Schmidt Six: We are in Guangzhou!

Our last day in the hotel...this is our fabulous guide (and now friend) Katherine. I miss her already!

It is 1:45 pm on Saturday in Guangzhou. Before we left Fuzhou yesterday, our fabulous guide Katherine had a big surprise for me. I had requested that we get to visit the "beach" while in Quanzhou. However, due to uncertain typhoon weather (and an already full day), we were not able to visit. So, after Katherine picked us up from the hotel to go the airport, she said we would be able to go see the beach in Fuzhou! It is right near the airport so we stopped on our way. Growing up in California, I am definitely beach girl. I have now seen the Taiwan Straight and put my feet in the water! It was warm and the sand very soft. What a gift she gave me! Thank you Katherine!

Kathrine and I on the beach (Taiwan Straight)

It was obviously low tide here...there were tons of teeny, tiny little crabs scurrying about the sand.

Well, after a 2 1/2 hour plane delay last night, we arrived in Guangzhou at 10:45 pm. We arrived at the hotel about midnight! Charlie had his first airplane ride and, even with the delays, he did fabulously! He did not want to buckle his belt, but after showing him how mommy and daddy had to buckle (and the bribe of a lollipop), he let us buckle him in. He fell asleep after the lollipop and woke up when we landed (just over an hour). Whew!

We have already had a full morning here. We met the other family from our agency here. They have adopted a beautiful 4-year old girl and have their other adopted daughter with them (she's 3). They also have 2 children at home...they seem like a warm, loving, Christian family. We are blessed to share this part of the trip with them. While we enjoyed being on our own in Fuzhou, we are now surrounded by many, many adoptive families here. It is comforting in a way. We are staying at the White Swan hotel. It is a lovely hotel and we are lucky to be staying in a 2-room suite on the 27th floor. What a view from here!

View from our hotel room...see the river on the left? The hotel is on Shaiman Island.

Charlie had his required passport pictures taken this morning and then his medical exam. The doctor was quite intrigued by his special need (removal of a kidney). He read all the reports (very carefully), discussed some things with our guide Connie (who said he may want x-rays done), and did an exam. I told Connie that we didn't want any tests done...turns out, we didn't have to have it done. However, even after the exam, the doctor came out to find us in the waiting room to see if Charlie was on any medications. Connie said it is a very unusual special need and the doctors were curious about it. We were glad to leave there. Afterward, Pete brought Charlie to the room to nap and I spent about an hour completing the paperwork for our consulate appointment (on Monday).