Lulapalooza Heads East

The Beat Goes On

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Home

Much of the last three days are a blur, owing much to illness, jet lag, and culture shock. Posting on Thursday night was not an option as there was packing to do, baths to be given, sleep to be had.  In the wee hours of Friday morning, maybe four hours before we were scheduled to leave the hotel for the Guangzhou airport, I started vomiting.  Wasn't sure I was going to make the flight, so tempted I was to send Chris and Lula on and worry about myself later.  Chris was an absolute dynamo, taking care of Lula, our bags, checking out, and me.  He got us on our first flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, which Lula thankfully slept through.  In Hong Kong, we found our flight to Chicago and settled in for the fourteen hour flight.  Lula again slept through more than half the flight and the remaining time Chris entertained her.  Finally arriving in Chicago, we were whisked through immigration (where Lula officially became a U.S. citizen) and customs, where we re-checked our bags.  Our flight to Atlanta, however, was delayed nearly three hours.  So close and yet so far.  Finally, we made it to the Atlanta airport where we we were greeted by Grandma Judy and Grandpa Neal.  We spent the remainder of the weekend recovering at their place and on Sunday began our final segment, the five hour drive from Atlanta to home.  We weren't quite sure how this would go as Lula had already pitched a fit over the car seat ride from the airport to Mom and Neal's house a few days before.  She was of course tired and hungry at the time, and as it it turns out I later realized I had fastened her car seat straps incorrectly, so probably in pain too.  Loaded with luggage, the cat, the birds, and Lula, we started our drive and steadied ourselves for the worst.  Our genius child, sensing I'm sure that Momma still wasn't feeling well, fell asleep 20 minutes into the ride and woke only once during the five hour drive,  her fussiness and boredom completely relieved by a teething biscuit.  Our cat was actually the unexpected nuisance.  Incessant crying, clawing, and panting got him out of his carrier at mile marker 75, at which point he happily planted himself in the backseat next to Lula where the two slept on, speeding homeward.  Lula was blissfully happy when she woke, ten minutes from the house, and had a wonderful evening in her new home.  She seems quite happy here, maybe sensing in us our own relief.  This morning she woke at 4:00am, her tummy still on China time.  She had her bottle, played briefly, and is now sleeping again.  I'm feeling near normal this morning, managing my standard oatmeal and coffee fair.  Chris sleeps, having earned that and so much more after caring for all of us these last three days. So grateful I am for a selfless, caring partner, a beautiful, healthy baby, and of course, home.

One Step Closer

We made it to Guangzhou without incident. Lula was a marvel on the plane until the last ten minutes. We thought it was her ears and the change in altitude but it turned out she was just too hot. Popped her out of the carrier and she was fine (Shelly, if you were charging by the mile on that carrier you loaned us, you'd be a rich woman by now). We're staying at the Victory Hotel on Shamian Island. Very nice. The island is quite literally a tropical oasis in the middle of Guangzhou's motor city madness. Large trees, parks, and narrow residential streets make it seem ten degrees cooler on this side of the canal. The architecture is spectacular, owing to Shamian's unique history. Most of the buildings were built for wealthy foreigners (read: opium dealers) or their governments (read: co-conspirators) in the early 1900's. All Americans who adopt from China must come though Guangzhou and nearly all of these people stay on the island. Subsequently, the local business owners have become quite savvy in marketing to Americans: Children's items, souvenirs, western food. Not as savvy as the wealthy foreigners were in selling opium to the locals mind you, but you get the picture. Many people on the island speak English, or at least enough to guilt trip you into buying something. "You want necklace for baby?  Baby so cute. People know you love baby if she wear necklace." Actually, everyone we've encountered both on and off the island is incredibly friendly. Folks here are more accustomed to seeing Caucasians than those in Nanchang and Chris and I get fewer stares, although many still remain quite curious about Lula and the other babies. Our local facilitators, Kathy and Maggie, are absolutely wonderful. Today they guided us off the island and walked our travel group to the pearl market where we bought Lula (what else?) a necklace. The market was actually a mall, with two of the five stories devoted to pearls, jade, coral, etc. We chose some pearls for Lula and watched while they got strung. We also purchased a couple pieces of jade. On our way there and back we cut through a giant outdoor food market, far different than the mall only blocks away. After returning to the hotel, we’d planned on joining the group for dinner, however, Lula had a major meltdown just before we were to leave. Our schedule these last few days has not permitted her any decent napping nor does she seem too certain about this new hotel room. Poor Gal. Just as she'll be getting settled, it will be time to move on again. Tomorrow is our final full day in China. In the morning, the group is taking a tour of a nearby temple and then we're off see some folk art. In the afternoon, we take the oath at the U.S. Consulate. We leave the hotel early Friday morning (Thursday night to you folks), but hope to post one last time before we go...

Almost There

Today is our last full day in Nanchang. Tomorrow we're off to Guangzhou where we complete the last of the paperwork. This morning we picked up Lula's passport from the provincial police department and we received the finalized adoption documents. So much paperwork for such a little person. Tomorrow's flight will be Lula's first and a trial run for the long (LONG!) flight home on Friday. Lula seems to be doing well today. The teething thing is still beating her down some, but she seems to handling it better today than she did yesterday. I still need someone to explain to me how such a little body can produce so much drool.  Chris is out for a walk right now and Little Miss Thing is sitting on my lap, helping me type.  We're listening to a CD of traditional Chinese music Evelyn purchased for us. Lula listens, quite captivated, and lets out a sigh every now and then.  Another weapon now in our calming arsenal.

East Meets West

Zootopia

Today we all hopped on the bus and traveled to the local zoo.  Many spectacular animals including elephants, tigers, lions, and camels.  Lula loves being outdoors and she was mighty serene in her carrier most of the day.  Lunch at the restaurant was not so easy and her afternoon nap was brief and tearful.  Lula's cutting a second tooth.  After she woke up crying, we slapped some tooth gel on that itty-bitty tooth and things are much calmer now.  This afternoon the group plans another outing, this one for porcelain shopping.  This province is known for its porcelain and the families are eager to view and possibly purchase.  Something to remind us of the babies' first home.

For Mark and Stephanie

Out and About

The other families traveled to the Gao'an Orphanage this morning while we elected to stay behind, a choice I hope I won't someday regret.  The weather today is somewhat chilly and damp.  After breakfast, the three of us bundled up and went for a walk about town.  Among our stops was a nearby Buddhist temple, where we were warmly welcomed.  We viewed their 2000 kg bronze Buddha and "talked" with a number of the worshippers.  People are always curious, but it's typically the older crowd, the Grandmas and Grandpas, who approach us and ask us questions.  We flash our little card and they squeeze Lula's cheeks.  Some of the monks got in on the action as well, one of them giving us the now familiar thumbs-up.  Lula blew some bubbles for the crowd and we said our goodbyes.  We would have liked to have gotten pictures for ya'll, but somehow the idea of snapping pictures in this holy place seemed disrespectful, although these people were all so incredibly kind I doubt they would have minded.  Still, when you feel a mega-Buddha staring at the back of your head, you still want to mind yourself.  We continued our walk around a small lake and managed some photos.  However, aching backs and hunger lured us back 'home'.  More tommorow.