Our paperwork was turned in at the US Consulate. We will receive Sarah's Visa to travel to the US tomorrow. In the evening we took the ferry across the Zhu Jiang (river) at night for a view of the lights in Guangzhou. Since Sarah is from a port town she may have been on a boat before but she did hang tight to the railing.
We went to an Easter church service at the Shamian Christ Church. It was in English and Mandarin. After that we went back to the DVD market and got some more DVD's with Chinese subtitles in that Sarah can read Chinese characters. She loves the Disney princesses.
Hard rains today!! Needed to walk to the photo place to get Sarah's VISA picture taken and then walked to another building for the medical exam. Very crowded and we were all wet. We got to meet the four other families from our agency (three baby girls and one a seven year old boy). In the afternoon John worked with Molly, our agency host, on completing the paperwork for the US Consulate appointment next week. We are anguish to get home!
We walked to a shopping area to get somebooks for Sarah in Chinese with English. She reads Chinese character so it is a great way for us to communicate words . We then went to the Guangzhou Zoo. Sarah jumped when she saw lions and tigers up close, so we think it was her first time to a zoo.
We visited the orphanage. The orphanage is a mixture of children and oldpeople with disabilities. It was a great visit as we got to talk with her teacher and had lunch with the orphanage staff and director. They showed much hospitality.We then went to the cafe where she was abandoned over four years ago. It was a very touching day.
We needed to go to the Police Station to finalize the adoption. Then went shopping for Sarah and bought her some pants, tops, shoes and a doll. Sarah is adjusting well to being spoiled.
Tuesday, we completed the adoption interview and notary in the morning. Then we went to the museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King. We went to McDonalds. I think it was Sarah's first time. She definitely likes burgers and french fries.
We got Sarah at 3:30 pm today! She is precious and cute. She seemed scared. She liked the Polly Pocket Ruth had sent with for her. She was coloring, watching TV, watched a music DVD sent from her orphanage in Jiangmen, and laughed looking at pictures of our family, I guess we look funny!
We left Shanghai for Guangzhou. We had fun getting through the airport inspection with the disposable cameras and vitamins, they were out to get us. The flight was very turbulent they had to stop serving several times and we think they landed on one side wheel first. Otherwise, arrived safely and was met by our adoption guide Molly, who took us to the Victory Hotel.
Today we went to Best Buy and IKEA. Then at night we went to the Jinmao Building which is the fourth tallest building in the world. Up 88 stories on a beautiful clear night. The tower is the tallest building in Shanghai and is located in the Financial District. This area didn't even exist 15 years ago.
On Friday, March 14th, we spent the day with Sunny, a friend of John's from work who has moved back to Shanghai. He provided insights into Shanghai. We visited the financial district on the East side of the river, a shopping area for foreigners under the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Old Shanghai, walked the Peoples Avenue at night (with all the lights) and the new shopping center at the West side of Shanghai (Xuhui). We traveled using the subway system which was packed.
On Thursday, March 13th we hiked around 12 miles on the west side of Shanghai. We visited the Taipingqao Park with a lovely water area, the site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, the Shanghai Art Museum, Bund area, and various shopping areas.
