A quick story on our beautiful new daughter and Chinese adventure.

Josie has been a wonderful daughter through all this.  She is very happy and absolutely favors Gi-Gi (big sister) Genna.  She laughs at her all the time. I will say she has the appetite of a grown up.  She can put away the groceries and has a big belly (bigger than mine) to prove it.  We call her CHUNKY MONKEY!! So much for being a starving child in China.

Where do I begin describing our Chinese adventure?  Let me start by saying everything that I thought I knew of China through our American culture is untrue and misleading.  First off, all of the many Chinese buffets we enjoy in the US are no where close to the real thing.  Not even the Dim Sum places ( I thought I went to a authentic one in Denver).  These people eat everything that moves….SERIOUSLY!!  I have seen everything from live scorpion deep fried to pigeons with their little heads barbequed and still in tact. This might seem unappetizing until you try it.  Not bad, as everything is spiced heavily and provides the protein to support the 1.3 billion mouths China feeds daily.  The food at restaurants is always served family style (Dim Sum) and presented in many big bowls that is very colorful, usually spicy, and very appetizing.  Its not heavy like most American dishes as its more vegetable and rice based (glutin free). 

Staying healthy and working out every day is a way of life for everyone here. Yes, Dawn and I love it! The Government builds little parks everywhere not only for children but for the elders as well and they use it, religiously.  Everyone is very friendly and are very excepting of us.  I will have to say some of the elders are not real sure of us taking one of their beloved children as they stare at us, then Josie, back to us, talk real fast to one another and then stare at us with big eyes.  One thing we have noticed and been lectured on more than once, that Josie didn’t have a coat on.  They are absolutely paranoid of e child possibly catching a chill, even if its 75 degrees out.  They will stop us and ask if she is cold.  At least they care.
The cities are beautiful, albeit polluted.  They are great gardeners with beautiful ornate trees everywhere and amazing landscaping.  Very tranquil!!

The only downfall we witnessed was the driving.  OH MY GOD!!!!!  I swear I have never felt so in danger than when you drive on these streets whether that is in Beijing, Nanchang or any major city.  Dawn and I are seriously considering opening our own garage here catering to clutches, breaks and horns as the Chinese use all of them HEAVILY.  They can create four lanes out of two and squeeze a car or bus within inches of each other to get where they are going.  INCHES!  I have movies to prove it.  We saw a bicyclist in Beijing during rush hour get bumped and it didn’t even faze her. Just kept pedaling.  I thought DC and Boston were bad, HAHAH, an honest walk in the park compared to this.   I did talk to a local and he said something interesting, he said US is more dangerous because we talk on phones, text, and listen to radios and get in bad accidents, they on the other hand pay attention.  I have yet to see any of them in a accident.  He seems to be right.  It is still scary as hell. 

Well thats it for now.  Its our last day in Nanchang.  I have to say I am excited to move on, getting a little tired of Nanchang noodles.

Talk to you all soon,
chris

We are having a great time with Josie here in Nanchang!  She has taken to us very well and we are all adjusting to each other without any problems.  She is a very happy and active little girl.  She smiles, laughs (a lot) and babbles all the time.  We experienced today for the first time that she is shy and scared around strangers. We met an American couple from Texas and Josie was attached to me in the baby carrier.  When she is stressed or scared, she will put both arms up in the air.  She did this while we were talking to this couple.  She calmed right down after I took her out of the carrier and held her close facing me.  Chris, Genna and I will do everything possible to help her understand that she is ours forever and that she will never be alone again.  We love Josie so very much!  I can’t wait for you all to meet her!  She has a lot of personality!

We have been in China for a little over one week now and I have to say that each day has been a wonderful, unique experience.  This is such a different culture from ours but not in a bad way...just different.  I just wish I knew how to talk their language...Ni Hao (Hello), XieXie (Thank you), and Bu Yow (I don't want it) are all we know...It's so cool to see the smile that the local people give you when you say Ni Hao to them when you pass by.  An instant smile and response of Ni Hao is returned.  We don't feel threatened at all when walking the streets during the day or night. 

The hotels we have stayed in are very nice hotels.  In Bejing, we stayed at the Beijing International Hotel.  It is an enormous hotel with a lot of business travelers coming and going each day.  The floors are made of marble and the style is modern with Asian decorations beautifully displayed throughout such as ornate porcelain vases, jade carvings, paintings, silk wall hangings, water elements with koi fish swimming around, canary birds in large cages, and beautiful chandeliers hanging in every room. Each room gave you a sense of calm and peace.  In Nanchang, we are staying at the Galactic Peace International Hotel.  Again, this is a large hotel, marble everywhere, beautiful flower arrangements, and a lot of hotel staff at your service.  There are at least two at the front revolving door to help you carry your belongings and greet you every day, two manning the elevators to push the buttons for you, three or four at the pool to give you towels, take your towels, and clean the pool...helpers are everywhere!  This hotel is accustomed to adoptive families.  It has an entire floor dedicated to assist adoptive families.  It is very nice.  The pool has a big screen TV (with Chinese version of CNN always on) for the business men/women to watch while they swim laps in the enormous pool (yes, it is always in use and they do watch TV while they swim).  The ceiling of the pool has clouds and blue sky painted on it and in the evening, it goes dark with lights signifying the starry night sky...very cool! 

The breakfasts at each hotel are great!  On the menu every morning are (Western selection) fried eggs, omelets, banana bread, toast, fresh fruit, bacon, ham, potatoes with onion, pancakes with honey…and (Chinese selection) Nanchang Noodles, Congee (plain and pork with preserved eggs), Bean Curd, Steamed buns, stir fried vegetables, vegetable curry, rice, stir fried cabbage with pork, rice noodles with various condiments, hot porridge, drinkable yogurts, and juices...and a few other things.  Each morning we all have a combination of Western items and Chinese items.  The longer we stay and the more we see the food, the braver we get at trying the items from the Chinese selection.  The Nanchang Noodles are yummy…kind of like Lo Mein at home.  Genna and I drank the yogurt for the first time this morning and it was really good too!  One thing that Josie loves to eat and we order it for her every night for dinner is Steamed Eggs.  It is basically, scrambled eggs with a gelatinous texture.  First time we saw, it gave us the dry heaves.  The server asked our local guide, Helen, why we weren’t eating it…so out of politeness, I scooped up a bowl, jiggled a little of it onto a spoon, looked at Chris (who had his hands full holding Josie) and said open up…taste this…No sooner had I touched the spoon to his tightly closed lips he pushed it away with his tongue.  We laughed and laughed at the dinner table.  Josie ate it up! There was one meal we ate where I just could not find anything that looked good to me, so I resorted to the Steamed Eggs…and to my surprise, once you muscle your way past the gag reflex…they are really tasty!  Honestly, the local Chinese food is really good.  I have learned that you just need to have an open mind, try it, or starve.  We have eaten at an authentic local Chinese restaurant every night.  Our guide, Helen, and Chris have gotten really good at ordering the dishes we all like to eat.  There is however, a McDonalds within walking distance of our hotel.  Yes, we have eaten lunch there every day since have been here. It tastes just like our McDonalds in the US.  Good ‘ol comfort food.

Another interesting topic…local public restrooms.  Ever heard the term “squatty potty”?  Let me explain.  It is a potty built into the floor, resembling a flat urinal.  Basically, you squat down over it, and let ‘er rip!  You’re SOL if you have weak legs or knees!  Lucky for us, most restrooms have “Western style” pottys.  Unlucky for me, I have had to use a squatty potty twice!  Also, children under the age of 3 all wear “split pants” which allow them to go potty whenever and where ever they need to!  Just squat and go...or some boys have just pulled down their pants and peed on the tree or whatever was close by...yes, right in public!  We were at the zoo and a little boy was going on a tree while his Grandfather took pictures!  All part of the culture shock and the experience.

We have visited a couple of historical places while here in Nanchang.  We visited the Tengwang Pavillion.  It was built around 600 AD along the south side of the Yangtze River.  It has 6 floors and each floor was elaborately decorated with historical artwork depicting the Tang and Song Dynasties that built it and/or restored it over time.  The view of the river and the city from the top floor was amazing!  We also visited a 1500 year old working Daoism Monastery.  Monks still live and worship there.  It is surrounded by a very peaceful lake and park-like setting.  Several of the locals were walking and exercising around the Monastery.  Other places we have visited while in Nanchang are the Zoo and WalMart (twice, once with our guide and once by ourselves).  Yes, the WalMart experience was like no other.  No greeters at the door here.  This super Walmart is so big it has flat escalators that you can take your shopping carts on with you!  We found Pringles Potato Chips of Crispy Roasted Chicken Flavor, Shrimp Flavor, and Kiwi Flavor!

This is our last night in Nanchang.  Tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou where we finalize the adoption in China.  We will be there for seven days.  Will email again once we arrive in Guangzhou.

-Dawn

It is 3am in Beijing, Sunday 25 April.  I can not sleep because today we leave for Nanchang at 11:35am and receive Josie at 4pm!  This is the day we have waited for and I am so very excited...words just can not describe how happy and excited I feel about this day!
We have had a FULL two days here in Beijing.  Friday, with some Chinese money in hand, we visited Wangfujing Street, also known as the shopping street.  It is closed off to vehicles and there is everything from retail shops to open markets where food (exotic to us) and street vendors gather selling goods.  It was amazing!  First, we walked into a scarf shop where I tried unsuccessfully to hangle with the store owner over a scarf I was interested in buying.  Then, we stepped into a chopstick shop containing hundreds of varieties of chopsticks from basic plastic to ornately decorated and carved wood.  Next, we turned down a narrow road that was the open market.  We looked to our right at the first vendor.  To our surprise (and shock) he was selling live scorpion on a stick (about 6-8 impailed little ones per stick)!  When I say live, I mean they were wiggling their legs and tails!  There must have been 50 or more sticks full of scorpions!  If you buy a stick, it is fried, then you eat the crispy scorpions!  Someone said they taste like potato chips...we will never know for ourselves for sure.  Next, I made my first successful attempt at haggling a price...not for scorpion on stick, but for a silk scarf!  I used a calculator to communicate.  First the seller input 68 (which means 68 Y, about $10).  Then, I looked at the scarf and input 60.  She shook her head Yes!  I got the scarf for $8.88! I said, "Xiexie" (pronounced Shea-shea) which means Thank you.  She said something I in return, which I didn't understand...Genna said, "Mom, she said You're welcome".  Come to find out later, Genna was right!  I guess the Nintendo DS Chinese Coach for Genna was a good investment!  Also, with the help of our guide, we learned another useful Chinese phrase, Boo yow...I know that is not how you spell it but that is how it sounds.  It means, "I don't want it".  We are constantly being approached by street vendors selling this and that...and the best way to get them to stop bothering you to buy is to say "Boo yow".
Later that day we visited Tian'anmen Square which is the symobolic heart of China.  Followed by a very long walk through the Forbidden City, the former home of imperial China's emporers for 500 years!  It was spectacular!  There were 800 buildings and 999 rooms in total.
On Saturday, we walked (and climbed) a section of The Great Wall of China.  Built from 4000 B.C. - 500 B.C. and 4,000 miles long!  It was breathtaking (literally)!  We hiked a small section (about 2 miles) of it and there were parts that were a straight up climb with steps of various height and parts that were straight down!  Very strenuous hike for us and it appeared easy for a few elderly locals.  A lady that had to have been in her late 60's was steadily climbing up not missing a step or taking a break...we watched her pass us while we stopped to rest.  After The Great Wall, we went to a Cloisonne factory/store/restaurant.  Cloisonne is a French word meaning enamelware that orginated in Beijing during the Yuan dynasty.  It is handmade and hand painted.  Very beautiful pieces of various sizes!  We saw a vase that stood about 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide with a price tag of 3,565,000 Y (about $530,000)!  We ate a wonderful traditional Chinese family style lunch there then headed to the Jade Factory.  Beijing is known for it's Jade.  We learned how raw jade is cut, carved, polished and turned into a magnificent piece of artwork.  Next stop, the Summer Palace.  The Summer Palace is the largest imperial garden existing in China, and it is the best preserved imperial garden in the world!  We rode on a Dragon Boat (boat shaped like a dragon) to the main house in the garden.  Waiting in line for the boat crazy!  It was very crowded...very crowded!  Genna stood in line holding the hand of one of the girls in our group who is the 7 yr old adopted Chinese daughter of a family we are traveling with.  The locals were intrigued by this and many of them stared and took pictures.  One local family waiting in line asked Genna hold their daughter's hand as well so they could take a picture of the three of them together.  It was very sweet.
At the end of the day, we arrived back at the hotel around 7:30pm and met up with a local business partner of my Uncle Andy who lives in IN and owns a metalergy business.  He and his wife took Chris, Genna and I out to dinner for Peking Duck.  The two of them were so incredibly nice and social.  We ate a very nice restaurant in Beijing that many US Presidents have also visited.  The food was absolutely delicious!  For any of you wondering, it has truely been a cullenary adventure of us in Beijing!  This time, it came as a surpise!  After devouring what we thought were some type of mushroom, we were told it was duck feet!  My and Genna's dinner both ended at that point.  I don't know if Chris kept eating to be polite or if he really liked it!  I have to admit, it was the best duck feet I ever ate.  Genna just sat there not knowing what to do or say...poor thing just kept taking sips of her green tea.
We got back to our room at 10:30pm and crashed after a long, amazing, adventerous two days in Beijing!  We love Beijing!  It is a big, busy, and clean city with friendly people.  Now, today...we finally get what we traveled all this way for...our daughter, Josie!  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we make this transition from a family of three to a family of four!  We hope to get pictures sent soon.  We are having an issue with our laptop that we hope to resolve soon so that we can send some pictures to you.
Xiexie (Thank you),
-Dawn

Ni hao!  That's "hello" in Chinese!  We made it! The flight was long...very long...14 hours! At first, all Genna asked was "How many more minutes until we get there"...then she realized that the answers we were giving her were in hours, and her questions became "How many more hours until we get there".  Our FTIA coordinator, Catherine, was holding up a blue flag in the waiting area so that we could recognize her. She led us to a small bus to take us to the hotel.  The drive to the hotel was interesting.  There were vehicles everywhere. A few times, the cars would get so close to our bus we were literally inches from each other.  There are a lot of bicycles and scooters carrying 2-3 people piled on for the ride.  Very neat city so far.  Today we are visiting Tian'anmen Square and The Forbidden City.  I will send another message tonight with more information.  Just wanted to let everyone know we made it to Beijing safely!
-Dawn

We received our travel authorization from China today!  The next step is the adoption agency will arrange our round trip international travel to China.   A Chinese travel service will be used for the travel and hotel from the time we arrive in China until we leave China.  The exact travel date has not been finalized yet but  we have tentative dates of 21 April - 8 May (18 days)!  We will know for sure in the next few days.