We Are In Zhengzhou

We arrived in Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan, around noon today and have finally had an afternoon to rest and collect our thoughts (and blog).  After a loooong flight and several airplanes, we arrived in Beijing at around 2:00 am on Friday to begin China Bootcamp, otherwise known as touring.  With jet lag and 4 hours sleep we and our group of other adoptive families met in the hotel lobby at 9:00 am.  The first order of business was to take a bus to rent a rickshaw to tour the Hutong District.  This is a very old, traditional section of Beijing.  I felt very sorry for the small Chinese man who pedaled us around the neighborhood, but he was tough and didn't even get winded.  We gave him a couple of breaks as we walked around and took pictures.  We visited a traditional family home with a center courtyard and separate buildings for the men and women.  I kind of like that idea, as long as they clean their own bathrooms.  Actually the bathroom was communal, situated downwind according to the guide and we decided not to look in there.

We also visited a silk factory and learned about silk from A-Z and most importantly were given a chance to buy expensive silk items.  It was all beautiful but before you get too excited about any gifts we may bring back, none will be from the silk factory.  Next we went to an excellent Thai restaurant, complete with belly dancers.

After the lunch we went to Tiananmen Square where our old friend Daryl, who lives in China, met up with us.  We marveled at the size of the square and that we were actually in such a historical place.  They claim that one million Chinese people could fit in the square and we were glad they weren't trying that out while we were visiting it.

Next we went to my favorite, the Forbidden City.  Here one million people and us tried to fit through the entry at one time.  I've seen this place in many movies, most recently, Kung Fu Panda, and was awed that I was there.  The Forbidden City has 999,999 and one half rooms.  We had time to peek in about 10 of them.  You can't actually go inside the rooms but can view them from the outside.

That night I fell in bed, exhausted, at about 7:30, with no dinner and slept until about 3:30 the next morning.  That's part of the joy of jet lag.

The next morning we were surprised with a trip to a jade factory and learned how to tell real jade from fake jade.  Apparently, there are many unsuspecting tourists in China who have become very angry about paying a lot of money for glass baubles.  Anyway, with a piece of glass and a marble, I can test your jade for you.  We also learned how jade carvings are made.  There were many beautiful, intricately carved pieces in the factory and more expensive things for sale.

Next on the itinerary was to visit and climb a section of the Great Wall.  Things started to go downhill at this point for me.  I had felt a little off at the jade factory and by the time we got to the Great Wall, I realized why.  Montezuma was touring with me and getting his revenge.  I bummed Imodium off several people, since I had left mine back at the hotel.  I tried, I really tried, to climb the Great Wall with Tara and George but finally they deposited me in one of the towers along the way up.  The view was magnificent so I didn't really mind sitting there as waves of nausea rolled over me.  I was contemplating puking over the side of the Great Wall when I was joined by a family of Chinese people.  The gave a little laugh when they first saw me but then proceeded to conduct some sort of ritual or meditation.  They cupped their hands, one over the top of the other and moved them in a circular motion as if they were rolling a small ball around.  After achieving something with this motion, they moved on to outspread arms and cupping the face motions.  It was all done in complete solemn silence.  It was kind of peaceful sitting there, hunched up against a wall that smelled a little of urine, trying not to ruin their moment with my upset stomach.  At some point, I began to lurch my way back down the Great Wall carrying my back pack and George's, which he left with me.  Some kind Chinese gentlemen took pity on me and carried the backpacks.  I rewarded them by posing, at their insistence, in their family photos.  Three generations and one old very pale white woman, not sure what that was about.

After leaving the Great Wall, we went to dinner where I pretended to eat.  The restaurant was at a Cloisonne factory with more expensive things to buy and demonstrations on this technique.  This is all a blur to me.

After dinner we went to a local acrobatic show which was very entertaining, almost Cirque du Soliel quality (or at least talent).  I started to feel well enough to watch the show without worrying about where the closest squatty potty was located.

Now the touring is over and tomorrow is when we get Teegan.  The long wait is almost over.

PS.  To see pictures and another viewpoint of our adventures see allhisblessings.blogspot.com.  I will post some later.