For a number of years, the US Consulate and a number of consulates from other countries were located on Shamian Island, as were two of the best hotels in Guangzhou. Thus, pre-2004 most adoptive parents from the US and Eur0pe spent their last week on the island. There were a number of shops catering to touristy swag, including crafts from all over China. Then the US Consulate moved and a few years later the White Swan (the best hotel in the city and center point of the island) closed for a year for renovation. Shamian Island is still very nice with beautiful architecture, quiet tree-lined streets, wonderful parks and plenty of hospitality, but it’s not the “adoption central” that it used to be.
We visited the island today for the second time – the medical clinic is on the island as well – to check Sophie’s mandatory TB test (no worries there) and then walked around it for the first time on this trip.
It was fun to see Jordon who does free calligraphy of your child’s name transliterated into Chinese. He did Sarah’s back in 2007 and Sophie’s today. He’s also one of the few Christians who is “out” in the city and always has a Bible on his desk. On top of all of that, he’s just a really nice person and a pleasure to chat with. We stopped in another shop where we had bought gifts a few years back and bought some gifts this time too. We also stopped in the same shop where we bought Sarah some clothes and bought a coat and a few outfits for Sophie. It was fun to walk down memory lane.
One new addition was Starbucks, where we stopped for our daily dose as well as Sarah’s new daily tradition – chocolate cake. Sophie apparently now assumes some daily ration of chocolate from these wacky Americans, so we figure that she’ll be a little disappointed when she gets home that chocolate cake or cheesecake are not part of most meals. It is wonderfully cute to hear Sophie squeal “chowcalee” (Chinese for chocolate) in her baby-sounding voice. Sarah and Sophie spent about 20 minutes playing on the ramp outside Starbucks as Sarah helped Sophie up and down it.
It was a fun visit and we’re talking with some of the other families here with us about getting a cab and heading back over in the next few days.
Being tired does not usually help our patience and disposition! At an “over the edge age” we can really relate to weariness. Thankfully, you are much younger and will bounce back…after another time change and schedule. Back to work may be a relief for you. So glad the family can be watched via electronic technology. We just wish we had some of your savvy! Hang on and know we care and pray for each of you.