I'm impressed watching Lili's bravery with the food.  We've had all Chinese.  I thought Lili would be wanting western food by now.  The Chinese food we've been served has been fabulous.
Mom and Eric, I know how you worry about my chrones...no issues at all.  Go figure.  Maybe I need all Chinese and tons more oil at home.  I'm knocking on wood right now.
We went to a craftsman area and watched a variety show including Peking Opera.  It was amazing, and all of the actors were seniors which was pretty cool.  Then we all got to do crafts.  There were four different ones, Lili chose to paint an opera mask, so I joined her.  It was relaxing and air conditioned.
Then dinner which was also great food and finally a Kung Fu show that was truely incredible.  Lili was on the edge of her seat.  She wants to take Kung Fu lessons now. 
Today makes up for yesterday. 
I'm attempting to type this on my phone on the way back to the hotel so that we can just crash when we get back.  Pictures to follow another time.
Observations -  traffic is considerably worse, what used to take 15mins is now an hour.  Parking a giant bus takes time, we have three in our group so need a lot of space.  Lili and I have been counting dogs, we're at 24 since Sat.  There are hardly any bikes anymore.  The govt. dropped the subway to 2yuan so that the locals would use it more.  Getting taxis is much harder.  Lili and I have totally mastered the squattie pots.  With such a huge group it helps to be able to jump the line while everyone waits for the western toilets.  Bringing our own toilet paper has turned out to be a wise move.  There have been just over 110'000 children adopted to foreigners since 1991.
Tomorrow, Great Wall, jade factory, lunch, real Peking Opera.  Kids get to interact with the actors and have the face paint done.  How cool is that?  Then dinner and ending with the acrobats.