In Guangzhou

Sonja, Nathaniel, Zoe and I have spent the last several days in Guangzhou. Which is located in the south part of China.  Approximately 16 million people live in and around the city.So why Guangzhou?  Well...this is where we get Zoe's Visa so she can travel to the United states. Currently Zoe has a Chinese passport.  Once she gets to the United States we will surrender her Chinese passport and get her a United States passport. Our hotel is located on an island which used to be owned by the British during their occupation.

Zoe is really beginning to get more comfortable with all of us.  However...I think Sonja and I have forgotten how active toddlers are.  Watch out all...she is like the Energizer Bunny...she like to explore and touch everything...she should fit in well with her cousins. Although she is accustomed to Chinese food including rice noodles in the morning...I think she will transition quite well to pizza, hamburgers and french fries.

Sonja and Zoe

Sonja and Zoe

We did get to do a few things while in Guangzhou....we went to the jade and pearl wholesale markets.  We did not buy anything but it was sure interesting.  We went to the Guangzhou safari which was very large zoo.   It was nice and had 12 panda bears which is the largest exhibit of Pandas anywhere in China. We also went to the Chinese medicine market which had dried seahorses, starfish, and a whole host of dried things....the Chinese have been practicing this medicine for thousands of years and the market was full of vendors.  Interesting but I think I will stick with Western medicine practices.  Last night we went on the Dragon boat which took us up and down the Pearl river.  At night all the buildings around the river are lit up...it was very cool.  Zoe spent most of her time with Sonja.  Zoe is transitioning well. Although she likes to give Nathaniel grief.  So, today...we finish our stop at Guangzhou with a departure meeting and a red carpet photo which groups all the adoptive families together.  One photo of all the children and one photo with all the families.  Then we fly back to Beijing.  We will see the great wall which we missed on the first leg of the trip but was able to rearrange our schedule...we are all glad we will get to see the wall....We will stay in Beijing until Friday and then fly back early Friday morning to Omaha.  We should get back to Omaha on Friday mid morning....remember China is 13 hours ahead.  We expect to arrive in Omaha in the morning in time for Nathaniel to rejoin his baseball team for their weekend games....he is excited to get back as we all are.  China has been a great experience but we are all ready to get home.

Nathaniel, Sonja and Zoe

On the bus

Thanks for reading our blog....I will post a number of pictures when we get back home.  Getting access to the internet has been tough due to Chinese restrictions.  One of our families found a way to get around the Chinese fire wall which blocks access to facebook, blogs, etc.