Beijing Tour Day 3

Oh, what a day. Just like fireworks, our July 4th was full of highs and lows. Fortunately, there were plenty of highs to help us forge through the few low points. We just have two girls learning how to be sisters and one who is learning what that really means. And when it's good, it's very, very good. And when it's bad, it's not nearly as bad as I had mentally prepared myself for, so I still consider this to be a good transition. We are just all learning about each other and that is going to take some time to figure out. And once we're all speaking the same language, that will make things so much easier. For example, Kara and I have had several times where we are off, holding hands, having an intimate mother/daughter moment and she tries to open up and tell me something. Unfortunately, I can't understand a word she is saying. To her, this happens probably a hundred times a day. While she must get very frustrated at the inability to communicate, she has handled it so well.

We started off our morning with a tour of Tian'an men Square and the Forbidden City. When Nolan and I were here last in November '06, there was hardly anybody here and it the weather was cool. That was a huge difference from today, which was extremely hot and super crowded. Nolan and I could have probably ended the tour before it even started, but Kara is a very smart girl and asked the guide tons of questions and loved learning about its history. I think she has really enjoyed her time in Beijing, so doing this has turned out to be a good thing. The picture I took of the girls' feet is inside Tian'an men Square. Every block holds two people, and with 1/2 million blocks, that means that Tian'an men Square can hold one million people. (I think they might have all been there today!)

To me, the highlight of our Beijing tour was the hutong tour this afternoon. (A hutong is a narrow alley, where people live. Many of Beijing's hutongs have been torn down and replaced with larger buildings, so the few that remain allow tourists to take a step back in time and experience a little of Old Beijing. Once you are inside, you forget that there is a large city of 17 million people right outside the walls.) We did not get to do this on our last trip, so it was a nice treat for us this time. First, we rode around the area on rickshaws (Kara talked the ear off of our "driver", asking tons of questions) and then a family who lived in the hutong served us lunch in their home. They just kept bringing out food, food and more food - every bit of it was wonderful. I made an incorrect assumption that the woman serving us the food made the meal, but it was her husband. I'm a little concerned that we have been getting at least eight different dishes served with every meal. I hope Kara doesn't expect me to do that when we get back home, because she's in for a huge disappointment!!

This evening, we went out to dinner for Leila's birthday at a Peking Duck restaurant. We were joined by Susan, the China representative for our adoption agency, and her husband and daughter. Her daughter is 3 1/2, just like Mia, so it was fun to see the three girls playing together. Soon, it will be our three girls playing together. Oh, and it was funny, because the little girl wanted to sit by Nolan the entire evening. Kara couldn't understand why she likes boys so much. :)

We leave tomorrow afternoon for home and arrive Monday evening. We just Skyped Mia and I think she sounds different after just two weeks. Oh, how I can't wait to hold my baby girl!! This mama's arms are aching for a big Mia monkey hug!!

Signing off from China................