After a short drive to the Travel Healthcare Center, our guide Helen filed our paperwork while we waited our turn in line. Every Chinese citizen who wishes to travel to the United States must first pass the medical exam, and that medical exam can only be done in this particular office in Guangzhou. No exceptions.
Before this morning, we assumed a US doctor would be performing the exam, but we were wrong. Chinese nurses and doctors completed each step-- a general physical, a dental exam (Little One screamed her way through this one and refused to let the dentist see her palette; I think he checked her off his list anyway because he wanted to be done with us. ASAP.), and a "bloody test" (as Helen refers to it; translate: bloodwork). Details spared, it was not pretty, and it was not easy... on any of us. Thankfully, it passed fairly quickly, and we were off to more exciting ventures.
Like this international marketplace.
Six floors and a gazillion stores, each one nestled in a cubicle the size of a small storage unit back home. And the kicker-- each one sells only one sort of thing-- iPhone cases or lighters or journals or necklaces or Hello Kitty pillows or hair barrettes or clocks. Or, to my eldest son's delight-- rubics cubes. He really wanted one from China, and after much looking (and some excellent direction from Helen), he found an entire store dedicated to that crazy "Mom, I'm using my brain" toy.
The delight in finding the Rubics cube store, however, paled in comparison to the elation that one particular item produced...
Like this international marketplace.
The delight in finding the Rubics cube store, however, paled in comparison to the elation that one particular item produced...
The "cheap beats." The holy grail of our shopping trip. The end all/be all of our (meaning-- my eldest son's) wish list from Asia.
(Gramoggie, they're headphones. Wildly popular back home, especially around the pool).
Who'd a thunk it?? An entire store dedicated to headphones. And we found it. My boy can now go home a very happy man :)
As for the rest of our day-- Little One napped. And then took a quick dip in the pool. In the early evening we took a dinner cruise down the Pearl River, the fourth longest river in China. I don't have a decent photo to show of it. It was an acceptable experience but not one we'd hurry to do again.
A few observations about our Little One:
1) She is strong. And determined. And feisty! And yes... strong-willed. I'm certain the Lord will use all these wonderful qualities for His glory in the years ahead. As for now-- God give us strength!
2) She laughs. And laughs. And laughs. And it is music to our ears!
3) The language barrier has not proven as difficult as I anticipated. She's quickly learning our names, and no :) And thank you and please and potty and up and bye bye. I think we're doing alright...
4) A girl after my own heart-- this gal likes things tidy! She picks up her shoes and puts them away, and she carefully lines up her toys... right where they belong. I'm not-so-secretly hoping my guys will take few mental notes as they observe this excellent habit!!
5) She loves to share. Yesterday morning, she gave bunny his own dish...
6) And she loves her jewelry.
As for the rest of our day-- Little One napped. And then took a quick dip in the pool. In the early evening we took a dinner cruise down the Pearl River, the fourth longest river in China. I don't have a decent photo to show of it. It was an acceptable experience but not one we'd hurry to do again.
A few observations about our Little One:
1) She is strong. And determined. And feisty! And yes... strong-willed. I'm certain the Lord will use all these wonderful qualities for His glory in the years ahead. As for now-- God give us strength!
2) She laughs. And laughs. And laughs. And it is music to our ears!
3) The language barrier has not proven as difficult as I anticipated. She's quickly learning our names, and no :) And thank you and please and potty and up and bye bye. I think we're doing alright...
4) A girl after my own heart-- this gal likes things tidy! She picks up her shoes and puts them away, and she carefully lines up her toys... right where they belong. I'm not-so-secretly hoping my guys will take few mental notes as they observe this excellent habit!!
5) She loves to share. Yesterday morning, she gave bunny his own dish...
6) And she loves her jewelry.
7) She loves to eat
8) And she loves to swim with her brothers!
8) And she loves to swim with her brothers!
Thank you, Lord!
5 comments:
Glad all passed well with the physical. Can't wait for the trip home. Keep up the news. Love the news. Gramoggie
The troops just went to bed and I decided to take one more look at the post. Love all the pictures you have been able to share and what an experience for all and an appreciation for how the other side of the world lives( at least the ones in the city). Sorry the Test was so painful, but as you said no news is good news! Hopefully her experience here will be better. Love to all. N&L are excited about the treasures you have found. Are you sure it isn't Christmas! Wait "til you see the lists they have been making! Get a good nights rest. See you tommorrow! Love always!
Praising the Lord for blogging. So glad you are able to keep all of us up to date on your exciting news. Love you - can't wait to see the fam! oh - and I emailed you :)
P says she hopes A knows who she is. :) We traced the Yangtze River today & found Guangzhou on the map. Glad to read the hard part is over! B says hope you come home fast! Love you! Goodbye! :) R says I can ride my bike with no training wheels and swim by myself. I can tell her those two things. Lol. Joy!!!
Another day closer to returning to the States with your little one. Everyone here is SOOOOO excited. keep the blog going. We are all enjoying getting to know our newest member of the family through pictures and your lovely commentary. Gramoggie
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