Waiting for Liddia's Visa, and Feeling Like Monkeys

The last step in the long government approval process is getting Liddia's US passport. We have done the paperwork and now we are just waiting for everything to go through the system. Our appointment at the US consulate is Tuesday morning at 8:30.

Another family we met in the Hotel 'adoption play room' said they are on their 3rd week here in Guangzhou at the White Swan. They said it was like living the movie Groundhog Day. We had a good chuckle about that, all too real.

To pass the time we try to do some interesting things while we are here. On Monday we went to the Zoo with the Herschi's. It is a very nice zoo with lots of animals. Liddia really liked it.

We had a great time, until she got tired and hungry. We are learning that tired + hungry = Liddia melt down. That is a recipe we want to avoid, especially in public in China.

Here is one of the "don't mess with me" looks.

You shouldn't get the impression the melt downs are more frequent or worse than they really are. I write about our melt down experiences because they have added spice to our China trip, and it is part of our adoption experience. Liddia isn't a bad girl, she has a few bad habits, but it is how she survived in the orphanage. We know that things will get better when we get home, in a routine. So, here's our latest melt down experience, enjoy!

People in China seem to be very curious about Americans, very nice, but curious. But when you add the fact that these Americans are carrying around a Chinese baby, our status moves from a novelty to unusual phenomenon.

And when you are in the zoo, and the Chinese baby with the Americans starts crying very loudly, that is when you become one of the exibits. In fact, just like the monkey exhibit, people gather around to get a closer look! I am exaggerating of course. It is not that bad. The people are kind and friendly, but certainly curious, and a few may be suspicious.

The local people wonder why we have these children. They don't seem to know about the orphans or the adoptions. In years past, some wild roumors went around with crazy explainations as to why Americans wanted to adopt these children, none of them the real reason, out of love.

But, I think they still wonder, and in the midst of being a zoo exhibit you start thinking, "these people probably think we kidnapped this girl!" Then you start wondering if you will find out what the inside of a jail in China looks like.

But, we survived, and no one called the police.