Getting Ready to Return Home ...

Dec 14 -- 

All going well, we plan to receive finished US Visa tomorrow am and leave for Hong Kong (HK) by minivan at 4:00 pm or so for 2h ride to the Sky Crystal Marriott in HK. 

Early Saturday 12/15 we fly out from HK on UA 0896 to Chicago. 

Arrived HK. All exhausted.

Will call you when we get to Chicago.

Dec 15 --

Arrived in Chicago 12:30 pm CT

Arrived in Nashville 9:30 pm CT.

WE ARE HOME !!!

Our Stay in Guangzhou

Ma writes --

One is of a dinner at a local noodle shop close to the hotel. 

Our guide Kathy took me to a local produce market and pharmacy behind the hotel where the real Guangzhou happens, crowded and dark but lovely and alive. 

The large main streets look western with fancy names like Prada, but the interior alleys are filled with local shops. 

The pharmacy has both modern medicine and traditional medicine.

 I include a pictures of all of the children in our group, 14 in all, with 7 being newly adopted. 

The hotel has a small playground and I include pictures of YoYo and Sadye and Sami.

We leave at 4 pm today for Hong Kong via a mini van. Our trip will end soon. We are celebrating Sol's birthday today.

At The Hotel in Guangzhou

We are now in Guangzhou to complete the paperwork demanded by our government for Yoyo's adoption.  Right now we are waiting for appointments with the US government agencies we need.

 In the meantime we have a lot of time on our hands.

Sadye reading a book on her kindle fire

Yoyo has absconded with Samanthat's green tea ice cream

Pa writes, "Today is the long awaited US Consulate appt. Friday when US Visa is available we are then free to begin the trip home.

We all have cabin fever. All eager to return to stability of regular life. Last night dinner at McDonalds."

Off to Guangzhou

With Yoyo adopted to join our family, and all the paperwork done for the Chinese government and its agencies and departments, we are off to Guangzhou, where we now take care of the paperwork demanded by our government.

Yoyo in the taxi

Carrefour - 4

One pauses to reflect on how much packaging is needed for the US. 

 To bring this to the billions who don't have it is a mind boggling idea.  ..... 

 For our lunch we took advantage of the prepared food counter. 

 Audrey had duck..$.90 

 Sol had stickey rice .60  

 Sami chicken on a stick .60 

 YoYo had a bit of everything. Also crackers. 

 A Coke Zero cost 2.5 RNB or $.40 and we now have safe ICE!  

Carrefour - 3

Pa writes -- some people pics.

Carrefour - 2

Ready to cook meals

Perhaps some ready to eat foods?

Bakery with pizza too

Try it !  You'll like it!

In the check out line... Impulse buy opportunities..from gum to tooth whitener,tooth brushes, (I believe) Kraft Mac and Cheese, pain remedies...

At the checkout line