Lost in Translation

Today is Saturday, our first full day in Guangzhou.  The weather is very nice, and a bit warmer and might get into the 70's this week.  In order to get here, however, we had to take a plane...Nolan's first flight.  It was just a 2 hour flight, and overall I would rate it a B-/C+ .  Could've been a whole lot worse, but could have been better.  He did great for about 60% of the time, and then he was just done.  The Chinese plane was very tight, and he was on my lap in a middle seat.  Let's just say 14 hours on the flight home will be interesting.  We'll just start handing out apologies when we board   :) 

Earlier we had our medical exam for the adoption.  Kinda funny that you just see bus loads of American families with their Chinese babies all coming to the same place.  In Shanghai we stuck out like a sore thumb, but in Guangzhou, we fit right in.  All families adopting from China must complete things in Guangzhou.  The "exam" was fairly quick because they are pretty much pushing tons of families through one after another.  But Nolan was not a fan.  The nurses were dressed in while dresses with the traditional nurse hats and big face masks on, and they come and take the baby from you to do measurements, etc.  Pretty tramatic for little ones who are probably scared to death to be handed to another stranger.  And it was a noisy, busy place.  After that, we did some quick shopping in the area. 

I mentioned that another families is adopting twin girls.  They also brought their 4 year old son with them, so now they are in a foriegn countrry with their son and new 16 month old twins.  I really feel for them...It's tough enough with just our new little guy, and we are used to juggling 3, but doing it here in China would be so much harder.  We can keep no schedule really, so meal and nap times are when ever it happens and these babies schedules probably did not deviate by one minute in the orphanage.  Tired and hungry babies on a bus ride is no fun.  But I know how much fun twin girls are, so I will try to remind them of that along the way.

We wanted to share some funny things we've learned or seen while in country, especially so we don't forget them either.  Almost every sign is translated into English here just like everything is English/Spanish at home.  There are so many funny translations.  A few we've seen are "perilous rocks" for dangerous rocks, "no striding" for no running and the bacon on the breakfast buffet is labeled "Baconic".  I know they use a more British translation so maybe that all makes better sense in England.  Also our guide told us he'd never heard of fortune cookies until an American asked about them.  They do not have fortune cookies here!  And he said, contrary to popular belief, they do not eat dogs  :)   I'm on my 4th toothbrush because I keep forgetting I can't rinse with tap water.  Everything accept for grocery and restaurants is bartered here.  There is no waiting in line in China.  I guess with the population being so incredibly high, it is every man for himself.  We, along with another American adoptive family were dead last getting onto the plane (which boarded outside) cause we were not nearly aggressive enough.  It was especally funny since we got to go out first because we had babies, but somehow we were still pushed to the back.  Elevators are crammed uncomfortably full. We really miss the smoking ban in Indy because apparently smoking is pretty big here.  The airports had drop off boxes outside security just full of lighters.  Like hundreds of them.  They do not use dryers here so every balcony has all their laundry hanging outside.   There are hardly any minorities here.  6% percent of China is minority (with most minorities still being an Asian people group) so white people with a Chinese baby grabs everyone's attention.  In Shanghai we got lots of stares and 180 degree turns, especially to verify that Nolan was indeed Chinese, while we, well, are not.  Not rude stares, just stares and lots of pointing and talking that we do not understand, not one bit.  A little uncomfortable, so we just smiled alot.  Although maybe they were staring because Nolan is so dang cute.  It could be that. :)  It has really made us appreciate the diversity we have in America.  Our guide said an interesting thing.  He said he could come to America, and people would just think he's American, but we could never come to China and be considered Chinese.  So true.  I do love the melting pot that we are.  I hope that Nolan can feel that he fits in well in America.  For sure better than we fit in in China  :)

Waiting in the airport and then on the plane

Getting his exam

Pretty much sums up what he thinks about all that

Guangzhou

Funny sign