Day 1: Off to Shanghai

By -

We knew it was the start of an interesting trip to China when we got in line at the American international counter and we were asked a few times if we knew this was the line for flights to Shanghai. There were some very helpful folks that helped us get our bags checked in and then on through security. We boarded a plane with some pretty tight foot quarters. We now know why these seats were together and available. Who knew there would be a heater under the seat. :-) Also, who knew you could still find a plane flying with such amenities as a plugin for your fax machine. :-) It was interesting flight, but it went quickly and before we knew it we were in Shanghai. After making it through customs we changed some money as suggested and met our guides and driver for that portion of the trip. They took us to the hotel and we dropped off our bags and then they took us through some winding streets to a market in a 500 year old building where we participated in a traditional tea ceremony and learned all the properties and history of the different types of tea. My favorite was the Ginseng oolong. Then we got some dumplings and desserts from a nearby authentic restaurant (note that we did not choose the DQ, which was also available :-) ) Then we went to the Bund riverfront to enjoy the famous lights of the Shanghai skyline and our dumplings.















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 15: Home!

By -
Image
DFW- Landing in DFW we had some challenges with timing and weather. We ended up not being able to get on our flight that would be getting in Friday night. Mackenzie’s parents were watching our pets and house and would be there, but my extended family who were in Charleston had to head back on Saturday morning. So we missed them, but were able to get a flight in the morning to get back that Saturday afternoon/evening. That made for some challenges for sure, but we don’t know what God’s plan was for that day or how he might have been working on our behalf or through those challenges that day. Bailor did well on the final flight. And he only cried a little when we got him in his car seat for the ride home so we appreciated that for sure. We were finally home. Bailor took well to his new surroundings. He was concerned with the pets for a little while, but he loves his pets now. We had some weird sleep patterns the next few days, but it didn’t take too long to adjust. Such a blessing and ...
Read more

Day 4: Gotcha Day!

By -
Image
This day was special because it was Mackenzie’s birthday and Gotcha Day!! We enjoyed our last dining together as a non parenting couple at the extensive breakfast buffet at our hotel. As the other buffet did it had a mix of Chinese fare and Western fare. One item we found interesting is that all the buffets had baked beans.  I know, I know, no one cares about the baked beans- on to Bailor!  We met with the other couple the Miller’s who were also getting a child from Nanjing. We all loaded up in the van and drove to an indescript government building where you go if you are 1. Adopting or 2. Getting married if you are a Chinese citizen marrying a non- Chinese citizen. (Fun pictures to follow) We were early, but the government officials who would help us with paperwork showed up soon. First things first they turned on the air conditioner unit so we wouldn’t melt. :-) Then we started to prepare as our guide told us the paperwork we would do and how we could as...
Read more

Day 6: Orphanage Visit & Nanjing Museum

By -
Image
The next morning we hit the buffet again and headed to the orphanage. We were slightly concerned about this since we had bonded well and weren’t sure how Bailor would react to seeing the other kids and the nannies again. Overall it went well. We finally got to see that muticolor puzzle piece floored room we had seen so much of in pictures. We saw some of the kids we recognized in Bailor’s videos too. The orphanage staff was even nice enough to allow Mackenzie to take some pictures of kids that were going to be adopted by people on the Facebook group Mackenzie was a part of. When we did have to leave Bailor did cry, but a lollipop later he was back in our good graces. Before we left we got our picture in front of the orphanage with the assistant orphanage director and most interesting we got to see the safe room attached to the orphanage where mothers can safely abandon their babies. This is where Bailor was found and they showed us a newspaper article showing Bailor as the first child...
Read more