Back to Life

Yes, blog readers, I am still here.  I had to take a little break from blogging due to feeling a little under the weather.  Actually, I thought I was dying while I was sick but I survived.  Don't know if Tate gave me the tummy ills or if the food or one of the other billion people I encountered last week did. In any case, I got to visit the orphanage before totally wimping out.

The orphanage building and grounds were truly amazing.  It is a brand new building and was very clean and spacious.  The inside that we visited included rooms for sleeping, playing, learning, and eating.  There were apartments for foster parents to live in with three or four severe special needs children.  The grounds were well maintained and there was an outdoor playground with lots of fun equipment.  The ayis, or caretakers, were loving.  Tate was very happy to see his ayi, his friends, and his play room.  I have to admit I had a very unwarranted pang of jealousy when Tate went to his ayi so easily and then did not want to return to my arms. He had no trouble leaving with us and never shed a tear.  I don't think it was a necessary experience for him or a bad experience for him but I am glad we went.  He had another chance to say goodbye and to see that his friends and ayis were still where he left them.  I had a chance to see the environment he came from, see the bed he slept in, and to see some of the people who loved him before I did.  We even learned his nickname, Yang Yang (sounds like young-young).

We are in Guangzhou now and our hotel room is amazing.  Mostly, because it has air conditioning that is not turned off for the winter, but it is a very nice Marriott.  It also has soft beds.  The room feels like a little slice of heaven after our accommodations in Jinan.  Today we went to Shamian Island, which is very lovely this time of year, to torture Tate with a physical examination and a TB test.  He did not cry and was very good throughout the whole crowded, noisy, sweaty (maybe that was just me) ordeal.  We then walked around the island enjoying the scenery and the nice weather and we did a little shopping.  Tate now has a couple pair of 18 month pants, or the Chinese equivalent, some squeaky shoes, and some cheesy toys.  We took a taxi back for the first time without a guide and made it back to our hotel.  Tonight we are going out to eat with the CCAI group that we joined in Guangzhou.  Pictures will be added later!  Just be glad I was able to post for now.