We had a long and uneventful flight from Athens to Qatar to Beijing, arriving in Beijing around 4 PM on the 11th. We all had a good night's sleep, and today toured the Temple of Heaven (which was beautiful and impressive--we will post photos later because we are having internet troubles at the hotel with the MACINTOSH that we brought!!). Right now I am paying big bucks for internet service at another location.
We learned last night after arriving that our itinerary had changed and that Ellie will be brought to our hotel TOMORROW MORNING!!!!!! This will be the best Mother's Day present ever!
Then, on Tuesday, we will fly to her province for the adoption ceremony (from the Chinese side). On the 18th we will fly to Guangzhou for her medical exams and the adoption from the U.S. side. We will fly out of Guangzhou on the 23rd.
On the 19th we will see our beloved Chinese friends, our dear brother and sister Jack and Candy! What an added blessing to an already marvelous adventure in China!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS of CHINA:
* Lots and lots and lots and lots of people...EVERYWHERE! (17 million in Beijing)
* The people are beautiful and friendly
* Very little English is spoken
* KFC and McDonalds are all over the place (though we are NOT eating at them--yet)
* Eating with chopsticks is more difficult than we thought, but the food is good!
* Many malls and shopping centers
* Chinese people can be very loud and persuasive! Chinese people on an interpersonal basis have always impressed me as quiet and humble, but just walk anywhere near a store and the salespeople are like carnival barkers (worse)! Amazing!
* Chinese drivers are very aggressive and traffic is horrible!
THANKS FOR PRAYING WITH AND FOR US ON THIS ADVENTURE!
