Welcome to the White Swan

Yesterday, after a harrowing bus drive through Changsha that involved a lot of honking, we made it to the airport, which involved a lot of standing around. Our sweet agency rep, Daphne, sang children's songs and a Hunan folk song on the trip. She told us of her pride for her country and her wish that we teach our children about their beautiful country and teach them to speak Mandarin so that one day they could come to visit. She told us how happy she is that we were adopting China's orphaned daughters and giving them opportunities that they would never have had as orphans. She gave each child a small embroidered bag of soil from their homeland so that they would never be lonely for China.

At the airport, apparently, the person weighing our group's luggage had a heavy thumb and decided that our group of eleven families needed to pay around 2,000 RMB fee (about $260 US) for overweight luggage. Our guides haggled with them, but the group, fearful that our luggage might be delayed or may not make it to the same destination as us, decided to cough up the money. Hmmm, an interesting experience, one of many on this trip. During the hour long haggling, our group drew a crowd of curious Chinese onlookers. We must have been quite a spectacle to them, a group of Americans with little Chinese daughters. Families with little children and grandparents gathered and stood about two feet away from us, pointing and laughing. It is quite a different experience not to blend in with your surroundings, one that your average white American doesn't experience often. The onlookers were only curious and were friendly so no one was bothered by their stares. We know we look weird.

Now we are at the White Swan which, is quite sumptuous. It is filled with shops of expensive clothing and antiques costing around 3 bazillion RMB each. Our view from the window of our room is of the Pearl river and the city beyond. It is still gray and drizzly here and cool but we're hoping for sunshine tomorrow. We ate at the hotel restaurant, which will probably be our only time to do so, except for the included breakfast buffet, since the meal cost us around $80.00 US. The food was very good, however. I sat with the Princess while BaBa fetched our food so I didn't get to see if it boasted the same foods as Changsha but the fish on the buffet did stare at us as we walked to our table. And their stares didn't look friendly.

Today BaBa did the paperwork for the American consulate while I took Tabitha on our first mother-daughter shopping trip. Before we left the hotel room, though, Tabitha let me in on a little secret she had been keeping from us. She can WALK! What a stinker, she plopped down and cried every time I stood her on her feet before. Today I sat on her the floor while I hooked up the computer and from the mirror above the desk I saw her walking behind me. It is still the toddling, lurching walk of a novice but she walked across the room. Her little personality is starting to emerge from her shyness. Daphne told us that Hunan people are known for their spicy foods and our babies were spicy chili peppers. I never believed that about my sweet little Princess but today I saw her throw a toy in a snit. You go girl! Your going to need that pepper personality to keep up with your nieces. You know the famous Noodle and Hopers, co-authors of the best sellers, "How to Wreck a Room in 7 Seconds," "Ten Sounds Guaranteed to Make Adults Cringe," "Body Art With Markers," and "Decorating With Flour." Now we're off to take the famous red couch pictures. Check back later for photos.