Sorry I haven't written since we got to Guangzhou. It is very busy here.. quite different from Nanchang. The hotel is very nice but I admit I am looking forward to my bed. The beds here are very hard. Elizabeth (I know you forgot Diane) is fighting a bit of a cold. We have her on antibiotics and she is doing much better. She is just so much fun. She is really showing her independent spirit and fun nature. She loves being outside amoung people and did really well on the short flight from Nanchang to here. Tomorrow afternoon we leave back for Beijing and then the next morning we will start for the USA - we are all looking forward to it. Tonight Joanne and I picked up some film that Elizabeth's foster family took for us. These are priceless. They show her foster mom and dad and it looks like they had an older son. She also had a foster grandmother it looks like. There were many pictures of them and some of their home. Elizabeth will treasure them. I am going to wait to show them to her though. There was an interesting picture in the group. It was a picture of a childs tub. I think that was their way of letting us know that Elizabeth doesn't like the tub. We found that out the hard way. Thanks Reenie for picking the tub up... looks like just what she needs.
This afternoon was the last step we needed to do. We went to the US Consulate to swear that everything we said and did to get the babies was a true statement. There were about 40-50 families in this room and we went up one by one to show that the baby in our arms matched the one in the passport. Then we all stood up and the parents raised their right arm and we answered Yes when the official asked if
everything was a true statement. And guess what... this is when I cried. I didn't cry getting Elizabeth, but when the last step was done. Its so good to know we will be home soon.
Our flight leaves at 9 am on Wednesday. For you all that will be about 7 pm on Tuesday. We land about 12 noon and can't wait to see everyone. For the people in the cities, please feel free to stop by after work if you want. We will be home and the door will be open. I know the first thing I am going to do after I hug my dad and family and friends is to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks. :-)
Uncle Jerry McChesney - thanks for the email, just wanted to let you know we got it. We came to the internet cafe without the NW Tickets so I will come back tomorrow and see if we can figure the seats out. But, if we can't get a bassinet, I think we will still be ok. From what I hear alot of people have cancelled their trips to China andthe flight might not be full. That would be great. We also want to assure everyone that we are feeling fine and what Elizabeth has is not SARS. We have the masks ready if we feel we need to use them.
Love you all - thanks for the emails - Can't wait to see and talk to you when we are back home.
Joan, Joanne and Elizabeth Grace Shiping Kerkvliet.
Waiting for the Medical Examine in Guangzhou
Traveling from Nanchang to Guangzhou
Travel group in Guangzhou
Elizabeth relaxing at breakfast at the White Swan
Traditional Red Couch photo at the White Swan in Guangzhou
