Dateline Guangzhou, Shamian Island

Yesterday, I spent 1 1/2 with one parent form each of the seven families in our travel group assemlying the visa packet for our children.  Everyone of the children had been given a Chinese passport.  At the American Consolute here in Goangzhou, the visa request are granted.  This consolute has been the focal point for many years of American couples adopting children from China.  Anyway, our agency's representative walked us through the process and helped us fill out the forms.  There were a number of forms to fill out, each one saying pretty much the same thing.  Interestingly, because Hudson is under 14, I had to sign on his behalf.  Today, our agency's rep called and said his visa was approved.  Tomarrow, we go to the consolute for a ceremony in which the children become US citizens under US law.

Early thursday morning, we leave here and fly to Beijing, where we have a layover.  Then we fly United via the article circle to Chicago.  (check it out, it really is less distance flying that way than straight accross the ocean.  our route takes us over the part of russia and then Hudson Bay before heading due south to chicago.)

Doug

 

At naptime, I went with my travel group by taxi to the Pearl Market.  It is the largest wholesale market of pearls in the province. Each little shop had bags of pearls, jade and cubic zirconium.  I bought several necklasses and earings.  It was 4 stories tall and full of jewelry.  Then I went to "shopping street", about 1/2 of open shops two to three stories tall.  I was the only non chinese on the street shopping at one point.  I went through a department store.  Woman were crowding around the undergarments.  I went to a childrens clothing store and bought outfits for the girls and Hudson.  I went to McDonalds, ordered off the picture menu and came home.

Cheryl