A Busy Two Days

Yesterday all the babies and parents headed to the SOS International Clinic, right across the street from the Canadian Embassy.  A very clean and westernized looking clinic, open 24 hours, staffed by international doctors-- including a Canadian doctor who went to McGill, looked after our children. Nevin was a very good boy, and was among the very healthy babies adopted in our group.  It was a long wait, but all the babies were very tolerant, and kept busy in the children's play area.  All of the parents were impressed with the clinic.

We headed back to the hotel and put our babies for a nap, and the Mommies went to the super store next door to the hotel to do a little staple shopping.  I bought an extra suitcase to take home the sundries and souvenirs, which cost about $18 CAD, some new shoes for the kids, and a pillow for the plane ride home.  We are flying first class, and the only thing to make the flight nearly perfect would be a nice pillow, especially if I am to sleep with Nevin on the way home.

In the evening, we ventured to a theatre and watched a Chinese Acrobat performance, and the babies were mesmerized. The parents, including David and I really enjoyed the entertainment.  Just before the show, we walked through an art show and marvelled at some of the Chinese paintings.  As we nearing the end of the display, there was a gorgeous painting of three young Chinese boys rough housing in a Chinese garden. Our guide commented on the irony of our three boys, who were standing in front of the picture.  Not only have we been the centre of attention as westerners, we are among the very few families who have adopted boys, which is rare. I wanted to buy it, but it was too big, and at that point in the day, fighting off jet lag and the thought of arranging to have it shipped overwhelmed me a tad. Maybe when we take Nevin back to visit China, I will look for it then.

Today was a little cool and rainy-- not the best weather to visit the Summer Palace, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.  We went through too quickly, and only saw a small portion or the Forbidden City.  My favourite part was walking through the Summer Garden.  It was breath taking, with the most stunning, ancient looking cedar trees, and everything beautifully manicured.  The cobble stone walkways were intricately designed into art themselves. I could have stayed there all day, but it was too cold, and the babies were getting wet and shivery.  If we were here a few more days, I would have gone back.  We just did not have enough time. 

The most fun during the day was being accosted by the street vendors in Tianamen Square.  We all had so much fun being harassed and teased by the vendors, and looking at their tourist trap items for sale. Who doesn't want a Chairman Mao wristwatch?  We did make some purchases, some fun things to take back home, but the most fun was listening to the offers the vendors were pitching at us.

In the evening was our dinner provided as a courtesy by our travel agency here in China.  Our guide and driver took us to a real Peking restaurant, the name translated was The Big Pear Peking Restaurant.  And let me tell you, it was the most delicious Chinese food I have ever had.  The only thing I didn't eat was the scrambled eggs with some sort of shell fish, possibly even eel or octopus.  Not really sure.  But everything looked and smelled wonderful.  And nothing came to the table with a head on it, so that we were all pleased.  It was a good night of laughs and banter with all the families, and the babies did really well.  Nevin had eaten a lot during the day, so he nibbled on his tofu and enjoyed playing with Mummy and Daddy.

Its like we've been Nevin's parents since the day he was born.  Both David and I continue to gain his trust, and he is quite attached to the both of us.  His gigantic belly laugh is a daily occurrence throughout the day, and he generally is a very happy boy. We feel so blessed to have a lovely new son, and cannot wait to take him home on Thursday to finally get settled with his forever family.

Tomorrow its the Great Wall of China and then the Jade Factory, where I am hoping to make a special purchase for ME! I cannot wait until the evening to PACK FOR CANADA!