In Guangzhou

We are finally in Guangzhou, after quite the ordeal yesterday. Our flight ended up being delayed by about 6 hours, and by the time we got to the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, it was midnight. Lillian was a trooper on the 2-hour flight, absorbing a bunch of attention from the Chinese travelers who were very curious about her. She was uneasy -- she did not want her coat taken off, despite it being a bit warm on the plane -- but only cried twice, in short, 10-second bursts to communicate her frustration with how she was situated in cramped conditions.

 

She was wildly tired by the time we got to the hotel (she'd only taken a 45-minute nap on the bus ride from our hotel in Nanjing to the airport), and the more tired she is, the louder she protests being rocked, cradled, soothed, or encouraged to sleep in any way. When she's that tired, if left to her own devices, she gets ticked off at her books, her toys, the bedspread, etc. But with the kind of day we had, we really didn't expect anything else!

 

This morning was a good morning, and included a visa photograph appointment and a medical exam. She was great for both, and really enjoyed the walk from the hotel to both appointments. She was fascinated by locals playing a game similar to hackysack, but with a different kind of bag, decorated with feathers. We also watched a few of the many brides being photographed in the park. It is Saturday here in Guangzhou, and it's in the upper 70s, so today is a good outdoor day.

 

We are inside right now, as Lillian is napping (after another blowup, this time involving Mommy throwing away Cheerios Lillian had dumped on the bathroom floor, which is her strategy for quickly separating the preferred fruity cheerios from the plain ones). Her schedule is still off, especially after yesterday. We're also hoping that we are getting better at dealing with her tantrums (although the verdict is still out on that), which are confined at this point to when she is tired.

 

Later today we're going to do a little shopping in the small shops here on Shamian Island. We need to get a few more warmer-weather clothes for her to wear while we're here, plus mementos. We'll probably also check out the local park and the Mattel-sponsored play room in the White Swan. Tomorrow we will be able to attend the Christian church just a few minutes from the hotel, then in the afternoon our agency has organized a trip to the traditional jade and pearl markets.

 

Thanks to all for your comments and interest. We really enjoy hearing from you, as it makes home seem that much closer.