July 7, 2010

 Thank you to my sister, Susan, for continuing to update the blog for us.  We cannot access it from China, so I have been emailing additions to her.

Yesterday we went to the Shanghai Adoption Registration Office to register the adoption.  We spent a couple hours there.  We had to be photographed, interviewed and asked to promise that we wouldn’t abuse or abandon the children.  Then, we went to the Shanghai Notary Office to register the adoption and get the children’s visas.  Then, the adoption was official.  The children were really well-behaved during all the sitting and waiting.  They are all interested in their new toys.

 Lacey is still enjoying her first coloring book and is very content to sit and color.  She is not yet interested in learning English, but knows how to say “No.”  She is changing a lot already and is much more relaxed than she was the first day.

We had a Chinese meal for lunch and decided to check out the park across the street from our hotel.  Les’ stomach was bothering him so he stayed in the hotel.  I took the girls with two other wonderful families.  The park was huge and had a small amusement park for the children.  Cassie and Lacey went on the merry go round and a honeybee ride.  By this time, Lacey was much more animated than she has been.  She asked to go on the bumper cars.  I was happy because this was actually the first time that she had asked for anything.  It’s not that I want to turn her into a spoiled American child.  But, it was an indication that she’s beginning to interact with us and not just focusing on surviving.  After I bought the tickets for the ride, Lacey thanked me. This was also the first time that she has thanked for anything.  I think she is starting to get over her fears and understand that we want to make her happy.

  Lacey relaxing in the Lobby

 

By dinnertime we were all tired.  We decided to go to the little bakery that is next to our hotel.  Cassie was a little tired and cranky and at first didn’t see anything on the menu that she liked.  I left the table to see if I could find her some bread.  When I left, Lacey started to cry.  I felt horrible.  I hated to see her cry but I was touched that she missed me.  She let me pick her up and comfort her.  This was also a big step for her. 

Cassie and the other American kids playing cards 

with a group of onlookers

 

 

This morning we visited the Oriental Pearl Tower, which is a TV tower and one of the tallest buildings in China.  The architecture was impressive and the view from the top was quite spectacular.  Unfortunately, we will most likely remember the sweaty hordes of pushing, shouting people.  It’s simply amazing how many people can cram into an elevator here.  An elevator with a posted limit of 12 passengers can actually hold about 40.  I decided that it was best to ride holding my hands above my head to avoid getting too personal with strangers.

In the afternoon, we took a cruise on the Huangpu River.  The kids really enjoyed this.  The adults were happy that we had indoor seats and took advantage of the air conditioning.

Shanghai is a city of 18 million.  Most of the signs in the city include English translations.  We are really enjoying the English translations.  For example, at the park yesterday the lakeside restaurant was described as an “above water restaurant.”  A sign next to the lake cautioned, “Caution!  Falling in water.”  This morning at the Pearl Tower, a bomb detecting dog wore a vest that said, “Explosive Dog.”   There was a long list of rules for passengers board the boat.  No one who was “insane” was allowed, nor was anyone with any “unusual smells.”  Tomorrow we will visit the “Bund” and Old Shanghai.

Here's the sign with rules for the boat passengers: