Observations and reflections on the TRIP for the families that follow us (take ‘em or leave ‘em):
Do bring a computer w/ you and DO USE SKYPE if you really want to keep in touch with any family left behind in the states…Charlie has talked to AND seen his brothers and sisters multiple times over the past week…and is even pointing at them as they talk “real time” over the video-conference! We did the Skype set up as a last, if we have time thing…and we sure are glad we made the time to do it…actually its been crucial to helping us keep our home sickness at bay.
Pack about 1/3 less clothes than you think you’ll need, and take advantage of the laundry services at your hotel in the province and at the stores in Guangzhou…this will help keep your baggage weight down (which you have to cart all over heck and back) and it will leave more room for that expensive Ming Vase for grandma (this was rhetorical grandma, you’re not getting a Ming Vase…sorry).
HBO in your hotels shows the same three movies over and over…either bring some DVDs or a couple of books…unless you really want to memorize every line from Police Academy 3…which is about as big a blockbuster as China’s HBO seems to air…
Do stay at the White Swan, it’s a nice hotel and its just full of other families to share the fellowship of this adoption journey…BUT be warned…save your money…don’t buy anything there…the place is too expensive for our tastes as far as food and gifts go…take twenty steps out the door and the prices fall dramatically (by half)…and then by half again if you…
…realize that you can get most of the stuff in the gift shops for between 40 and 50 percent less than the initial price they quote you…just be firm and don’t budge off your price and they’ll come around…although it does get a little ridiculous when you realize you spent the last 20 minutes of the negotiation haggling over $1.
Be adventurous as often as you cans as often as you can…experience China…for example…
It’s worth it to go off the beaten path…and even, maybe…just once in a while…without a guide (gasp)! Yes, you can do it…and as long as you have $2 to spare for a cab ride back to the hotel from wherever you got lost to…you’ll be fine. Lisa and I saw some of the most amazing things and we had the most fun…when we were “off the script” so to speak on our own winging it.
Also try the food…and get as exotic as you can…so this might not be for everyone…but I didn’t have any gastronomical issues from the chicken feet, cow’s stomach, giant clam, or pigeon I had on this trip…hey if its good enough for a couple of billion Chinese…for a couple of thousand year’s…it must have something going for it right…just try a little…you might like it, and you’re liable to make your Chinese hosts very happy.
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I have thoroughly enjoyed following your trip to China. Your descriptions and humor, as you traveled through China, were wonderful. You are far braver souls than me:-)
Praying for a safe, uneventful, lots of sleeping (by everyone:-) trip home for your guys.
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