Heading Out

Today is our last day in Zhengzhou.  We are ready.  The last few days have been wonderful.  Lily-an is adjusting well and we are to her.  She is "talking" today and is smiling more and more.  She enjoys being held.  We are giving her as much holding time as she wants.  She tells us when she is done.  It is a pretty big miracle we have here.  We are just starting to fully realize that.  The more and more time we spend with her the more she lets us in.  She is starting to come out of the shell.  Zhengzhou has been interesting.  The people we have met have been very friendly and they speak and understand English.  That is nice.  It is time though.  The next few days will be busy in Guangzhou.  Paperwork for the most part.  Start with a physical tomorrow and then just doing some paperwork everyday until Tuesday.  After that 3 days of relaxing and then back home on Friday.  That is the week.  The last 3 days have been good.  Most of the children are doing very well with their new families.  Some of the adults and few of the children have gotten sick.  Jennifer and I haven't.  We have been careful of what to eat and only drink bottled water.  A 16 oz bottle of water is about $2.50 here.  We were lucky and able to buy 1.5L at Walmart for about .40. So that worked.  Everything you drink here is expensive.  Water or Soda.  Then they always take 15% for a gratuity on everything.  So far this week including laundry and some meals here our bill is about $140.  Not bad from what I have heard others have spent.  There is no laundry mats here.  If you want it done, you have to have the hotel do it.  It cost about $6 for a pair of Jeans.  That is one thing we will be very happy to do at home.  We miss it.  All is good otherwise.  Time to finish packing.  Our flight leaves about 8pm local time and we will be arriving in Guangzhou about 10:20pm tonight.  It might be a difficult night for all the little ones.  Don't know what internet is like in Guangzhou so the postings may be slow.  It was free here but do not know about there.  Take care and will post again soon. Mike and Jennifer