Fascinated Locals

This video was cool because it showed how people were so fascinated by Garnett and Avery. Much more so in Changsha.

Last few days

Hi.  Andrea here.  Tripp has made all of the posts recently, but I wanted to say hello.  We're hoping to fix the videos, so keep checking those.  There is a really cute one of Garnett playing with bubbles.  Garnett is doing really well.  He is such a happy baby.  He is quick to imitate, and already is talking to us! (well kind of)   He has learned to say "up" when he wants us to pick him up.  It comes out a little like "uup-ha" and he has such a cute little baby voice.  He does get mad when he doesn't get his way and he will say, "Ma ba ba buh!" and start swatting.  He even grabbed my hand once (ok twice) with both of his hands and pulled it into his mouth to try to bite it with his 6 little baby teeth!  It caught me by such surprise that I started laughing, but Tripp saw it happen and reminded me that I should not laugh at that kind of behavior.   But, he is easy to console when he gets mad and doesn't stay mad for long.  Avery and I have been singing the itsy bitsy spider to him.  He loves it and tries to do to spider motion with his fingers.  He is into everything (the phone, drawers, Avery's things, anything lying around he opens and explores).

These pictures were all taken with my camera.  I don't know what order they will post in, but I will try to explain them.  I posted the one of him laughing because it is hard to get him to look in the camera and smile, but he really is quite happy most of the time.   In this picture a shopkeeper was playing with a spinning top with Avery and Garnett.   The picture of Avery and Garnett standing was in the Hunan provincial museum.  The museum had a 2000 year old woman that had been buried in a tomb nearby!  Note the many layers that Garnett is wearing!

I included the one of Garnett tugging on Avery's hair to show the measures he goes to get her attention.  She has been a good big sister but is not as playful as he is.   Last night, though, Avery was throwing her sock up in the air and catching it (or not catching it) and laughing and Garnett was loving it!

The Christmas picture was from the hotel restaurant in Changsha.  We had had breakfast in the restaurant on Thanksgiving morning and there were no decorations.  And then Thanksgiving night, we decided to treat ourselves and do the buffet for dinner.  When we got to the restaurant, it was decorated for Christmas.  It was such a surprise and almost made me cry.  They had a huge tree in the lobby that was beautiful.  Tripp has been playing Christmas music since Friday.

I included a token picture of both kids sleeping in the bed, and then a couple pictures of them jumping on the bed together.  It's hard to tell, but they are actually catching a little air and jumping.  Both Avery and Garnett loved jumping on the bed!  

The family photo is from Shamian Island, where we had to go to do some paperwork. It's hard to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time!  Last trip, our hotel was on Shamian, but now we just go when our group bus is going.  We love our hotel in Guangzhou this trip, though.  The beds are not too hard, and the rooms are quiet.  In Changsha, we were on the 30th floor, but there was still lots of traffic noise because the windows opened (yes opened from the 30th floor) and were not very noise proof.

We just have 2 and a half days left in Guangzhou and then about 30 hours of traveling (door to door) on Friday.  Since we are 13 hours ahead of EST, all 30 hours will take place on Friday!  We think it may be hard on Garnett since he is so active!   We are looking forward to seeing everyone!

Where are the Videos?

Tripp here - I've seen the videos aren't there. With Stephen's help we might get them posted soon. I don't know if they can be inserted where I wanted them. But they ought to be able to be seen.

We don't have free connectivity in this hotel, so we are not constantly checking emails or making posts. Today should pretty active though. We have a couple of days of pics and videos to look through.

We are excited to come home. It is starting to feel like that day just might get here!

Gym at the Park video

Tripp here - Same day, same park.  Another thing many parks have is places to work out.  I don't mean just tracks or pull up bars.  They do have those.  I mean something that corresponds to most (or all) of what we have in a gym to work out.  Check this quick video out.  I've seen these things in two different parks here in Guangzhou.  I have no reason to think it is just a local thing, but I really have no idea.

Concert in the Park video

Tripp here - On the same visit to the park we came across a concert on a pavilion area.  Very traditional Chinese music.

Now let me say this, I am no authority on musical quality or talent of artists.  All I've got is my personal preferences to judge.  Those are suspect to most.  I bet I'm also coming at this with a little snobbery I can't quite get out of my system, BUT this music is so odd.  Even though I was told growing up that the music I listened to was "noise" to ears of some older people who weren't afraid to share their opinion, I've yet to experience that moment of clarity while listening to music (new or old).  Now I have.  

It was so cool to see the real thing on stage.  But I just couldn't connect with the music or musicians.  Maybe it will grow on me.

video post bubbles

Tripp here - Forgive me if this is a repeat.  I couldn't tell if it went through.  A larger file got bounced back to me.  So I shortened the video clip.  

We went to a local city park today.  Very nice outing.  Temps in the upper 60's.  Not humid!  Amazing for Guangzho.  It looks like it isn't unusual for big city parks to have an amusement park section.  Kind of like permanent state fair offerings.  I've got two video clips to post.  One is of Garnett trying to blow bubbles, which is funny and cute.  But it is also funny and cute that we seem to think the louder and clearer we say "blow" that he should suddenly understand that we mean "exhale quickly through pursed lips" and not "here, eat this!"

Christmas at the China Hotel

Tripp here - A nice picture of the hotel lobby in Ghangzhou.

Off to Shamian Island

Tripp here - Yesterday, the 28th, I think.  We went to Shamian Island for Garnett's passport picture and medical exam.  For those who may not remember (it actually quite amazing if you do) this is the location we spent our entire visit last time.  The White Swan Hotel is located here.  A beautiful place.  Has a more European feel.  Because it has always be a location foreigners lived and stayed.  Even the trees not native for the most part.  

But it felt good to be there.  The thing that is a shame is Ghangzhou is hosting the "Ancient Games" so they are cleaning up lots of things around town.  Shamian Island in particular.  So there is scaffolding on many buildings.  And the quiet streets to walk are often torn up or blocked.  And the sound of chisels and power tools fills the air.  Not like it was.

So we got the photo.  Garnett smiled for the camera like a champ.  We are actually using that picture for an etching.  

Next we had the medical exam.  Garnett passed.  Yipeee.  One step closer to the USA.

75cm long (prone)

9.77 Kg

We succumbed to the the tourist shops and got some trinkets and shirts and "stuff."

Then we took a quick walk through the White Swan lobbies.  Thats the one with the waterfall and Christmas tree.

Then back to the hotel we went.

Today we go to a park near the hotel and then do paper work.  

Off to the Airport

Oh I forgot.  The traffic is always crazy in Changsha in my humble opinion (everywhere we've been actually).  The worst I've seen.  Cab rides are amazing.  Some might us the term "risky."  For riders and pedestrians, but it is always hard to take a picture to demonstrate it.  It just looks like a traffic jam.  Until the ride to the airport!  

Our van driver really was an amazing driver and merger.  No line of traffic was too much for this gentleman to merge into.  No turn was too close (in distance) to actually feel the need to be in the right or left lane (depending on direction).  No vehicle, whether city bus or scooter or bicycle was intimidating to him.  No pedestrian couldn't be told to "hold still" with a stern honk of the horn.  No turn was too sharp to only go two wide.  Just like like NASCAR, three wide is more fun for the fans.  Bump drafting?  Well I'm not certain I ever felt a bump, but there was not doubt he was drafting.  Even if he doesn't know what NASCAR is.  But even Jeff Gordon and Tony Stuart go with the flow of traffic.  Not our man.

It was rush hour.  We needed to be at the airport.  Time to pull out all the stops.  Notice the double yellow line...  

I finally got my picture.

Taiping Street

Tripp here - A few more Changsha pics.  We went to a place called Taiping Street.  For centuries (as I understand it) it was a busy shopping street market sort of area.  Near the river.  It has largely been redone and converted to a more upscale shopping area.  Many bars and nice shops.  There is a picture of a very Asian building which is a stage at which the Beijing symphony plays on a regular basis.  But what always catches my eye (and yours too if you were here I'm sure) is the way the old and new China bump right into each other.  We have this nice street with shops.  But if you walk off this street more than one room "deep" so to speak.  You are right back to the old days.  It is fun to see.

Interestingly, a Chinese man and his family (I assume) walked up to Andrea and asked where she was from.  Clearly a thick Asian accent, but spoke English well.  Turns out he was a UVA grad.  So we got to talk about how nice it is in Virginia.  Felt good.

Lastly, the hotel in Changsha put a huge Christmas tree in the lobby.  It was lit later on.  But this is the one that has important people in the picture!

Thanksgiving In Changsha, China

Tripp here - Well yesterday was Thanksgiving for us.  So after the touring around we splurged and got some big meals in the hotel restaurant.  Buffet.  To our surprise, pleasure, and a little amusement, Christmas decorations had gone up the night before Thanksgiving.  Makes sense though, it the culture doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving.

They really did decorate well for Christmas though.  You can probably see the snow flakes hanging from the ceiling (this in a city that almost never gets snow), and a wreath.  They also have a Christmas tree or two up.

So since they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here the menu was not at all slanted toward turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, ham, cranberry salad stuff, sauerkraut, and pies for dessert.  So I finally got adventurous.  I can now claim to have had Chinese food for Thanksgiving.  But in particular I can claim to have had, ostrich tendon, duck tongue, and snake!  The snake was REALLY good.  But too much work to eat.

Today (I should say, tonight) we head to Guangzhuo.  Yay!  One step closer to heading home.  One less airport to deal with.  I guess we get a little taste of what our marathon trip home with two young'uns will be like.  We are enjoying our stay but we REALLY look forward to being home.  It'll be nice to be in Guangzhou with a few other families.  Particularly the ones we toured with in Beijing.  Amazing how quick the bonds of friendship develop.  We haven't hit it off with the family here in Changsha like the other families in CHI's travel group.

On another note: Garnett's foster Mom and Grandmother came back again!  It was the day after the first time.  We are so happy he was loved so much, but it is hard to take him.  In the sense that we know someone is so sad to see him leave.  They were so worried we aren't going to dress Garnett warm enough.  I have to admit we don't dress him (or any of our children generally speaking) as the Chinese.  Wow.  We've had temps up near and above 60 here.  There are children so wrapped up they can't move.  A cultural thing for sure.

We developed a role of film from Garnett's life before we got him.  I'll get some of those posted soon.  Perhaps the next 15 minutes.  But it will likely be tomorrow.  

Avery and Garnett at play

Here are a couple pics of the kids.

Newpaper Headlines

Two interesting headlines from todays "China Today" in english.

"Pet lovers save more than 800 cats from the diner table."  page 5.  

And then the largest picture front and center was an Asian girl and her caucasian mom.  They were part of large group who came back to try to find something out about their daughter's past and lineage.  Pretty cool.

Changsha China

Just some pics here to show Changsha.  We went shopping down that one street.  The other view is of the city crossing over the largest river in Hunan.  I was amazed by the smog.  It is bad here.  Always a little hazy but this was amazing to see.  When we were in Beijing it was nothing like this.  One or two days we had blue skies.  

The 1000 year old Academy

Now for the Academy.  And the temple.

Embroidery Students in Hunan

Here are pics of the students.  It all looked good to me.

Hunan Embroidery Research Institute

Some pics of the Hunan Embroidery Research Institute workers, at work.  Hopefully the resolution is good enough that you can see how similar their work is to the photos or painting they stitching.  One of them shows how it is double sided.

Hunan Embroidery Research Institute

Happy Thanksgiving!  Tripp here - Of course there is no hint of Thanksgiving here in Changsha, but there is a massive high end hotel nearby that has two little lit-up reindeer out front.  

Today we went to an Embroidery Institute and an Academy that is as old as the hills by US standards.  Both were very cool.  I especially liked seeing how the embroidery is done.  Hunan is one of four provinces that are well know for the art.  Apparently I appeared to be VERY into it.  Our guide volunteered that she has never had a husband seem to more interested in the embroidery than the wife.  And not only that, I admitted as much.  Hunan is known for "inventing" the double sided embroidery.  There was very interesting museum and then we got to see the "pros" at work, and then we saw the students.  Two different rooms.

The long embroidery that Andrea and Garnett are standing in front of is actually two sided.  The side opposite Andrea is a winter scene.  Hopefully it can be seen.  I couldn't believe I was looking at embroidery at times.  The one with a man reading a paper looked like Norman Rockwell.

The academy has been open and functioning for over 1000 years!  Now it maintains some post graduate work.  It started as a Confucian school.  It has a temple "to" him as well.