Travel Journal - Day 12

Open Day

Today was very relaxed and free. We just needed to be in our rooms from 10:30 to 12:00 in case our guides needed us with questions regarding the consulate visit. Everything went well and we were free till 2:45 when the bus was taking us all back over to Shamain Island for more shopping. Dana, Taya, and I took advantage of the 2hour and 45 minute window to take a taxi to the nearest department store to look for formula. It was quite the adventure with a crazy driving cab driver taking us there!! I can’t even explain how they drive here, but there definitely is no rules to what is the correct way!! The department store we went to was called the Friendship Store, and it is government run. It was very well staffed, with people ready to wait on your every need. Even in the grocery store part there was a lady for each aisle to help us if we had questions. The only problem is that they speak very limited English, so it wasn’t much of a help. This is the time when we miss having the guides there to help us!! We sat in the formula aisle for probably 15 minutes trying to figure out what formula was the same as ours. They carried Nestles, our brand, but the print on them is totally different. We think that we got the right stuff, but are hoping that our formula can last til we get home. It will be pushing it!! After that we easily got another cab, showed them the Chinese characters for our hotel, and got safely back home. The trip to Shamain Island with the whole group was great. We were able to get more shoes for Taya (9 so far and still looking ( ; ) and the best part of the trip was that we were able to process the instant camera I had sent over to China before we got here. I had sent a care package to the orphanage hoping that they would pass it on to the foster mother. They did, and the pictures that we got back are priceless!! There are several pictures of Taya with a VERY old man (just like the wrinkly old men of China you see) holding her. He was sitting on an old wooden stool. They also had pictures of Taya in her bed in the home where she was living. It was very similar to the homes we visited in the very poverty stricken area in Nanchang. She was in a small wooden crib, with bare cement floors, and a ton of clothes on and blankets. It breaks my heart to think of her living in this type housing, but I know with all my heart that she was loved very much and taken care of with a great, loving family. I so respect the role foster parents take on in this world that is totally different than the one we live in, and the people have to be very strong to love and care for a child, only to see them leave. They know though, that she is going to a wonderful country where she will have freedoms that she never would have had there, and of course a loving family. We are just so thankful to have her in Our family. WE are the lucky ones. The blessings she has brought to us are beyond measure! There were also many pictures of Taya in the orphanage with the head nanny, and many of her friends that also were adopted in our group. After Shamain Island Dana and I hit McDonalds for a quick supper and are in the process of winding down for the night. We are hoping to get Taya down a little earlier. Tomorrow we are having group pictures, a visit to the US consulate to take an oath, and then celebrate all of the girl’s birthdays that are in our Jiangxi province group. Almost all of the girls turned one within the last 2 months. Then, we need to pack and put our luggage out to be picked up that evening because we fly out early Wednesday morning (Tuesday night US time). Can’t believe this trip is almost done. We are very ready to be home, but in a way it is sad to be leaving Taya’s country of birth. Taya had another SUPER day and her smiles just make us so happy. She is figuring out the squeaky shoes when we hold both her hands and walk, but she looks drunk because she is hitting her heels on the ground hard to make them squeak!! It was so cute when she finally figured out where the sound was coming from. All she wanted to do was sit on her toosh and stare at her feet!! ( : What a wonderful little munchkin!! Thank you Lord!

Dana and Amy

Dustin and Jonah: It was great to talk to you once again, and you sound like you are keeping very busy. I just can’t wait to see you!! WE just can’t wait to see you!!

Krisitn: Do you think that you could go to Shopko and buy us some formula for when we get home? We are using the Carnation Good Start2 with iron. It says DHA and ARA nutrients on it. It’s in a yellowish can. We will pay you back when we get home. Thanks!! ( :