Guangzhou Day 17

Guangzhou Day 17 (Friday)

Today was a moving day. We checked into the White Swan – oh the memories from when we stayed here for almost two weeks a few years back. We walked the spice market and "Petsmart alley", bargained for a number of purchases, went swimming, and generally had a relaxing day. We got the brown envelope containing ZT's paperwork so we are good to go tomorrow when we begin the journey home by flying to Beijing. We will be visiting the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace – all very exciting prospects, but the reality is we are all getting a bit homesick. We look forward to the day when we can again sleep on a mattress that doesn't feel like plywood with a sheet covering it.

Guangzhou Days 14-16

Guangzhou Days 14-16 (Tue – Thurs)

Tuesday we had no adoption business to attend to. Relaxation was the focus of the day.

Wednesday morning we had to be in our apartment to field potential phone calls from our guides when they conducted business for us at the U.S. consulate. Afterwards we had arranged for our good friend A to take us on a shopping trip in the city. As in the past, this was an adventure in itself – wholesale pearl market, bl#@k m#rk%t money exchanges and so on. We got back in the afternoon and then met up with some of our group families to take a dinner cruise on the Pearl River. The weather was great, the food excellent, and the views incredible. We had a great time.

Thursday's main event was a trip to the U.S. consulate to sign a document and for the swearing in ceremony. Tomorrow ZT's entry visa for the U.S. should be ready and we will be cleared for take-off. The first time he steps foot on U.S soil (which will be in Honolulu) he will officially become a U.S. citizen.

Tomorrow evening we are really looking forward to meeting up with good friends from our Group 46 FRC trip when they arrive at the White Swan with their new son.

Guangzhou Day 13

Guangzhou Day 13 (Monday)

We had fun swimming in the morning and then it was off to the medical clinic to check ZT's TB test (it was negative) and help him through three immunization injections. The nurses joked with him a bit, he stuck his left arm out for two injections (watched the needles go right in) and then turned on his daddy's lap so he could get one in his right arm – he didn't like it, but may have endured it better than mama and baba. This concludes his medical tests for the U.S. visa process. The next big paperwork day is Wednesday.