The Marvin Family

Shopping in Guangzhou (March 11, 2012)

We woke up and headed to the 30th floor for the upper crust breakfast buffet. We had a great view of the city!!! The food was good too! You made yourself right at home (we may need to work on your table manners when we get back home)!

After breakfast our guides took us to the Guangzhou mall (where the locals shop). We shopped for traditional Chinese children's clothing, jade jewelry and pearls. It was very interesting at the pearl store. You bought the pearls by the strand, then they would make custom jewelry in front of you. The lady tied knots between each pearl! We had lunch at the food court (Pizza Hut) before heading back to the hotel for nap time.

We met in the lobby that evening for the group pictures. We dressed you in your traditional clothes. You were beautiful! You cheesed it up, waving at everyone! Some ladies in middle eastern attire asked if they could take a picture with you. You just let one of them pick you up and smiled for the camera.

After the picture we headed out with most of our group for Thai food. We sat with the Birdsong family. They adopted Anna. The Birdsong's live in Madison, Mississippi where Jessica and Brad live! I'm sure we'll see them again in the future!

On the way home we stopped by McDonald's for Oreo mcflurries! Daddy and I thought they were yummy, but you spit it out! Ha!

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Trip to the Doctor (March 10, 2012)

Today was a busy day! We hit the ground running at the Garden Hotel breakfast buffet. It was much less intimidating than the one in Nanchang, so we took advantage! There were more Americans than Chinese people! Ha!

We went to a designated hotel room at 9:00 to get your passport picture taken, then caught the bus at 10:00 for your medical check at the Guangzhou International Travel Healthcare Center. It took two big buses to take all the families in our group. This is a new building that just opened 2 weeks ago. It was wild! Lots of people and lots of lines to go through! First we filled out paperwork, then headed for the lines.
First they weighed and measured you, the ENT saw you, last a doctor gave you a general check up. Apparently your little cold turned into bronchitis. We got you some more medicine (antibiotics) and were on our way!

When we got back to the hotel, we were hungry! We went out exploring and found a little Chinese restaurant. We ordered fried rice and broccoli (yummy)! The ladies in the restaurant LOVED you. Our waitress picked you up and carried you around while we ate.

We did some shopping and you and I took naps while daddy went to a meeting to work on paperwork. When he got back, we went to dinner at The Italian Restaurant. We had spaghetti and pizza and it was good! You were one loud girl during dinner! Good thing it was a loud restaurant!!

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Goodbye Nanchang, Hello Guangzhou! (March 9, 2012)

We woke up this morning and took it easy. Helen brought your passport by at about 1030 and our laundry was delivered at noon. We somehow got all of our stuff in our suitcases (a miracle considering all the clothes you were wearing when they brought you to us)! We decided to be brave and try the Chinese restaurant at the Hotel. It was fancy! There were huge groups of Chinese people eating from dishes on lazy Susan's. In the corner there was major commotion. When we looked, there was a children's play area with a ball pit! Ha! All the little kids at the restaurant stared at us. When Michael waved at them, they ran off. We ended our stay at the Galactic Peace International hotel with one last trip to the coffee shop!

During the drive to the airport we saw our first wreck! Surprise, surprise!!! Checking in at the airport was quick and painless with Helen there. She took our passports and took care of everything! She walked with us all the way to security where we were given very thorough pat downs! We let you play at the airport until our flight left.

You did well on the flight. You were scared at first, then you went right to sleep! When we landed in Guangzhou, there wasn't anyone waiting with our name on a sign. We called Kim at home and before we got off the phone with her Joe came running up to us. We were in a car in no time. It didn't take us long to realize Guangzhou was much different than Nanchang. More modern and the driving was less frightening! When we got to the hotel we were amazed!! So nice, so fancy! When we checked in we were excited! We had a living area AND a bedroom! More room for you to roam. We knew you would be happy here (and so would we)! We were exhausted, but you were hungry and wired! We didn't get you down until 1230!! This was a LONG day!