Last night we crashed in the bed after a long day of walking and sightseeing, so I'm sorry that I didn't get to post. We started off the day with our 3 hour orientation. We received a very HUGE surprise at the close of the meeting...a notebook with all of the recent information that the orphanage had about Brandon taken on January 5th. They had also included 18 pictures!!! We just couldn't believe and we were both crying. Most of the other families in our group got 1-2 pictures some had 3-4 and Adam and I were blown away by 18 but kind of kept it quiet because there were two families that didn't get any pictures. Later as we were walking around town I asked our guide if it was unusual to receive that many and she replied YES. She said that Brandon is from a wonderful orphanage and the caregivers and nannies care very much about the children and are taken very good care of. She said that there is one nanny in particular that Brandon has attached to and she is crazy about him, so that is why we got so much information. The report told us that he sleeps from 8-4 and takes a two hour nap each day. He loves to take a bath and enjoys colorful toys. They told us what he is currently eating and that he likes sweet foods and cakes. He'll fit in great at my house! We also found out that they have given him a nickname, Xiao Xi with means little one. Although if you saw the recent pictures that we got, Brandon doesn't look that little...he seems very healthy (probably fromall of those cakes and sweets.)
We fly out of Beijing today and head to the capital of the province he is in, Nanjing. Our flight is at 3:00 today and it will take us 2 hours to get there. We will settle in tonight to our new hotel, wake up and have breakfast in the morning and receive Brandon at the Civil Affairs Office at 2:30. Of the 20 families in our group, there is one other couple headed to Nanjing with us and then all of the families will meet up again in Gaungzhou where the American Consulate is. The couple traveling with us has 5 children (3 biological and 2 adopted from China) and they are adopting a 9 year old boy. They are also traveling with two other family members so there will be several of us together for the next leg of the trip. We are looking forward to getting to know them better.
Now for our tour yesterday! Forbidden City was amazing. As you entered each new courtyard you thought that you were getting closer to the exit, but the City just kept on going and going. It's amazing to think that commoners were not allowed in, just the royal family had the entire complex to themselves. Such an awe inspiring place. I have many pictures from yesterday's tour! Tiananmen Square was interesting...before you can enter the square you have to run your backpack through a metal detector. Adam asked our guide why we had to do that and he said they are looking for lighter fluid because people catch themselves on fire quite often to protest anything. It doesn't even have to be something political...it can just be people who are made that the government took away their house and they want to make a statement--a BIG statement! At Tiananmen Square we saw two buddhist monks dressed in their traditional garb, interesting! They were just there as tourists! Last night before bed we wandered around Wangfujing street. A very metropolitan area of the city just two blocks from our hotel. Any fancy store you can think of, they have it. Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Rolex, etc...that was the street to go to. And where did Adam and Nicole eat on the street...KFC! We are already over Chinese food...I think we're in trouble!
We fly out of Beijing today and head to the capital of the province he is in, Nanjing. Our flight is at 3:00 today and it will take us 2 hours to get there. We will settle in tonight to our new hotel, wake up and have breakfast in the morning and receive Brandon at the Civil Affairs Office at 2:30. Of the 20 families in our group, there is one other couple headed to Nanjing with us and then all of the families will meet up again in Gaungzhou where the American Consulate is. The couple traveling with us has 5 children (3 biological and 2 adopted from China) and they are adopting a 9 year old boy. They are also traveling with two other family members so there will be several of us together for the next leg of the trip. We are looking forward to getting to know them better.
Now for our tour yesterday! Forbidden City was amazing. As you entered each new courtyard you thought that you were getting closer to the exit, but the City just kept on going and going. It's amazing to think that commoners were not allowed in, just the royal family had the entire complex to themselves. Such an awe inspiring place. I have many pictures from yesterday's tour! Tiananmen Square was interesting...before you can enter the square you have to run your backpack through a metal detector. Adam asked our guide why we had to do that and he said they are looking for lighter fluid because people catch themselves on fire quite often to protest anything. It doesn't even have to be something political...it can just be people who are made that the government took away their house and they want to make a statement--a BIG statement! At Tiananmen Square we saw two buddhist monks dressed in their traditional garb, interesting! They were just there as tourists! Last night before bed we wandered around Wangfujing street. A very metropolitan area of the city just two blocks from our hotel. Any fancy store you can think of, they have it. Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Rolex, etc...that was the street to go to. And where did Adam and Nicole eat on the street...KFC! We are already over Chinese food...I think we're in trouble!
Tomorrow is the big day!! Can't wait to see him.
ReplyDeleteTake care and will talk to you all soon.
Love,
Natalie
How exciting Nicole! Can't wait to hear more! I was just thinking how much you and Adam deserve this. You both are such good people and again I couldn't be happier for you guys!
ReplyDeleteMandy