The bear Alex helped build for her little sister, Faye ensuring all the paperwork is in order, bags are packed, and the lobby of our hotel in Wuhan.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Last moments before we left for Abby
The bear Alex helped build for her little sister, Faye ensuring all the paperwork is in order, bags are packed, and the lobby of our hotel in Wuhan.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Miscellaneous Thoughts on China
It has strange smells, very distinct. It is like a strong food smell and dirty smell all at once but it is not dirty. At least, not where we have been. It is immaculately clean. Hardly a piece of paper on the ground in site. Now Wuhan may be different, we haven't gotten to go exploring yet. But Beijing, very clean.
I found it funny that restaurants in Beijing had sanitation ratings. A for excellent, B for good, C for average and D for .... well do we really even want to know.
The smog is absolutely horrific. It is saturating. It is ubiquitous. It is everywhere. Our local guide was telling us that they have taken measures to help with the traffic and smog. They allow only cars with certain numbers on their license plates to travel on certain days. On the days they can't drive, they take public transportation, bicycle, scooter, anything other than driving.
And the traffic, well that is another story. Cars literally come within inches of people, bicycles, scooters, other cars and think nothing of it. They weave in and out of traffic in the most dangerous crazy ways and think nothing of it. It is truly unbelievable. In Ohio, we say Michigan drivers are bad (just kidding Michigan friends) they ain't got nothin' on these Chinese drivers.
Rudeness....... and interesting topic. I don't think they think they are being rude but they are. Waiting in line. It doesn't exist for them. They all forge ahead pushing and shoving. Or if there is a specific line, they just try and get in ahead of you. You can't even say anything because they won't understand or at least they act like they don't. This is my theory on it.... I think because there are 1.3 billion people in China they have to fight to get what they want because there may not be enough of what they want. I really try to overlook it but it is difficult sometimes. Maybe it is the foreigner thing. Maybe they think they should have something before a foreigner does. I don't know.......
The Food. Now I am not really a picky eater and will try lots of things but last night at the buffet at the hotel.... well let's just say ... no thank you.....
there was crispy jellyfish, duck liver, duck tongue (arranged very prettily on a plate), something called "as close to flesh and bones as one can get"--THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT THE CARD SAID. ( I probably should have run out the door then and I won't describe what it looked like-- let's just say Hanibal the Canibal), black chicken soup, some various shashimi (after the flesh and bones thing you can pretty much count out shashimi for me) and much more. There were some very "Americanized" things-- the sliced cucumbers were fabulous and they had some baby tomatoes. They also had this vegetable salad with carrots, onions and cucumbers in a vinegriette that was good. Todd tried this baked fish that was awesome. They had a pasta with ham that was kind of like carbonara which was good. They also has some kind of curry which Todd liked. I had to be careful because my stomach was still not quite up to par. But the adventurer in me is still in there, so I did try fried lotus with meat but didn't really like it (lotus is a type of vegetable)and the pork piccata was good. Now the desserts were all really good. I didn't wince not once when I looked at those. If I get a chance I will try to take some pictures but I just had to share some of that.
Being the "FOREIGNER" is interesting. Some people are super nice and helpful and some are just downright rude. We have had people look us up and down and just start laughing. The Chinese women are in general so tiny and the men not tiny but on the smaller side for men. In our group we have 2 six foot two men I am a tall big girl so we are not blending in much. We get stared at alot and I think especially in Wuhan where westerners are few and far between, it will be very interesting. It is strange being in a place where you are the minority. It gives you a whole different out look on it.
The language---I have been practicing. I have a little booklet with me so I can ask for specific things. I know I don't enunciate properly but at least I try. And I always my manners words-- please, thank you, your welcome. We are going to ask our local guide for some specific words for Abby like potty, drink, hungry, certain foods.
The water thing is killer. You can't use the tap water for drinking or brushing your teeth. Only bottled water. We are spoiled Americans. I am missing my nice cold refrigerator filtered water. mmmmmm that would taste so good right now. And you have to be careful about the ice. It is okay at the hotel, McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza hut but everywhere else--no ice.
There is a McDonalds on every corner here and KFC too. The menu is about the same with a few interesting things added.
We get Abby today. I am full of mixed emotions. Nervous, excited, scared. But I just have to trust that everything will be okay. I miss my girl back home. She is doing okay but I have never been this long without her and I miss her.
Well, it is 540 am so I better try to get some more sleep for the big day.
Blessings to all,
Faye
I found it funny that restaurants in Beijing had sanitation ratings. A for excellent, B for good, C for average and D for .... well do we really even want to know.
The smog is absolutely horrific. It is saturating. It is ubiquitous. It is everywhere. Our local guide was telling us that they have taken measures to help with the traffic and smog. They allow only cars with certain numbers on their license plates to travel on certain days. On the days they can't drive, they take public transportation, bicycle, scooter, anything other than driving.
And the traffic, well that is another story. Cars literally come within inches of people, bicycles, scooters, other cars and think nothing of it. They weave in and out of traffic in the most dangerous crazy ways and think nothing of it. It is truly unbelievable. In Ohio, we say Michigan drivers are bad (just kidding Michigan friends) they ain't got nothin' on these Chinese drivers.
Rudeness....... and interesting topic. I don't think they think they are being rude but they are. Waiting in line. It doesn't exist for them. They all forge ahead pushing and shoving. Or if there is a specific line, they just try and get in ahead of you. You can't even say anything because they won't understand or at least they act like they don't. This is my theory on it.... I think because there are 1.3 billion people in China they have to fight to get what they want because there may not be enough of what they want. I really try to overlook it but it is difficult sometimes. Maybe it is the foreigner thing. Maybe they think they should have something before a foreigner does. I don't know.......
The Food. Now I am not really a picky eater and will try lots of things but last night at the buffet at the hotel.... well let's just say ... no thank you.....
there was crispy jellyfish, duck liver, duck tongue (arranged very prettily on a plate), something called "as close to flesh and bones as one can get"--THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT THE CARD SAID. ( I probably should have run out the door then and I won't describe what it looked like-- let's just say Hanibal the Canibal), black chicken soup, some various shashimi (after the flesh and bones thing you can pretty much count out shashimi for me) and much more. There were some very "Americanized" things-- the sliced cucumbers were fabulous and they had some baby tomatoes. They also had this vegetable salad with carrots, onions and cucumbers in a vinegriette that was good. Todd tried this baked fish that was awesome. They had a pasta with ham that was kind of like carbonara which was good. They also has some kind of curry which Todd liked. I had to be careful because my stomach was still not quite up to par. But the adventurer in me is still in there, so I did try fried lotus with meat but didn't really like it (lotus is a type of vegetable)and the pork piccata was good. Now the desserts were all really good. I didn't wince not once when I looked at those. If I get a chance I will try to take some pictures but I just had to share some of that.
Being the "FOREIGNER" is interesting. Some people are super nice and helpful and some are just downright rude. We have had people look us up and down and just start laughing. The Chinese women are in general so tiny and the men not tiny but on the smaller side for men. In our group we have 2 six foot two men I am a tall big girl so we are not blending in much. We get stared at alot and I think especially in Wuhan where westerners are few and far between, it will be very interesting. It is strange being in a place where you are the minority. It gives you a whole different out look on it.
The language---I have been practicing. I have a little booklet with me so I can ask for specific things. I know I don't enunciate properly but at least I try. And I always my manners words-- please, thank you, your welcome. We are going to ask our local guide for some specific words for Abby like potty, drink, hungry, certain foods.
The water thing is killer. You can't use the tap water for drinking or brushing your teeth. Only bottled water. We are spoiled Americans. I am missing my nice cold refrigerator filtered water. mmmmmm that would taste so good right now. And you have to be careful about the ice. It is okay at the hotel, McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza hut but everywhere else--no ice.
There is a McDonalds on every corner here and KFC too. The menu is about the same with a few interesting things added.
We get Abby today. I am full of mixed emotions. Nervous, excited, scared. But I just have to trust that everything will be okay. I miss my girl back home. She is doing okay but I have never been this long without her and I miss her.
Well, it is 540 am so I better try to get some more sleep for the big day.
Blessings to all,
Faye
Rainy day in Wuhan
All I could come up with is some pictures out the window. Too rainy to go outside and play right now, so I think Faye and I are going to get ready to go down and eat some dinner in the hotel and call it a day. Doesn't look like the rain is going to let up tonight and we really don't want to go exploring in the rain so here are the pictures from Wuhan.>>>>>Todd
Forbidden City Emperor's Garden
Some random photo's from inside the emperor's garden inside the forbidden city, keep in mind that some of this stuff is 600 years old, very well preserved. Some of the tree's have been recorded at 300+ years old and are still going strong.
Random photos from Great Wall (2)
Now the last photo here is of our new friend Kevin, He is standing there to show exactly how high some of the steps are. Some of the steps you have to climb are anywhere from 16 - 22 inches each and you might have an entire set of steps at these kind of heights to climb, very exhausting. They say that the side we climbed this time is the easy side, well I don't know what exactly was easy. The Great Wall whipped my butt again.>>>>>Todd
Ni Hao from Wuhan, China
Faye and I departed Beijing this morning, took our uneventful 1 1/2 hour flight to Wuhan. We met our FTIA guide at the airport and off we went. Well we had to get money changed and we asked our guide if we could go to the bank, she made some phone calls and about a half hour later we arrived at the bank, well the funny thing is when instead of going to the counter and dealing with the teller we were met in the lobby with a guy with a satchel and there we stood more or less in the middle of the lobby exchanging thousands of dollars. Not exactly the most comfortable event in a country where you don't know anyone. I walked out of the bank telling Faye that we were going to get "THUMPED" all she could do was laugh.
It is raining in Wuhan, the traffic is just as bad if not worse than Beijing, we arrived at our hotel got checked in and came up to our rooms to get the large sums of money locked in the safe. Then I see Faye hit the bed and grunt, I sat down and these are the HARDEST beds I have ever felt, I thought they forgot to put the matress on the box spring. Not terribly happy about this at all.
We show up to our room and Faye is now out again (sleeping), not feeling good, I want to go roam around but it is raining so that is why you are getting news for Wuhan. Looks like it might rain for the next 2 or 3 days, GREAT!!!
Our guide told us we will meet Gabriella tomorrow at about 2:30 PM, Faye asked if her foster family will be there tomorrow, she isn't sure, so we will have to wait until the moment to find out. We are both getting nervous and wonder what kind of reaction she will have to us tomorrow. Expect the worst, hope for the best is what I think. I think the next 3 days will be very trying for all of us, but at least we have a guide that speaks Chinese that can help us.
No matter the nerves, I am really looking forward to meeting her, I can't wait to find out what makes her unique. I love to hear Alex talk and I am looking foward to hearing Abby talk. Hear those sweet little voices under the covers in their bedroom giggling at bedtime. Alex loves to have her little hunny buns pinched, I wonder if Abby will like that? I can't wait until the girls meet. >>>>>Todd
It is raining in Wuhan, the traffic is just as bad if not worse than Beijing, we arrived at our hotel got checked in and came up to our rooms to get the large sums of money locked in the safe. Then I see Faye hit the bed and grunt, I sat down and these are the HARDEST beds I have ever felt, I thought they forgot to put the matress on the box spring. Not terribly happy about this at all.
We show up to our room and Faye is now out again (sleeping), not feeling good, I want to go roam around but it is raining so that is why you are getting news for Wuhan. Looks like it might rain for the next 2 or 3 days, GREAT!!!
Our guide told us we will meet Gabriella tomorrow at about 2:30 PM, Faye asked if her foster family will be there tomorrow, she isn't sure, so we will have to wait until the moment to find out. We are both getting nervous and wonder what kind of reaction she will have to us tomorrow. Expect the worst, hope for the best is what I think. I think the next 3 days will be very trying for all of us, but at least we have a guide that speaks Chinese that can help us.
No matter the nerves, I am really looking forward to meeting her, I can't wait to find out what makes her unique. I love to hear Alex talk and I am looking foward to hearing Abby talk. Hear those sweet little voices under the covers in their bedroom giggling at bedtime. Alex loves to have her little hunny buns pinched, I wonder if Abby will like that? I can't wait until the girls meet. >>>>>Todd
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Summer Palace
Sorry as you can see it was quite smoggy today here in Beijing, I feel like most of the shots I took today were ruined by the smog, you couldn't get any clear shots. I had hoped that the rain we got last night would have washed away a little of the smog, but as you can see from the Summer Palace pictures and the Great Wall photo's that Faye posted earlier that didn't happen, It may have actually made it worse. >>>>>Todd
Say what
You know I am truly not making fun of the Chinese, I just think that it is funny how they translate some of their signs. I just don't understand why the don't have a college kid that speaks Chinese explain to them that it really doesn't make sense in english. Just some odd ball signs that I have seen throughout the day. Thought I would share so you can laugh way down deep also. >>>>>Todd
Great Wall and Great Sickness
Hi Everyone-- it is Faye posting. This is my first post here from China. It has been quite an eventful trip so far. As you know, first our flight was delayed almost 24 hours. But we finally arrived here safe and sound. We got to the hotel about 11 am on the first day and had to be ready for the tour of the Forbidden City at noon. We got back about 7 pm and decided to go for dinner. Me being the experimental type and all, I tried some spicy seafood soup ( it was so spicy you couldn't even begin to eat it) and then I got prawns with shrimp paste. Well, I started feeling bad in the middle of the night and by morning I was sick as a dog. I could barely make it out of bed my body ached so bad and I was nauseated so I drugged myself up ( Cipro, Peptobismol, Pepcid, Ibuprofen, and Xanax) and spent the entire day in bed. I finally got up at 5 pm and felt a little better. I don't know if I had a bit of flu or food poisoning but whatever it was it made me miss the Great Wall and Summer Palace. We fly out to Wuhan tomorrow and will get Abby on Monday. Pray for good bonding. We got a little update on her and they said her nickname is Mei Mei which means little sister in Chinese so I am thinking that we may call her that because after all she will be the little sister. We got to talk to Alex today and she asked if we had her little sister yet. She was excited that she had gotten lip gloss as one of her gifts while we were gone (she gets to open up one gift a day until we get back.) Well, I must go pack. We have to rearrage our bags a bit. Chinese airlines only allow your bags to be 44 lbs and we were a little over that in one.
Blessings to all. Stay tuned for the good stuff.
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