We slept as late as we could before breakfast. The kids were still tired and cranky but breakfast always cheers them up. This hotel is the most luxurious by far of all the hotels we have been in. The one in Lanzhou was a 5 star, but the carpet was faded and the furniture in the room was worn, and the air conditioning was out for 2 days. Then in Zhengzhou our room was small and the air conditioning was iffy, and the internet got worse the whole week there. I gave up on the blog and we could barely skype. Here, although the internet is slower than at home, it seems super fast compared to what we have dealt with previously. There are lots of families here adopting, and some of the staff isn't Chinese. Even the housekeeping people often speak a little English. In Lanzhou, we couldn't use the phone at all if we wanted something. We had to go down to the front desk and use a lot of acting and very very special English. Here you can call and ask for more towels and they will understand and bring them. And we are indulging in some room service which we can also summon by phone. The only complaint I have is that these are the least comfortable of the beds and pillows we have had so far. I love the Chinese pillows, and I think here they are trying to give us European and American pillows and they aren't nearly as comfortable. And my bed feels like a giant Buddha has been sleeping in the middle of it. The bed in Zhengzhou was the most comfortable bed ever and I miss it, but I would be happy to sleep on a floor if that would get me nearer to home. This trip has been really long and it is hard to be away from my husband and kids. I'm sick of Chinese food now and I'm no longer interested in trying new foods. I just want familiar food and I want to go home.
After breakfast our guide took us and one other GWCA family to the medical exam. It was really a joke. It is full of people, and lots of American families and their new children. You get visa photos made and then make the rounds to different things, where they weigh and measure them, check their hearing by squeaking a toy, and look in their throat. They do also listen to their heart and then a doctor or someone in a white coat looks at the medical info. I'm sure they all loved our visit since Therese was constipated so she was leaking poop constantly. I kept trying to get a clean diaper on her but then a minute later she would be stinky again. The doctor asked me if I was concerned about them both being in diapers. And she also pointed out where Cheng Cheng's file says in English, "development of brain is not good." I told her I will try to potty train them when I get them home, and that Cheng Cheng is fine. She signed the paperwork so I guess she was convinced. Then we got the TB test. They were brave and didn't cry, and we gave them lollipops. We have to come back in two days for the results.
This is the view from our hotel room:
The new medical clinic.
This little girl is quite a turkey.
Visa photos--both kids smiled, and you can't tell in a picture how stinky one of them was.
Height and weight. John Francis didn't want to get on the scales at first, but he did cooperate eventually.
Miss Turkey didn't want to hold still to be measured. She was doing her evil laugh the whole time.
Trying to get the stroller around the people as we head to our next room.
ENT. John Francis does have two ears. Check.
And a mouth. Check.
Therese also has a very functional throat.
Mama signs the vaccine waiver while John Francis looks on. After this he had to be stripped down and get the full body check.
She is a turkey, but a very cute turkey.
Our guide explained to them that they have to get poked with a needle. Therese still didn't understand what was about to happen, as she smiles up at the nurse. Her mouth fell open in dismay as it happened and she kept showing me the pricked spot.
Lollipops--all done with owies!
After the medical we went to Walmart. This was a nice one, unlike the crowded and dirty one in Zhengzhou. They also had these yellow lines marking where apparently some fire doors will shut you in if there is a fire. I didn't find that very comforting.
We got some bananas so Hannah took them to the weighing station.
This is the fungus section.
We don't have this at our Walmart at home!
Just like at home though, we had to wait in line for a long time.
The pool is funny because there are always some Chinese people swimming laps. They act very serious about it, and have goggles and swim caps, but they swim very slowly, almost in slow motion. It really looks like they are doing a Tai Chi version of swimming. It seems like a very ineffective way to get in shape, but maybe there is some reason that I as a foriegner do not understand.
Therese was hesitant at first, since I am sure she has never been to a pool before, but this girl is willing to try new things. After the first minute, she loved it.
We found a nice shallow pool that the kids had a lot of fun playing in. We found out later this is not for swimming in, but is for washing your feet before you get in the pool.
Therese was happier to leave when we let her put a flower behind her ear. John Francis pitched a fit and refused to put on his sandals. When I made it clear he would be walking back barefoot otherwise, he gave in and put them on.
Dinner was from room service, and I had two baked potatoes. I think they were the best baked potatoes I have ever had. It was wonderful! The kids had Chinese chicken noodle soup and mashed potatoes, and Hannah had Goulash soup. It didn't taste quite German but it was very good.
Our hotel room has this great window into the bathroom, so you can watch people take a shower. The kids think it is very funny. I suppose the reason this was put here was so you can watch the TV from the tub, not because it is fun for kids.
