Welcome to Guangzhou

We did not have a good opportunity to post yesterday as we were "in transit" most of the day The computer and room was all packed up first thing in the morning and then we basically waited around until our 4:30 flight. Actually we left for the airport at 1:45 as checking in a herd is not easy. As a whole we were about 200kg over weight, but also as expected The General made sure there was no over-weight charge for anyone.

The flight from Nanchang to Guangzhou is only about an hour, and Mia missed it, not the flight, but the experience. She was sleeping before we took off and only briefly woke when we landed and then went right back to sleep. Melissa took the opportunity to get some sleep as well.

The White Swan is a true first class hotel, in every sense. There are about 10 restaurants, people to assist with everything including call an elevator and pointing you in the right direction when you come off, at least they remember where our room is.

After a good nights rest,(Maddie actually fell a sleep during dinner Friday night and had hers in the room), this morning, bright and early (8:30 am group meeting) we headed off for the medical examination. I don't know how many families there are in town, but the office was a complete zoo.

Mia thought the appointment was very exciting, she almost slept through it all (who could blame her, it looks comfortable where she is) but part of the exam was a hearing test and they had to wake her up for this, well to be specific waking her up with a squeaky toy was the test.


After Dr. appointment Dad had to spend some time doing the last of the paperwork then we had lunch outside at Lucy's which is an American fare restaurant.

Maddie has been looking forward to the pool at the White Swan all week so even though it was only 21 deg C (about 70 deg F) and the pool is unheated, and outside Maddie was determined to go for a swim. She was shivering the whole time but had to keep getting in the water. In between she would try to warm up as best she could...

(no dating until 35 yrs)

Dinner tonight was a Thia restaurant on the island the food was good but it was very noisy, and not babies crying. As you can see Dad and Mia are now bonding, but mom still needs to be around most of the time, at this rate tings should be petty much "normal" (if you can use that word with children) by the time we get home.

Tomorrow is another full real bath day so we will see how round 2 goes, plus guess what, More Shopping..

From here out we are pretty much waiting to have the consulate appointment (which we don't even have to go to, Samson does it for us) and the oath ceremony which takes about 30 minutes (29 of which are spent waiting) then we are on our way stateside. We will try to keep you posted but we are just pretty much passing time, as a family of course, but we would much rather be home with all of you.

From Guangzhou,

Love,

The Meinens