The Beat of the Street

The Beat of the Street

 While there is Gucci, Prada, and various other high end vendors around here, I see nobody actually at any of the super high end establishments. 

I think maybe they might put there for show. Or maybe 1 outfit a year pays the rent, not sure. But here is the real scene of the city.  

Monday at the Pagoda

Monday at the Pagoda

Today was another free day and after hanging out at the Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins this morning, we agreed we'd both like to see the Giant Pagoda.

There are only 2 originals left in China and this is one of them, so we thought that a good choice. I got my "please drive me to...." card from the reception desk at the hotel and hailed a taxi.

The Pagoda was much more than I expected. It was a huge garden area. We arrived in time for a very magnificant water-music show of the fountains. I enjoyed the gardens very much but sweet-Joy does not like walking at all.

Then we got tickets to go inside the Pagoda grounds which ended up being a Buddhist Temple. We were guided by a college student that wanted to practice her English. She did an amazing job and it was nice to have someone to talk to.

We ran into quite the delima though. We didn't realize we were completely across town and that it was rush-hour and a holiday. Which means no taxi was willing to take us back to the hotel. After an hour of failed attempts to hail a cab, being bullied by motorcycle taxis, calling our local contact with no luck, our options were: wait 2 hrs and take a cab (at night! no thank you!), take public transit (no thank you!) or walk the 1hr 30min back (which would eventually be night with street beggers),

I promptly walked us into a nearby Westin Hotel and asked to hire a private driver. Within 5 minutes they brought us a private car with a private driver and air conditioning!

Joy's jaw dropped! (I did walk away at first and said I'd walk, but after 3 min into the walk, I could hear Dale's voice in my head saying "pay the money, hire the driver!" So we returned to the hotel and paid the $24 for the nice ride!). It was really quite fun.

A little more on Joy: (Besides fixing her hair and relishing in the fact she has mutliple pairs of underwear now, she most enjoys watching TV and playing games on her new iPod Touch (which is just my old iPhone) She likes Fruit Ninja the best. She can read Chinese characters and helps me with money when I don't know what people are telling me. She seems quite confident in her adding and subtracting money on the fly. She really enjoys her daily baths now, which she thought was weird at first but now can't wait to take one. And she did tell the college student that she likes me. That's good! But then said "she even loves me". THRILLED about that! She seemed to be adjusting even more today.) 

Tomorrow we are pre-scheduled to go see the Terra Cotta Warriors (with a guide and a prepaid driver!). No more self-guided-taxi-tours for me, ever!

Meanwhile half way around the world, the rest of the family has a nice lunch with Dad at the "Chinese Restaurant" 

Sunday in Xian

Sunday in Xian

We had a free day today. I had hoped we'd both sleep in until well after 8am but at 6:15 we both couldn't sleep any longer.

We did hang out in pj's until after 8 though. We skyped with the family back home, then got ready for breakfast. After breakfast, we took a Sunday stroll through town.

We are in a rather large city. The city of Xian is has a city-center that is marked by a large fortress of a wall that surrounds just the city-center.

Outside the wall is still Xian but just not the center of Xian. Inside the wall is sort of like Time Square. We are inside the wall. We walked to the actual wall today. It's about a 15 min walk to the South Gate of the wall. 

I could not figure out how to get "on" the actual wall and in our search, we found a little walk park, which I enjoyed and Joy could not stand. But I will admit from time to time when she saw the elderly she literally got scared. I don't know what was up with that. We did figure out how to get on the wall, but it included crossing a 6 lane major intersection which totally frightened me but I was determined, so I attached ourselves to some locals, shoulder-to-shoulder and we made a run for it. So glad we did! When we got to the entrance of the South Gate, there was a festival going on with a show and music. It was by-far the coolest thing I have ever seen in China. 

It really lifted my spirits which were beginning to dwindle. After the show, we walked around the wall for a while then back to our hotel, stopping at Baskin Robin on the way.

We hung out in the room for hours actually. We both needed some down time. As of writing this it's 3pm here (and 3am EST at home). 

We are going to an early dinner. I'm thinking Pizza Hut. Joy has never had pizza before. I hope she enjoys it. Pizza Hut in China is gernally better than America by a long shot for some strange reason.

So, are we bonding? It seems that way. She is not overly effectionate, at least at this point. When I hug her, tickle her or kiss her cheek, she doesn't pull away. She will giggle and smile big, so at least she seems okay with receiving affection. I have told her in Chinese that I love her and then repeated it in English and she smiles. I've done that since Gotcha Day. 

Today I did that as we were walking out of the walk park and she looked up at me and pointed at me and said "I love you" (in English). I'm hoping she meant it vs just practicing her English. Our photos for today include our walk through the park, the festival and city wall and being silly in our hotel room. 

Adoption Day

Adoption Day

Welcome to our family, Joy. Today Gao Er Guo legally became Joy Ning Guo Clark. 

Her new name means "Joyful Peaceful Fortress".

The day started with Joy experiencing her first buffet. Watermelon was her food of choice. Then we headed out to officially-legally adopt her.

 

While at the hotel I was worried about going back to the same office I met her at, afraid she might think either she would see her foster mom and be disappointed or afraid I was giving her back. I used my phone app to tell her I had to go back and sign papers so that I can keep her and then I asked her if she wanted to be my daughter, she smiled huge, gave a little leap and nodded a big yes. 

While I want to say something profound about today as it is a climax of the past year, I must be honest. I am beat! A year of emotions, 36 hours of travel and 2 days of being upside down in time, my body and emotions have just decided to take a break. I only write that so future adoptive parents don't feel guilt if they get to this day and feel the same as I. 

However, even in my exhaustion I KNOW that my Lord is good! I know HE did a wonderful thing today! Out of the dark and into the light, new freedom and soon to be knowledge of her creator.

A little about her: She's yet to learn personal boundaries (much like one we already have at home) which I could handle but I think it drove the guide crazy.  The guide kept saying 'she is like a boy'. She does indeed have a few social graces to learn but nothing major and that is to be expected. How would one know how to react in a restaurant if they've never been to one or to sit at a table if they've always used there lap. Baby steps. This life is ALL new to her; glass elevators, escalators, spoons, forks, her own plate vs shared, cars, everything is new. From a country girl with 1 outfit and no bathroom, to a sophisticated urban girl will take time. She is in training to become the princess she was born to be. A princess of the king! 

Tonight we did celebrate with a traditional Chinese dumpling dinner. It was a nice to experience (one time!). 

Around Town - Adoption Day

Around Town 













Here are some photos of the area one just 1 side of our hotel.  It's a very busy place here, which you can see by the street shot. 






You cannot (for any reason) actually cross this street, or you would surely not make it out alive! 




There is a system of underground tunnels. The tunnels take you to various destinations within the city and I inevitably choose the wrong tunnel which sends us walking in circles underground with thousands of people, many whom are smoking. Good times! 





The photo of the tunnels below, is of course, one of us taking the wrong tunnel.



Got to love adventure. McDonald's and Starbucks are just outside our hotel, again of course, both require the use of different tunnels. 

The photo of the buidling with all the red lanterns is where our dumpling dinner was at. 











I think the old style buidling with the large jumbo-tron and a Starbucks is quite amusing. Sunday we rest. Whew, thankfully!

Muslim Market in Xian

Here are a few photos from the Muslim Market we went to Friday night.

We stumbled across this place and were both quite fascinated by it, so much so that we forgot about dinner and at 8pm, Dale texted us asking if were gonna stay up all night.

Thankfully, he did that. We had lost track of time.

THE FIRST DAY...

Well, if you are on Facebook, you know we now officially had our Gotcha Day with Joy. All went well. The foster mother and foster brother came with her. It was nice to meet, hug and thank them. Joy did cry & shut down but just for a few minutes, no sobs, just a few silent tears.

I told her I'd love her and care for her and she actually looked surprised and then relieved. Within 30 minutes she was 'mine'; happy, skipping & holding my hand. She didn't seem to mind at all that she has a new name and now answers to it & practiced writing it.

We have shopped, had McFlurries and shopped more. We had a little too much cultural immersion today. All alone we had to venture underground (literally!). The mall had astronomical prices on girls clothes, so we only bought her shoes there and then 'hunted' down a bargain at some underground maze of small booths. I did not take pics, I was already drawing enough attention. After an hour we emerged with only 2 pairs of capris. Most shops were for women. After shopping, we came back to the hotel to rest & clean up. Then we went inside the Bell Tower, to Starbucks and thru a Muslim market where we got fantastic bargains and bought fun stuff. We were exhausted and our legs hurt so dinner was at the hotel.

Joy speaks no English but will try a little. She's experiencing a whole new world and has tons of energy! She enjoyed her first bubble bath, her new clothes, M&M's and French fries.

She talks a lot and I have no idea what she's saying and then she giggles as me. She smiles nonstop. I think that's a wrap for today. Tomorrow is our legal adoption day.