America World Travel Group 09-28-2010

It has been a wondrous time in China. Friendships formed around a common cause, great food, amazing accommodations, and world class facilitators.
Today we went to the US consulate and took an oath that all this paperwork we've been filling out for the past nine months is true. Tomorrow we pick up our little Meili's Chinese passport and US imigration paperwork and get on a bus to Hong Kong.

We leave from Hong Kong on Thursday morning, our plane stops in Tokyo and then continues on to Salt Lake City. We will be on this plane for over 17.5 hours! I don't think I'll get a blog post in before Meili is a US citizen but this picture of Meili sleeping on dad will be pretty typical.
Thank you all for following our travels. I expect the next post to be the whole family at the Portland airport.

For the love of God and our neighbors,

Scott


PS. I wish I could post video because it is 9:15 PM and Meili is in her bed just hamming it up - making it very clear that she has no intention to go to sleep!

Cantonese Dinner 09-27-2010

When you are traveling picture menus are great. But we have found something even better! It is Cantonese style. You just point to what you want and they bag it and cook it up! Here are a few choices. (btw, the Cantonese are known to eat, well everything)

duck

really big shrimp

turtle

eel

frog

sand worms

tell him what you want

bag it

yum.

Shamian Island 09-26-2010

Models and brides-to-be are a common sight here on Shamian Island. The surroundings are beautiful and seem to attract a lot of photo shoots.

Honestly. Scott and I were really just trying to find a little toy for Meili to chew on. When we went to dinner with our friends, we noticed that she had put it on her handless hand. It wasn't meant to be a prosthesis.

Personality Emerging 09-25-2010

Leanne took some great picture today. We can really see more of Meili's personality coming out.

Chen Family Folk Art Museum 09-24-2010

This man is writing Meili's name in Cantonese.

Courtyard in the Folk Art Museum

A man selling a coconut drink

Fresh produce

Meili has been giving us many smiles the last couple of days. When she laughs her whole, little face laughs. Tonight she had some cheesecake for dessert. We're going to do a high fat diet for her!

Yuntai Gardens 09-23-2010

The Yuntai Gardens are decorated for the Mid Autumn Festival

Nathaniel was adopted two years ago, his parents returned to adopt Jessie

Many couples have pictures taken here

Our travel group with kids

Cow and Bridge 09-22-2010

After a casual morning and filling out visa paperwork this afternoon we made our way through a little more of Guangzhou and returned to the Cow and Bridge Thai restaurant. If you are ever there I recommend the Ostrich. Here's a picture of Meili making eyes at Matthew. She was quite the flirt.