Hi Everyone!
It's Sunday night here. This morning we attempted going to an English service at the local Catholic Church but then when we got there there wasn't really an English service after all. We did sit in the church and have our own little "thank you God" time. Today Joe was not such a happy boy. Let's see...some words might be whiney, cranky, spoiled? The poor kid, I can't imagine what's going on in his head but today was definitely not his best day yet. He wants to be carried all over but he is really heavy! He must be about 8 or 10 pounds heavier than Katrina but they are about the same height.
We did do some shopping around the hotel today and found some good bargains. We also went to the "walking street" here in Guangzhou and it was crazy!! Shop after shop after shop after alleyway and stair cases full of absolutely everything. It was a very fun cultural experience but pretty tiring too.
It was a little rainy here today so we're hoping for some more pool-friendly weather tomorrow.
That's all for now.
I'm going to attempt adding pics to the flickr site but I don't really know how to change the screen to English so I'm not very hopeful I'll have any success!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Guangzhou and swimming
Well, it's Saturday night here in breezy Guangzhou. A typhoon hit the cost north of here so we're getting the left over wind, which is nice because it cools things off a bit. We arrived here yesterday after a very long day of travel....again. We took off from Changchun on what we thought was a 5 hour flight to Guangzhou. Much to our surprise, they announced the landing after only 2 hours! Hmmmm we thought, where are we landing?? Turns out we had a stop over in Hangzhou. After 40 minutes on the ground and some people getting off and on, we took off again for another hour and a half to Guangzhou. Life is just full of surprises!
The biggest news here is that we got Joe in the pool!!! Hooray!!! Jan talked him into taking his socks off the afternoon we arrived (not sure he ever really had bare feet before) and he even let her dip his feet in the pool. After dinner last night we put a swim suit on him and he actually went in. He liked it so much it got a little dangerous (b/c he cannot swim!). Today I went in a shop in the hotel and bought him some swimees (arm things) and off he went. I think he was in the pool for 2 hours this afternoon and loved every minute of it. How cool is that?
The other news is that he passed his medical exam with flying colors but wouldn't smile for his visa photo because he was mad we wouldn't buy him a truck. I told Guy there is no way I can take him in Target when we get home because he wants us to buy everything he sees and gets very pouty, even fake cries sometimes, when we say no.
Everyone was once again over-tired tonight so hopefully we'll have a quiet night so everyone is rested up for tomorrow. We plan to go to an English service at a local Catholic Church and then probably do some shopping and swimming in the afternoon.
After an excruciating paperwork checking session this morning I think we have everything in order to complete the adoption and get Joe on the plane with us!
Thanks for your comments. Gabby, I'll make sure Margaret reads yours tomorrow morning.
I hope some of you were able to view the pics my awesome niece Tammi set up. I'm going to try again tomorrow with the whole picture thing. There are many more English speakers/understanders around here.
Take care everyone and thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
The biggest news here is that we got Joe in the pool!!! Hooray!!! Jan talked him into taking his socks off the afternoon we arrived (not sure he ever really had bare feet before) and he even let her dip his feet in the pool. After dinner last night we put a swim suit on him and he actually went in. He liked it so much it got a little dangerous (b/c he cannot swim!). Today I went in a shop in the hotel and bought him some swimees (arm things) and off he went. I think he was in the pool for 2 hours this afternoon and loved every minute of it. How cool is that?
The other news is that he passed his medical exam with flying colors but wouldn't smile for his visa photo because he was mad we wouldn't buy him a truck. I told Guy there is no way I can take him in Target when we get home because he wants us to buy everything he sees and gets very pouty, even fake cries sometimes, when we say no.
Everyone was once again over-tired tonight so hopefully we'll have a quiet night so everyone is rested up for tomorrow. We plan to go to an English service at a local Catholic Church and then probably do some shopping and swimming in the afternoon.
After an excruciating paperwork checking session this morning I think we have everything in order to complete the adoption and get Joe on the plane with us!
Thanks for your comments. Gabby, I'll make sure Margaret reads yours tomorrow morning.
I hope some of you were able to view the pics my awesome niece Tammi set up. I'm going to try again tomorrow with the whole picture thing. There are many more English speakers/understanders around here.
Take care everyone and thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Pictures!
Hi everybody - since I am the DeVries' house and dog-protector for the time being, I have somehow also gotten the privilege of figuring out their picture situation. Ann finally figured out how to post a few pictures on to Flickr. Instead of adding more pics here and making this page load slower, I added her captions and will direct you to the flickr site for the the pictures of their adventures in China. Click here to see pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13880587@N04/. There are already some great ones of Joe!
Sharing the adventure,
Tammi Talen
Sharing the adventure,
Tammi Talen
leaving Changchun
Well, it's Thursday night here. One last post in this crazy room full of gamers smoking away. I've once again attempted posting some pics on line but I don't think it worked. (Tammi, I just emailed you with pic numbers and the site but I don't think there will be much there.)
We had a slow day here and we are ready to move along. We went to the city square to fly kites but there wasn't much wind. We swam this afternoon but couldn't get Joe to even put his toes in! We are leaving the hotel tomorrow moring at 6 am for an 8:20 flight to Guangzhou (about a 5 hour flight). We will miss our Holt rep who has been helping us here. Her English name is Jenny and she has been fantastic. She is very good with Joe and I know he will miss her too. She's been able to communicate things to him that we just can't. Simple things a 5 year old needs to know like how long we'll be at the hotel, when we're going to the USA, the fact that he needs to share, swimming is safe and fun, etc etc etc.
He is still a happy kid but we did get some tears today when the whole idea of sharing came up. He does have a few things to learn.
Thanks for everyone's comments!
(we did not get Gabby's)
I'll try to post from Guangzhou tomorrow night!
We had a slow day here and we are ready to move along. We went to the city square to fly kites but there wasn't much wind. We swam this afternoon but couldn't get Joe to even put his toes in! We are leaving the hotel tomorrow moring at 6 am for an 8:20 flight to Guangzhou (about a 5 hour flight). We will miss our Holt rep who has been helping us here. Her English name is Jenny and she has been fantastic. She is very good with Joe and I know he will miss her too. She's been able to communicate things to him that we just can't. Simple things a 5 year old needs to know like how long we'll be at the hotel, when we're going to the USA, the fact that he needs to share, swimming is safe and fun, etc etc etc.
He is still a happy kid but we did get some tears today when the whole idea of sharing came up. He does have a few things to learn.
Thanks for everyone's comments!
(we did not get Gabby's)
I'll try to post from Guangzhou tomorrow night!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Siping
Hi Everyone,
It's been quite a day here in Changchun. We took a 2 hour bus ride to the Siping Orphanage. Jenny, our Holt rep here, talked with Joe yesterday to see if he wanted to go back to say good bye to his foster mother and friends. He said yes so off we went...with some trepidation. It turned out to be a great visit. He was able to show us off to his friends and show us around the place. They had about 6 tiny babies, about 10 toddlers, and about 10 older kids. There were four workers there when we visited. We had brought some gifts from home and Joe helped us hand them out. We also gave him pens to give to his friends. His foster mother was very sweet. She even called his foster father while we were there so he could say good bye again. All in all it was a highly emotional day but well worth it. I think in the long run it will be good for some closure for him. It was clearly ok with his foster mother that he go with us. He told her he would go to the best university in the States and then buy her a motorcycle.
He is such a good-natured kid. Almost always a smile, even when we have no clue what he is saying. Thank goodness for the crucial words I know in Chinese like bathroom, hungry, thirsty, let's go, good, come here...
We know the hard days will come. We're just hoping it isn't until we get back home. Everyone is getting ready to be home again. Eating out all the time gets old. We did get Pizza Hut tonight which was really good. Poor Maria will probably never eat Chinese again, even though everything we've had has been fantastic! (the Chinese food here, I mean)
Tomorrow we are going to a kite flying park. Not sure if we're supposed to bring a kite or watch the kites...
We will fly down to Guangzhou on Friday morning. Hopefully we can get some pics up from there.
Thanks to those who have left messages.
Wan an he zai jian (good night and good bye)
It's been quite a day here in Changchun. We took a 2 hour bus ride to the Siping Orphanage. Jenny, our Holt rep here, talked with Joe yesterday to see if he wanted to go back to say good bye to his foster mother and friends. He said yes so off we went...with some trepidation. It turned out to be a great visit. He was able to show us off to his friends and show us around the place. They had about 6 tiny babies, about 10 toddlers, and about 10 older kids. There were four workers there when we visited. We had brought some gifts from home and Joe helped us hand them out. We also gave him pens to give to his friends. His foster mother was very sweet. She even called his foster father while we were there so he could say good bye again. All in all it was a highly emotional day but well worth it. I think in the long run it will be good for some closure for him. It was clearly ok with his foster mother that he go with us. He told her he would go to the best university in the States and then buy her a motorcycle.
He is such a good-natured kid. Almost always a smile, even when we have no clue what he is saying. Thank goodness for the crucial words I know in Chinese like bathroom, hungry, thirsty, let's go, good, come here...
We know the hard days will come. We're just hoping it isn't until we get back home. Everyone is getting ready to be home again. Eating out all the time gets old. We did get Pizza Hut tonight which was really good. Poor Maria will probably never eat Chinese again, even though everything we've had has been fantastic! (the Chinese food here, I mean)
Tomorrow we are going to a kite flying park. Not sure if we're supposed to bring a kite or watch the kites...
We will fly down to Guangzhou on Friday morning. Hopefully we can get some pics up from there.
Thanks to those who have left messages.
Wan an he zai jian (good night and good bye)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Hello Everyone,
I just spent an hour trying to communicate the fact that I want to upload my photos but I have failed. Sorry, I really wanted to get some pics on line but just can't seem to find someone who understands what I want and can accomplish it!!
Our first night with Joe went very well. We were all extremely tired so I guess that helped. He keeps asking when we will get on the airplane and go to the USA. It's going to be a while but that's hard to communicate to a 5 year old. We went to a park this morning where the kids played and got super dirty. We had McDonalds for lunch which was comfort food for Maria, even though we never eat it at home. Many of us took a nap after lunch. Joe fell asleep sitting up on the bed so I just tipped him over and he stayed asleep for an hour. All in all I'd say things are going extremely well. He seems to be rolling with what's happening. I think we're all sort of anxious to go home and just start being a family. It's hard to do that in hotel rooms. Tomorrow we are planning to go to Siping and visit the orphanage. Jenny, our local Holt staff person, asked Joe if he would like to go back. He said yes, but he doesn't want to stay there. I guess that's good. Seems like a lot of power to give to a 5 year old so we're praying it's the right decision to bring him back to say good bye again to his foster mom and friends.
That's all for now. I need to go rescue Guy. He and his mom took 5 kids to the pool (mostly used for lap swimming...no so much like a hotel pool in the States). Joe seems afraid of the water...guess we need to work on that one.
Hope everyone is well. I'll keep trying to get some photos online...
He is every bit as cute as the photos posted already!
I just spent an hour trying to communicate the fact that I want to upload my photos but I have failed. Sorry, I really wanted to get some pics on line but just can't seem to find someone who understands what I want and can accomplish it!!
Our first night with Joe went very well. We were all extremely tired so I guess that helped. He keeps asking when we will get on the airplane and go to the USA. It's going to be a while but that's hard to communicate to a 5 year old. We went to a park this morning where the kids played and got super dirty. We had McDonalds for lunch which was comfort food for Maria, even though we never eat it at home. Many of us took a nap after lunch. Joe fell asleep sitting up on the bed so I just tipped him over and he stayed asleep for an hour. All in all I'd say things are going extremely well. He seems to be rolling with what's happening. I think we're all sort of anxious to go home and just start being a family. It's hard to do that in hotel rooms. Tomorrow we are planning to go to Siping and visit the orphanage. Jenny, our local Holt staff person, asked Joe if he would like to go back. He said yes, but he doesn't want to stay there. I guess that's good. Seems like a lot of power to give to a 5 year old so we're praying it's the right decision to bring him back to say good bye again to his foster mom and friends.
That's all for now. I need to go rescue Guy. He and his mom took 5 kids to the pool (mostly used for lap swimming...no so much like a hotel pool in the States). Joe seems afraid of the water...guess we need to work on that one.
Hope everyone is well. I'll keep trying to get some photos online...
He is every bit as cute as the photos posted already!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Hi all, Just a quick update (its been a long day). We met Joe at 9:30 AM and have been doing paperwork and other activities all day. He gets along with all of us - love electronics (GameBoy, Leapster,Camera,etc.). He cant wait to go to America. Communication is hard but we are managing. All are in bed now and we are looking forward to a good night sleep (we hope). We will try to post photos on Tuesday. Miss you all!
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