Arrived in Guangzhou

Ok, I was going to title this "Terror in the skies" but Jamie said that it would be a mistake due to the current state of international terrorism. Here is what happened: today we left Nanchang for our final stop in Guangzhou, the capital of the Guangdong province (sounds like guacamole). It was an all afternoon/evening just to take the 1 hour flight. We had a super-full flight and it was about 70% "foreigners" (Americans) with their new babies from the Jiangxi province. It was heartwarming to see (though you've never heard a daycare as loud as this). Our guide Samson Wu (most or all Chinese people who work with English-speaking people take a pseudonym which is the case for Samson) was sitting in front of Jamie and I on the airplane and left his window seat to use the restroom. The man in the middle seat was Chinese and in his early 40's. He was asleep. This man was really sprawled out apparently so Samson asked him in the nicest way to allow him back in. The man was extremely agitated and began directing a lot of profanity at Samson in Chinese. Samson tried to stay calm and reason with the man but nothing worked. Things got loud and 2 female flight attendants came over to try to console this man. For a minute he settled down but sixty seconds later things really escalated and he folded up his thick paperback book into a tight baton shaped weapon and was trying to shove it in Samson's face and I think he was trying to swing at him as well. Samson was trying to restrain him and in an elevated voice tell him to knock it off. Things notched up one more notch and since I was sitting behind this man I shouted "NO" at him and restrained his left arm from punching Samson. Many people in the plane stood up and were about to rush him and the flight attendants came back over to talk him down and brought a man from the cockpit to discuss. The whole situation was over a selfish hothead who wanted to sleep on the plane. It was really scary because we had Noelle right there in the mix. Wow. We prayed about this and let go of it and nothing further happened. The flight attendants allowed the man to switch seats. I'll tell you what if that happened in America the guy would be in handcuffs.

Everyone who is from the United States and adopts in China ends up in Guangzhou at the end of the process which is the location of the U.S. Consulate. Everyone who adopts in China stays in the White Swan Hotel. It is amazing. Our room has carpet plus marble floors, maple with black inlaid trim on all the wood surfaces. I could go on and on about this place! It is 5-star and if it was anywhere else it might not be affordable. (Actually room service is still nearly not affordable- and I'm not telling what we just paid.) There are multiple restaurants and rich onsite shops with some amazing Chinese clothes and other things you can buy. Marble and rich wood are everywhere as well as beautiful painted gold Chinese screens, murals, and paintings. It is just beautiful. We came into our room which was chilly for once and didn't smell like smoke! Oh my gosh! And bonus we have one of only two rooms with a waterfront view. Praise the Lord! People who have been here before have told me to be ready for a suprise at breakfast because the hotel is constantly filled with adoptive families who practically run the place. It is neat to see that so much adoption is going on and neat to be part of some China adoption traditions. You can check the hotel out at: http://www.whiteswanhotel.com/eng/Public/index.asp

Guangzhou is apparently very Westernized with six Starbucks (WOW) and other American chains. We are on an island called "Shaiman Island". We are getting an early start tomorrow. We have to go through some medical tests with Noelle. We also have to go get our pictures taken as part of this process. Sunday will be a big shopping day! (which is fine because I hear you can skip a mortgage payment!!). I know there is a U.S. Consulate visit and I am not sure which day that is but we get Noelle's Visa (ok guys don't worry about me I mean a travel Visa not Visa/Mastercard- I have a few years to avoid that one). There is also planned a child blessing event at a Buddhist temple which we won't be attending.

Ok, so a couple of observations from our trip so far (I had more tidbits and I just can't remember them at the moment). First of all it is easy to get your laundry done here and fairly cheap. When you get it back (at least from our first place) it is all in very fancy "crackly" plastic bags with the garment item folded up. They then hand-sew on each clothing item a little tag. You actually have to cut it off. Fancy!

Hopefully, there will be less clothes hanging from the windows and skyrise clothes lines here in Guangzhou- I have high expectations. Hopefully there will be no carcasses or meat of any kind hanging from windows and clothes lines. It really makes you wonder, I mean has a young Chinese man who partied too hard the night before ever accidentally grabbed the wrong thing off the clothes line in the morning? It would be really embarrassing to get to work and realized you wore a ham steak to work. Scary!

Also, a word about our airline we just flew on "China Southern Air". There are several airlines in China such as: China Eastern Air, China Southern Air, Hainan Airlines, and Air China. This "China Southern Air" was a Boeing 737 which looked halfway safe- I mean it probably has oil changes like clockwork every single year!

Noelle update: Wow am I getting in trouble. Little "Tooty" won't go to mom- just dad. (I mean can you blame her? Oops sorry!) Anyway, I know it will pass and Jamie says that Maddie did this as well at 9 months. She's doing well overall. She likes to play a lot on the bed with us and we are trying hard to teach her Maddie's name as well as other family (not there yet). I am 100% positive she gave me a kiss on the arm tonight as I was putting her to bed. I was cradling her head and like 3 times she craned her neck up and gave me a wet kiss right on the arm. It was so sweet!

Love to all.