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Hong Kong and Home

Tomorrow we take the train to Hong Kong and then head home the next morning. It's been a wonderful trip but i think we are all ready to come home:)

Pearl River Cruise Boat

Last night we enjoyed the sights of the city while cruising down the Pearl River. It was verrrry muggy and hot but the sights were beautiful. I especially liked the radio tower (tallest in the world) and the way the colors changed. 

Mei Mei becomes an American Citizen!

This morning was our US consulate appointment. We completed the paperwork and will pick up Mei Mei's paperwork to enter the US as an American Citizen! There were 3 other families with us from Great Wall China Adoption!

More pearl market!

The magnitude of this market is indescribable. We went into the back halls and I began to panic. Beads and stones from floor to ceiling everywhere! Take a look!

The Chen family temple!

There are several temples in Guangzhou. We visited the Chen Family Temple. When I think of a temple I think of a religious temple. Not the case here. The Chen Family Temple is where you pay respect to a prominent family. The building details are unbelievable and everything within the temple has a meaning behind it.

The Tallest Business Building in the World

Museum and Park Adventure!

Yesterday we visited a very nice museum. In the afternoon we took a walk to the park that everyone tells us is right across the street. It was an adventure! Although it was just a block or so down the road getting across the street was like crossing a six  lane street in New York City's time square. 

Attempt #1 we decide the road is much to busy to cross so we see the sign for the underground tunnel which takes you to the other side. What we didn't know is that we would need to carry Mei Mei's stroller down 3 flights of stairs and then up again at the other end in Sub Tropic Weather. It was so CREEPY down there! As we headed out of the tunnel Cindy carrying the front end of the stroller as I carried the back carefully taking our precious cargo up the steps a small Chinese woman with her stroller hoisted up on her hip (child in stroller) bolted past us and was gone in a flash. Meanwhile Cindy had her eyes on the man in the corner at the top of the steps who was zipping his pants after relieving himself in the corner (there is a charge to use public toilets in China). Cha Ching he saves some Wan!

By the time we reached the park...we were done! We walked a short ways and then headed back. We were extremely Hot! 

Attempt #2 on the way back we decided that battling the six lanes of traffic would be more appealing than the tunnel.  The first step is to get around the short iron fence that they have at all the busy corners.  You have to walk outside the fence to cross the busy road. Keep in mind that pedestrians do not have the right away. Oh and many people ride their bike, mopeds, a cargo bikes. The cargo bikes are loaded down like a small truck. Sometimes you see loads of cardboard, suitcases or whatever else they need to haul stacked 5 feet tall and probably a half a dozen stacks on one bike. We were sharing the edge of the street with all those people. So we followed the locals and made it across. Did I mention the weather was Sub Tropic.

Glad we had the adventure, but won't be going back to the park any time soon! 

P.S. Mei Mei enjoyed the trip to the park and didn't fuss the entire time. Lol

Dragon boat

Touring and shopping day!

Mei Mei started her day by experiencing her first time  on a swing. She liked it a lot. They have a nice outdoor play area for the kids at the hotel. 

We visited some local areas and a park in Guangzhou. There were huge trees for shade and people doing their morning exercise all over the park. We also saw people playing games, Chinese chess, hacky sac, some form of badminton  without a net, and a middle aged woman dancing in the midst of it all. It was really neat to experience some real life Chinese culture.

After our tour we headed to the pearl market where you can buy pearls by the strand. I bought Mei Mei a necklace, bracelet, and earrings to give her in the future for a special birthday.

Mei Mei was good the whole day. She fell asleep on our way back and is taking a nap now. We have heard her say bye bye twice. The first time was when we were skyping our family and we thought it was us trying make something out of baby babble, but she did it again today as we got back into the van to come back to the hotel. (Cindy got the first time on video). Soooo cute....she has the softest most delicate little voice.

Tomorrow we are heading to a museum and more shopping.

P.S. Check out her Mickey shoes. We got them at the market, they light up and she lioves them. Her first pair of shoes!!

More Gotcha Day Photos!!!

These photos are at the Civil Affairs Building right after they gave me Mei Mei.

Doesn't she look like a precious moment figurine?

Medical exam and applying for a passport!

Today is the last day for major paperwork. We went to get Mei Mei's final medical exam and she was not very happy about it.

It's time for a nap!

Signing papers and grocery shopping!

Today we spent the morning chilling out and from there our guide took us back to the Civil Affairs building to sign finally paperwork and then to the grocery to buy what we needed for Mei Mei and ourselves for the remainder of the trip. 

I will post pictures later. They are on the other camera.

Gotcha Day!

It was an amazing day. Mei Mei is such a doll. Much like Saige she takes it all in. She doesn't miss a thing. I expected her to cry when I took her into my arms but she didn't. She was checking everything out including the screams of other children in the room. She sat with me for a long time and then she wanted down. I thought to stand so I prepared myself to assist but she took off on her own. 

When we got back to the hotel I fed her and she made good eye contact which is important for attachment. She is a little sensitive to touch. It startled her to be patted on the back or touched when she didn't expect it. It's not unusual with a child that has been institutionalized. Her interaction has been for basic needs not love and comfort. We will work on that.

Mei Mei loves to eat. She had her first Cherios and first McDonald's french fries (sorry Erin Haney) yesterday. Cindy and I also noticed that when she was playing with the nesting cups i brought for her that she had played with something similar before and that she worked and worked to get all of them nestled back together. Her awareness of things happening around her, her concentration skills, and her ability to entertain herself was very evident on the first day. She does seem to be quiet. Observant but quiet. That could change.

Overall, I couldn't have imagined a more wonderful day. The puctures of them handing her to me and our initial meeting pictures are on the camera so i will have to add them later, but here are a few from our room later in the day. Enjoy the pictures of Kathryn Mei Mei Burke.

On our way to get Mei Mei!

Standing in the lobby of the Marriott waiting for our guide to take us to the civil affairs building to meet Mei Mei! Yippee !

20 hours until we meet!

Cindy and I landed in Guangzhou at 1:30pm today. The Marriott that we are staying at is really nice. After having dinner down the street from our hotel I saw this retail store which has Mei Mei's given name (Mei Mei is her nick name).Tomorrows the big day...so excited...good nite!

Forbidden City, Beijing

Great Wall and more!

Good Morning,

We had a very full day of sight seeing yesterday The Great Wall, Tianeman square, jade factory(spent to much), and the Forbidden City. It was a great day with a lot of walking. This morning we are heading to the airport to fly to Guangzhou. We will meet Mei Mei tomorrow at 2:40pm. 

Below are pictures of the Great Wall.