Day 13 -- Final day in China

Roger:  Today we had the privilege of spending time with some good friends who are currently living in China.   It was both cool and strange to see them here.  It's crazy how things work out sometimes.

We had lunch at Lucy's (notice a trend yet) and then off to IKEA...yes we went to IKEA in China.  They needed a few things for their apartment so we loaded up their 5 kids and our 3 and went shopping. 



Yes..on the left side of the picture you see my beautiful wife and daughter...but take a look at the lady setting on the bed...that is her child taking a nap in an IKEA display bed....only in China.

The shopping carts get their own ride

 

Chinese car seat

We returned to the hotel after our IKEA adventure and headed to the playroom so the kids could release a little energy while Papa John's was making our pizza.

  

The whole gang

One last look at the river before goodbyes

It was a good last day here in China...glad we could share it with some people we love.

Oh yeah...we got Emily's paperwork back from the US Consulate...

I think we aren't suppose to open this.

Now...off to finish packing....

Day 12 -- US Consulate appointment and Red Couch photos

Roger:  Today was our appointment with the US Consulate office.  This was the final step on the US side of things.  Tomorrow afternoon we will get her Chinese passport with a US Visa stamp...allowing Emily entry into the US.  All the years of paperwork and renewals and more renewals and more paperwork have finally come to an end!

The US Consulate office was nothing like I had imagined.  I had pictured something like you see in the movies...like it was part of the US Embassy building or something....US flags everywhere...we interview with the consulate officials and have a little adoption celebration.

In the end, it was like a trip to the DMV....except we had an appointment.  The "interview" part was basically the guy behind a teller window looking through our paperwork, stamping several things, and having us sign one.  The celebration was him passing her Chinese paperwork through the bank teller window and saying congratulations.

On our way to the US Consulate office

Outside the building where the US Consulate office is located

I must say...it was a good day...a day 6 years in the making. 

We finished it out with some shopping, red couch pictures and dinner at Lucy's.

Next up..a day with some good friends who live here in China...and then TEXAS!!!

Ryan: (clearing throat to speak) Today was a sad emotional day because we couldn’t take electronics into the American Consulate. The day improved when we got to go shopping. I bought a special present for someone. Then I got a dragon necklace to represent my place on the Chinese Zodiac. I bought a Chinese writing kit. I bargained the owner down from 40 RMB to 37 RMB. My first bargain was 35, she wouldn’t take it. I had a fun day shopping.  The End

Jonny: A couple of days ago we started this game where we choose an elevator before we push the down button. If you choose the right elevator you get a point. Right now the score is: Mom – 2, Dad – 2, Ryan – 2, and I am in the lead with 3! Hopefully I will stay in the lead and no one shall beat me. You can ask any questions about the elevator game. We have a few more days to play.

I had fun shopping.

Tammy: Today we went to the American Consulate to take the Adoption Oath! We have completed our paperwork trail! Operation Emily is almost complete. We just have to get back on American soil with her in hand. We are looking forward to being at home in our own beds and seeing our dog Minnie. 

After our trip off the island, we went shopping! I love it when my boys bargain with owners. They did a great job getting their things for a lesser price. We found an outfit for Emily for the famous Red Couch picture.  

What is the Red Couch Picture? This is where the all the families from our group get together and put the babies on the “red couch” of the White Swan Hotel and take pictures. Can we say baby paparazzi!  


The Scott ladies looking mighty fine...all ready for the Red Couch photos



Everyone getting ready

The six babies that were part of our group

Our Red Couch photo

Big brothers and little sister

Day 11 -- Touring Six Banyon Temple / Pearl Market / First playdate

Six Banyon Temple ...

Pearl Market....

Playdate with Sonia.....

Q&A Responses -- Part 2

Hillary asked:   Ryan and Jonny, What has been the craziest thing you have eaten so far?

Jonny:  I have had some Chinese dumplings with green onions and beef in it.  It was pretty good.  I picked out the onions.

Ryan:  Mine is still the lotus flower seed.
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Trip asked:  Has Emily asked about me yet?

Emily:  My dad does not let me talk to or about boys.
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Barbara asked:  Who has learned the most Chinese words?

Roger:  We pretty much all are tied on this one…we know about 5 words.
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Evan asked:  Have you eaten sushi and what have you eaten?

Jonny:  I have not eaten sushi.  I have eaten fried rice, noodles, chicken, dumplings and beef.  We have also had McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway and Papa John’s pizza.

Roger:  We haven't had sushi.  I have been the most adventurous in trying things amongst our family members, however, that isn't saying much.  The Chinese meals I have enjoyed the most are the ones where our guides ordered on behalf of the group.  I guess after years of helping Americans navigate China, they know what foods we will like.  I am so ready for Tex Mex!
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Evan, Joel and Melissa asked:  Is Emily talking and what sounds does she make.  

Tammy:  Yes…she is babbling, laughing…lots of baby talk.  Of course, she could be actually saying Chinese words and we wouldn’t know.
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Melissa asked:  I want to know if Emily's hair always stands up or flies away and how Tammy is handling Emily's hair.

Tammy:  Well I am not handling it very well.  It pretty much flies everywhere all the time.  A cut is on the agenda for when we return home.
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Jean asked:  How is communication difference -- does everyone only speak Chinese or at least does the tourist areas speak English too? Have you had problems in restaurants due to language differences?

Roger:  In Beijing and Guangzhou there are many people who speak English.  In Nanchang, however, we felt like the only ones.  It was a struggle to communicate and we used a lot of sign language and pointing at pictures.  Our guide, Jenny, was a life saver.
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Leslie and the rest of the Collins family asked :  Are you traveling with other families?

Tammy:  We met 5 other families in Beijing.  One of those families traveled to Nanchang with us and now that we are in Guangzhou, we are all back together.  We have enjoyed spending time with these families.
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Merissa asked:  Roger and Tammy: What's with Emily's funny hair? It's all from the back crown and so long. Too cute! Will she grow hair on the front of her head?

Tammy:  They shaved most of her hair off because it was so hot in Fuzhou...it will grow back.

For Ryan and Jonathan: Does the food at McDonald's and Pizza Hut in China taste the same as the food at McDonald's and Pizza Hut in the United States? Love, Aunt Rissa

Ryan:  It depends on what you get.  The burgers taste the same…they just have less choices.  Pizza hut was different.  They had Chinese menu items and pastas.  The pizza was still good.

Jonny:  Not necessarily...some of the taste of the food isn’t that much like Americas…but it is still good.
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Miriam and Jean asked:  Are you going to buy gifts from her home town, to give to her when she is older?

Roger:  We weren’t able to shop while in her province (other than Wal-Mart).  We are getting a few things here in Guangzhou.  
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Rhonda asked:  Is everyone ready to make the trip back to Dallas?

All: YES!

Day 10 -- Touring Chen Family Temple

Our day....

• "Western" breakfast buffet at our hotel

• Chen Family Temple:

The Scott children in front of the Temple

The Warriors

The boys listening to Grace talk about the temple

I'm so cute

• The Scott men picked up lunch at Subway...

Lunch

• The Scott men went to the pool while the Scott ladies relaxed....

The Scott ladies taking a little rest

• The entire family took a nap!!!
• We finished the day with a great dinner (mom and dad thought so anyway) at a Chinese restaurant with our entire group.

Hmmm...what does this taste like?



Day 9 -- Medical exam and more paperwork

Ryan:  Who would think there would be a 7-eleven in China?  I sure didn't.  There happens to be one really close to our hotel.  We have gone there twice to get drinks.  Sadly, they don't have slurpies..boo hoo hoo.  They don't have hot dogs either...just some strange Chinese to go food.  We also heard there was a Subway close by...I'm excited about that.

Jonny: I am glad to be in Guangzhou. The hotel room is good. We have a door in between the rooms. My sister seems to be enjoying it. At breakfast you have a good view of the river! Breakfast was really good. They have a waterfall by where we eat breakfast. They have two pools. One is square and the other looks like a dog with no tail.

Tammy: Emily did great on her first plane ride. Once we got off the ground she went to sleep and slept until we got to the hotel. It was nice to walk in and feel the ac as soon as you hit the lobby. There was a wow factor in the greatness of the hotel. We longed to be with other people from our group. It was refreshing to see them all at breakfast.

We spent the morning at the “medical exam.” HAHAHAHA Hilary you were so right! Laughable. Emily got a clean bill of health. She can hear because she responded to the squeaky toy that the person squeaked next to her ears. She does weigh 16.2 pounds. She was a trooper.

Roger:  It is good to start the final phase of our China adventure.  The whole family was ready for Guangzhou and it did not disappoint.  This area we are in is right on the river and very quiet.  I will forever be hearing the car horns from Nanchang.

As Tammy mentioned, we had a medical exam in the morning.  In the afternoon, one representative from each family gathered in our guide's room to fill out the US paperwork.  Lots of forms and repeating the same information over and over.  I am not sure how I got stuck filling out the forms, I would much rather have Emily time :).  It was nice to spend time with the other families we met in Beijing and to hear their gotcha stories. 

Tonight we went to the world  Guangzhou famous restaurant called Lucy's.  They serve "western" food.  The boys and I had a hamburger.  As one of the other Americans we met here said "In America it wouldn't be a restaurant we would go to very much but here...it is great!."  It was nice to have familiar food.

Day 8 -- Travel to Guangzhou

Friday we met with Jenny in the morning to review all of Emily's Chinese paperwork.  We received various documents including her birth certificate.  The rest of the day was hanging out in the room and packing.  We left around 5 pm for our flight to Guangzhou.  Emily's first airplane ride went well....

We have had many request for a video of Emily playing.  So here goes....



Here are some more pics from our week in Nanchang...