Monday, December 17, 2007

Day 10 Guangzhou Sights

Hi all,

[Note: Time to start using Qun Qun's American name. From hereon, he's David.]

Highlights from today:

- David's medical exam (for re-entering the US), where he cried every time a doctor touched him, poor little guy. It didn't even help that Daddy was right above him at all times. When the doctor pulled off David's diaper to fully examine him, poor David yelled so loudly it was awful.

- Watching David wow the crowds. Folks stop us to rub David's arm or belly for luck. The shop girls hug and kiss him. We even caught David blowing kisses at two giggling shop girls in the street! They called him "my little boyfriend".

Add to this his refusal to leave the lingerie department of a Beijing department
store because he was ogling a large mural of scantily clad Chinese girls, and we're
looking at early signs of trouble in this boy!!

One shopkeeper became emotional after learning David is a special needs child going to America for surgery. He gave us his email address and asked us to stay in touch so he could one day tell David about meeting him. He called us "great Americans", which was touching. It's hard to imagine how these shopkeepers must feel, seeing so many families from around the world with their newly adopted Chinese children, every day of the week!

- Meeting Dana, the sweet young shopgirl we met 2 1/2 years ago, and seeing her shock and excitement at seeing us again.

- Eating a lovely Thai dinner (coconut rice, dragon fruit, etc.) with the very nice and fun family we flew with from Newark to Beijing--Ina, Mitchell, adult son Max, and new, adorable 3-year old daughter Alia, all from near Catskill, New York. Seeing David's reaction to the coldness of Red Bean ice cream (Kevin had green tea), and then his little tongue reaching out to catch all he could from the spoon while signing "more". He now signs "daddy" and "mommy" as well.

Here are shots from a walk along the Pearl River outside our hotel. Note the meticulous landscaping.



We visited the Guangzhou kids park, where David and I went down a slide together. Unfortunately, it was a slow, tight ride since the Chinese have smaller hips!



Folks were out everywhere. Chinese hackeysack is very popular here. Kevin even tried it later this evening.



All in all, a nice day! Oh, and Fliss, I got what you asked for...

Take care, everyone,

Caroline

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the video of the slide ride! Enjoy the rest of your trip. When you return home, life will be more hectic and more wonderful than you ever imagined.
Love,
Cindy

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

I still say that you should have taken me to help you out when needed... hey, gotta try... it is great reading all about your adventures... love reading your pieces from over there but at the same time I am ready for you to come home so I can visit and chat... lol... doesn't matter if you guys want to stay there... lol... take care...

Special K said...

Love it! It's so awesome to see you and DAVID bonding.

The Lucky Ones said...

So nice to see everyone smiling and to see David in mommy's arms, too. And your description of the Thai meal can only mean one thing: You ate at Cow & Bridge -- my fave!

Hugs and love from home....

The Lucky Ones said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

What a great time you are having -- Can't wait for you to get home and share some of David with us!!!! It will be such a joy to watch him with Emily -- I think your are going to have your hands full......Love ya, miss ya..oxoxox