It's
Friday afternoon and we are getting the final things packed. Well, I
should probably say, we are getting the final things thrown away.
That's my style! We have had a good time with the others in our
travel group playing Baby Stuff Poker as we trade our extras for
things needed for the trip home. “I'll trade you one bag of snack
puffs for 6 diapers and some wipes.” “I see your cheerios and
will raise you one jar of prunes.”
We
didn't see Jesus at our final appointment this morning. I guess Jim
Caviezel must have special connections (I'd say so! The big man
upstairs!) where he doesn't have to wait in a crowded room with 40
other families for 45 minutes all for a 15-second oath we had to
take.
Speaking
of the Consulate Appointment...this was our final step of official
adoption stuff in China. (Of course there is more paperwork when we
arrive at home.) It is simply overwhelming to me that Cheng Hai Bo is
ours, that we did it, that it is nearly over and we are going
home...with her in hand. I never thought this day would come.
The
Americans in the Consulate room were all ready to swear, I mean, take
an oath that everything stated on our paperwork was true. We all
swore, but yikes...who in the world even remembers what we put on our
paperwork completed nearly two years ago?
We
dragged the Shaung Bao Tai (twins) and their parents to the Banana
Leaf Thai restaurant after our big ta-do about nothing appointment.
That was some great food! So on this trip we have had Chinese,
Japanese, Thai-ese, dirty knees.
While
we were enjoying our “flied wice”, Eliana decided to Do Her
Business (think prunes). Well, as I have mentioned before, there is
no such thing as a changing table for this chore. So off I headed to
the Toilet (as it is called here, aptly named) with squallering
stinky girl in tow. The restaurant/mall area was packed with people
so I knew that there was NO WAY I was getting out of this experience
undamaged. First I did the Horrible Thing of placing my child on the
bathroom floor (I laid something down first, of course, but that
didn't matter.) The Hens were out in full force. I am not kidding –
there were at least six ladies that all Gathered Around to see The
Show. White Lady Seen Changing Chinese Baby In Toilet. Much pointing
and chirping began. First I was informed that my child had too few
clothes on. (All in Chinese sign language, of course – very
dramatic.) One lady started rubbing her hands together, and then
placed her warm hands on Eliana's tummy to calm her down (because of
course she was squawking). Then another rubbed her hands down her
arms to keep them warm. Of course the whole time there was the
Chinese Chatter to keep the baby from crying – an interesting
mixture of sing-songing and yapping. Begin The Interview.
“Where you from?” “Your baby grill oh boy?” “China Baby?”
“How old?” “First baby?” “Two boys!!! You have two boys
already?!?! [Chatter chatter chatter] How old they??” And on it
went. Then the Crowd had to help me get Eliana dressed, get
everything all closed up. I did happen to notice that not a one of
them grabbed the poo-poo diaper. Where's a Hen when you need one.
The
Yunnan families are having a Last Hurrah tonight at the Chinese
restaurant in the hotel. Should be a lot of guffawing and
Chinglishing. Afterwards we all have the enviable task of stuffing
our suitcases and setting them out for the Luggage Fairy to come one
last time. It's time to go home. Zaijen (goobye) to China.