Days 13-14-15

Days 13 and 14 was uneventful.  We didn't do anything other than stay around the island and stopped in some shops. Today we had our consulate appointment this morning and we will pick up her visa tomorrow afternoon.  Finished shopping this afternoon and took some photos of the statutes here on the island.  Tomorrow afternoon we will go to the consulate and pick up BenQiu's visa and then travel to Hong Kong by van.  It is about a 3 hour drive.  

Days 10-11-12

Sorry I’m combining the days but we have had problems with the wireless connection here in the hotel.  I am combining these all together to get caught up.  We got into Guangzhou early Friday evening and waited on another family to arrive in the airport so we had McDonalds for dinner.  We checked into hotel and settled in for the evening.  Saturday we were up early and had breakfast.  After breakfast we had to go to the hospital for BenQiu’s medical appointment.  The medical appointment is nothing more than a physical to make sure she is ok to travel and not sick or running a fever.  Unfortunately, we found out during the physical that she is near sided and is going to need glasses.  We will have to make her an eye appointment with our eye doctor when we get back.  Not sure how that will turn out since she speaks no English.  Should be interesting.  After the medical appointment we went to the Chen Family Museum.  Below are some pictures from the museum.    Yesterday we got up and had breakfast and then headed out to the “mall”.  The mall is essentially where a huge amount of different vendors and shops are for wholesale merchandise.  They sale everything (i.e jewelry, beads, Chinese artifacts, jade etc…).  We made it back to the hotel and walked around the island and shopped all of the local shops.  We did find our friend Michelle who we met when we were here in 2010 adopting Sydnee.  Erika bought the girls some jewelry and got BenQiu a stamp with her name engraved on it.  While we were in there shopping, a big old thunderstorm blew in and we got stuck in the store for an extra 30-45 minutes or so.  The rainstorm finally passed long enough for the boys and I to walk up the road about 15 minutes or so to get pizza from Pizza Hut.  We ate in the room and called it a night.  
Oh by the way it has been partly sunny and in the low 90s here these three days with probably 45% humidity.  HOT, HOT, HOT.  

Day 9 last day in Anhui

Well the rain arrived today.  So it was a boring day in the hotel.  The boys and I walked down to the mall and got McDonalds for lunch.  Chinese food is good; however it starts to get old eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Today is the last day in Anhui.  We fly out tomorrow around 3:20 and head to Gaungzhou for the final leg of the adoption at the U.S. Consulate.  Our appointment is scheduled for the 22nd; however there was a white powder delivered to the consulate on Monday or Tuesday of this week and it completely shut down the consulate.  The big group from our adoption agency who had appointments early in the week had their appointments delayed and as of today still hasn't had them rescheduled.  I'm sure we will find out more tomorrow when we arrive.  Hopefully our appointment doesn't change and if it does it doesn't affect our day we had planned in Hong Kong at Disney Land.

Day 8 Trip to orphanage and school

We had a great day.  Up early for breakfast and then met up with our guide Jane at 8.  We then vacated the hotel for a two hour van ride to the orphanage in Chuzhou.  We were greeted by a couple of the assistant directors who took us on a tour of the orphanage.  We saw a few of the children that were home.  The others were at school.  We were then taken down to the school where BenQiu attended.  We then went back to the orphanage and was able to ask questions about BenQiu; actually we were stalling because the director was on his way back from meetings all day at the CCAA.  Upon his arrival, we were taken upstairs to eat lunch.  What a spread they fixed us, far more food than any of us could eat.  This included shrimp that needed to be peeled and beheaded.  Well if anyone knows Sydnee, they know she loves boiled shrimp.  Well guess what dad got to do most of the lunch, you guessed it peel the shrimp so Sydnee could eat it.  The director toasted us numerous times and talked to Zach about playing basketball.  It truly was a pleasure to meet such a gracious and kind gentleman.  He and his staff are true blessings to the children of this orphanage.  What a blessed day!

Day 7 Officially our daughter as of today

Well up and at it again early this morning.  Breakfast at 7 and leave with our guide at 8:00.  Erika and I had to go to CCAA this morning to finalize the adoption process on the China side.  We had to meet with a social worker and answer three questions and sign a few pages.  All of 15 minutes and then back to the hotel.  We took a walk in the park and then came back to the hotel for a 30 minute break then headed back out to the mall.  We introduced BenQiu to KFC.  Let me tell you that they like their pepper over here.  Even the regular chicken was a little spicy.  Their mashed potatoes and gravy reminded us of the way they used to be back in the states.  Of course all of the food over here actually has some type of flavor regardless if it is good or bad.  After KFC, we decided to also introduce her to Dairy Queen.  It was kind of funny because she got one of those slushies with ice cream in it.  She was drinking it out of the straw and all of the sudden grabbed her head.  She got her first brain freeze.  We walked around Walmart for a little bit and then headed back to the hotel for a little ping pong.  Zach won the tournament and then we played a couple games of doubles.  Poor Erika didn't win a game but it was quite comical watching her.  Then we let the girls get in on the fun for a little while.  It was quite a long day of walking and it was the hottest day of our trip thus far.  It reached 98 this afternoon.  We have had good weather thus far, but they are calling for rain tomorrow.  Tomorrow morning we head out to the orphanage so that BenQiu can say goodbye to everyone and take pictures.  We will eat lunch there and head back to the hotel.

Day 6 Gotcha Day

Well this morning got up early and got some breakfast and met with our guide at 8:30.  Took a trip over to the CCAA.  We got there a little early to get paperwork done before BenQiu arrived.  Guide and I went to a different room so that I could giver her the money in private.  When we got back in the room BenQiu had arrived and was talking to mama and Sydnee.  When I walked in, she immediately said baba (daddy) and gave me a hug.  We finished the paperwork and got a picture and then headed back to the hotel.  Walked across the street to a fast food Chinese restaurant and then came back to the hotel.  The language barrier is quite comical but we are making do.  Google translate doesn't always give the correct response.  We just laugh about it and move on.  Erika and Alex walked across the street and grabbed a couple of pizzas from pizza hut for dinner.  Tomorrow we have to meet the guide at 8 a.m. so that we can go back to CCAA to meet with a social worker and finalize the adoption.