We started our third day in China in a way we never expected – by going to a very American church.
We went to a Christian church for English-speaking visitors. It was for foreigners only, and we even had to show our passport to get in.
But, surprisingly, it was very much like worship services we are used to. There was a youth praise band that reminded us a lot of our band at Sandy Plains, with many of the same songs. We kept thinking about Justin, our youth minister, up there singing and Jackson and the boys playing behind him.
The lead singer is from Colorado and the pastor is from Missouri and had pastured a church in Minnesota.
It was a very inspiring and uplifting service, with people from all over the world all worshiping together. There were many Chinese-Americans, but also English-speaking people from all over the world.
The sermon was entitled: “Love Matters.” We all know that there is no love greater than the love of God, but the sermon made us all think about the love being shared by our group of 13 families that are all here for one main purpose – to adopt and love children that currently have no home.
Though the pastor had no idea we were coming or who we were, it was almost as if the sermon was planned just for us.
After church, we went to a pearl factory and then to Tiennamen Square and The Forbidden City, where we walked for miles and miles. I’m not sure how big the square and the city are, but I believe Cramerton and McAdenville would both fit inside.
The Forbidden City is the palaces where the Chinese Emperors lived from the 1400s until the revolution in 1911. It is filled with numerous palaces surrounded by beautiful, ancient statues, sculptures and artwork.
There are 9,999 rooms in the palaces, which means the emperor either had a lot of servants or a lot of wives, probably both.
I would tell you more about it but it’s forbidden.
We ate some duck and some other things that we’re still not sure what it was. The food has been OK, but not great. Some is a bit exotic and quite different from American Chinese food. After three days of it, we’re pretty sure that Emma’s first meal is going to be at McDonald’s.
The toughest part of the day was not knowing. Wondering every hour, all day, but just not knowing.
I just kept wondering and wondering … did the Gamecocks beat Georgia?
They were up 17-14 when I left the hotel room, and then I heard nothing else all day.
Finally, we got back to the hotel, went online and got the news of another heartbreaking loss. Oh well, it’s not like I’m not used to.
And now I have to get through tomorrow not knowing who won the NFL games. Life overseas is indeed hard.
Enough for now. We’re up at 4 a.m. tomorrow to fly to Anhui province to finally meet Emma Lee. We can’t wait, but also can’t quite fathom what it’s going to be like. It will be a very joyful and emotional day.
I can’t wait to watch her bite into her first chicken nugget.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Travel tip 1
Travel tip to China No. 1: Don’t automatically assume every non-Asian person you meet is American. Ellie Mae learned that lesson when she tried to chat up a French couple at dinner.
Travel tip to China No. 2: Make sure your spouse is out of the bathroom before trying to plug in your European/American electrical adapter followed by a power strip. You might blow out the power in your hotel room. Thanks Ellie.
Travel tip to China No. 3: Master the art of chopsticks before your first public dining experience or you might become the dinnertime entertainment. Eating fried rice with chopsticks is like trying to eat soup with a fork. And getting frustrating and using your soup spoon is generally frowned upon.
It’s 3 a.m. Saturday morning and we’re both wide awake, looking for coffee and waiting on the workout room to open. It’s called jet lag.
Off to the Great Wall. … Three days to E Day!
Travel tip to China No. 2: Make sure your spouse is out of the bathroom before trying to plug in your European/American electrical adapter followed by a power strip. You might blow out the power in your hotel room. Thanks Ellie.
Travel tip to China No. 3: Master the art of chopsticks before your first public dining experience or you might become the dinnertime entertainment. Eating fried rice with chopsticks is like trying to eat soup with a fork. And getting frustrating and using your soup spoon is generally frowned upon.
It’s 3 a.m. Saturday morning and we’re both wide awake, looking for coffee and waiting on the workout room to open. It’s called jet lag.
Off to the Great Wall. … Three days to E Day!
Arrival
After the longest flight of our lives, we are finally safe and sound in China.
Despite flying halfway around the world and losing a day (we left at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and landed in Beijing at 3 p.m. on Friday) it actually went about as smooth as it could. I read two books, watched two movies, ate three meals (including a carry-on cheeseburger from Chicago’s famous Billy Goat Tavern), all while Missy slept, and before I knew it, we were there.
The first dose of culture shock came, however, as soon as we stepped on the flight to Beijing in Chicago. About 80 percent of the 300 or so people on board were Chinese, which I guess we should have expected, but somehow I thought there would be more Americans going that way. I guess there’s a lot more Chinese visiting America these days than vice-versa.
It was pretty cool being on a plane, flying across the big lake and listening to the majority of the people around you speaking a totally foreign language. They were very pleasant and unusually quiet – a lot quieter than if it had been a planefull of rowdy Americans.
My first brilliant observation came the minute we walked into the airport - there were Chinese people everywhere. It looked like Chinatown in New York City on a Saturday afternoon. And as soon as you walk outside, every street and building sign is in Chinese. If you’re an American, you better have a tour guide and an interpreter. It was one of those Duh moments, but it still drives home the fact that we’re thousands of miles from home. I could almost hear people speaking in Chinese saying, ‘You ain’t from around here, are you?”
Beijing is much more Western than you think, though. The first restaurant we saw in the airport? KFC. We were going to stop for a bucket, but they didn’t have Kung Pao or Schezuan.
We also passed McDonalds, Pizza Hut, a Haigan Das ice cream shop and a three-story Super Wal-Mart. It was then that we started to feel comfortable. (Nothing makes you feel at home like a Wal-Mart). And, of course, everyone in our group wanted to stop.
Beijing is a huge city. The airport is probably the biggest one I’ve ever been to. It’s a lot like the airport in San Francisco – you land in San Jose and take a train to baggage claim.
The traffic is also intense and bumper to bumper. It’s about like I-77 North from Charlotte to Lake Norman on a Friday afternoon.
Beijing may also be the only city in the world that currently has more condos going up than Charlotte.
That’s enough for now. We’re off to find some real Chinese food, or as they call it here, food.
Despite flying halfway around the world and losing a day (we left at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and landed in Beijing at 3 p.m. on Friday) it actually went about as smooth as it could. I read two books, watched two movies, ate three meals (including a carry-on cheeseburger from Chicago’s famous Billy Goat Tavern), all while Missy slept, and before I knew it, we were there.
The first dose of culture shock came, however, as soon as we stepped on the flight to Beijing in Chicago. About 80 percent of the 300 or so people on board were Chinese, which I guess we should have expected, but somehow I thought there would be more Americans going that way. I guess there’s a lot more Chinese visiting America these days than vice-versa.
It was pretty cool being on a plane, flying across the big lake and listening to the majority of the people around you speaking a totally foreign language. They were very pleasant and unusually quiet – a lot quieter than if it had been a planefull of rowdy Americans.
My first brilliant observation came the minute we walked into the airport - there were Chinese people everywhere. It looked like Chinatown in New York City on a Saturday afternoon. And as soon as you walk outside, every street and building sign is in Chinese. If you’re an American, you better have a tour guide and an interpreter. It was one of those Duh moments, but it still drives home the fact that we’re thousands of miles from home. I could almost hear people speaking in Chinese saying, ‘You ain’t from around here, are you?”
Beijing is much more Western than you think, though. The first restaurant we saw in the airport? KFC. We were going to stop for a bucket, but they didn’t have Kung Pao or Schezuan.
We also passed McDonalds, Pizza Hut, a Haigan Das ice cream shop and a three-story Super Wal-Mart. It was then that we started to feel comfortable. (Nothing makes you feel at home like a Wal-Mart). And, of course, everyone in our group wanted to stop.
Beijing is a huge city. The airport is probably the biggest one I’ve ever been to. It’s a lot like the airport in San Francisco – you land in San Jose and take a train to baggage claim.
The traffic is also intense and bumper to bumper. It’s about like I-77 North from Charlotte to Lake Norman on a Friday afternoon.
Beijing may also be the only city in the world that currently has more condos going up than Charlotte.
That’s enough for now. We’re off to find some real Chinese food, or as they call it here, food.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Here we go ...
It's been a very stressful, but exciting week. My fantasy football draft went really well (got lots of studs), the Gamecocks won their season-opener (though they looked lousy doing it; at least Georgia lost), our tennis team is 4-0 and in first place and the NFL season starts this week. ... Oh yeah, and we're finally leaving for China tomorrow to get Emma Lee! We're both anxious, nervous and excited. I feel like I'm either in a third-set tiebreaker, or the clock is winding down with South Carolina clinging to a slim lead (I know, that doesn't happen often). Anyway, we're packed and ready to go. Kickoff - I mean, takeoff - is only a few hours away.
- Jeff
- Jeff
TIME TO PACK!
We had our conference call with our travel group yesterday. There will be 12 other families traveling with us. Most of us will meet in Chicago and be together for the 14 hour flight to Beijing. We will tour for a couple of days to get acclimated to the time change and then Monday(China time) we meet Emma Lee. We don't know if it will be in the hotel or in a Cival Affairs Office yet but Monday she will be ours. I still can't believe it. It seems like we've hoped and prayed for so long its not even real. Packing has proven to be an adventure. What do you pack for someone you've never met? Especially if you can't stay focused on anything for longer than a few minutes. My Mom is coming to day to get me organized then tomorrow morning we fly out. It feels like a dream.......more to come........
Friday, September 4, 2009
We're all set
Finally, she can "calm down."
We got our final approval today and are all set to leave on Thursday, Sept. 10. It's been a long week since we were first told we MIGHT leave on Sept. 10 and getting the final appointments and confirmation. Today has been a whirlwind of activity, making travel arrangements and final preparations. The stress has been tremendous and, believe it or not, Missy has been the one telling me to "calm down." After 29 months of telling her to be patient and relax, I'm the one that needed to be talked off the cliff today. Reality has finally set in and we are both excited, anxious and more than a little stressed out. (For those of you playing tennis with me in the morning, BEWARE! You've been warned.) Next Thursday can't get here fast enough. I think once we are on the plane and on our way, maybe we can both "calm down" and finally relax. More to come later.
Jeff
We got our final approval today and are all set to leave on Thursday, Sept. 10. It's been a long week since we were first told we MIGHT leave on Sept. 10 and getting the final appointments and confirmation. Today has been a whirlwind of activity, making travel arrangements and final preparations. The stress has been tremendous and, believe it or not, Missy has been the one telling me to "calm down." After 29 months of telling her to be patient and relax, I'm the one that needed to be talked off the cliff today. Reality has finally set in and we are both excited, anxious and more than a little stressed out. (For those of you playing tennis with me in the morning, BEWARE! You've been warned.) Next Thursday can't get here fast enough. I think once we are on the plane and on our way, maybe we can both "calm down" and finally relax. More to come later.
Jeff
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I wish I had some great new to share but alas, more of the same, hurry up...now wait...
We are still being told to expect to travel on 9/10. We haven't gotten the confirmation for all the appointments we'll have while in China but the agency keeps saying just hang in there. In fact, here it is exactly:
"Hi Jeff,
Our in-country staff spoke with them today and was informed they'd confirm
tomorrow."
So there you have it......nothing.......
Maybe tomorrow. Keep praying, because I'm hanging by an awfully thin thread.
We are still being told to expect to travel on 9/10. We haven't gotten the confirmation for all the appointments we'll have while in China but the agency keeps saying just hang in there. In fact, here it is exactly:
"Hi Jeff,
Our in-country staff spoke with them today and was informed they'd confirm
tomorrow."
So there you have it......nothing.......
Maybe tomorrow. Keep praying, because I'm hanging by an awfully thin thread.
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