She naps, I type...

Ok, so where was I? 

Keira is napping and Brian took the older kids to explore, so I've got a few free moments.  Keira is doing great -- she seems to be adjusting really well, and Brian is growing on her, so that's good!

Yesterday we went to a government - run amusement park which houses the largest ferris wheel in Asia.  Imagine the old, run down carnivals in Scooby Doo episodes where the Gang discovers that the park director is is evil villain. This is what it reminded me of.  It was deserted and rusty and needed a paint job, and there was strange, eerie music playing throughout. Suffice it to say, there seem to be very few regulatory concerns about saftey at these types of places.  Connor and I rode a roller-coaster - the ride was not scary, but the fact that there might be a bolt loose that would send us careening into the nearby river was quite frightening enough!

Connor won 2 goldfish at a fishing game -- real goldfish!  We had to take them, it would have been rude not to, and released them into the fountain in the hotel lobby.  Connor felt they would be happier there.  Connor and Kenna feed them breakfast every morning.   He also won prizes for his sisters at a game where you throw a ball and knock stuff down.  Kenna got a pink monkey, and Keira got a pink bunny.  The game supervisor was so impressed with Connor's chivalry that he let him pick a prize for himself!  I was so proud of him for being such as sweet big brother -- he loves these girls!!

Then we had lunch at a popular Chinese restaurant -- delicious, with enough leftovers for dinner last night.  Later that afternoon we explored the area around the hotel.  We went to a local shop and had traditional Chinese dresses made for each of the girls and a traditional shirt made for Connor.  Brian got some custom-made ties that are actually long enough for him!  The local people love to stare at us and try understand us.  The Chinese are the ultimate people-watchers, I think!  Everyone wants to hold Keira and tell us that she's not dressed warmly enough (two layers and a jacket are not enough when it's 65 degrees, apparently).  They tell us how beautiful the girls are and how handsome Connor is.  They are shocked by his blue eyes because they assume he is Asian.  They also assume I can speak Chinese -- much like in San Antonio, people though I could speak Spanish!

A well-meaning English-speaking stranger stopped us in the hotel to ask us about our family, and why we wanted to adopt girls when we already had a boy.  I wanted to tell him to mind his own business, but he seemed sincere and really just wanted to understand the cultural differences.  I simply explained that we wanted to grow our family and that we felt adoption was the best way to do that. He said that was wonderful and was clearly touched by us.  Then he proceeded to say that Keira must have a problem since she's not walking yet.  I then wanted to drown him in the fountain with the goldfish.  I said something to the effect that we think she is perfect, so back off!

We met a family from New York today who adopted twin girls.  They were so tiny and reminded me of Kenna.  They are also 15 months and Keira is developmentally way ahead.  They were premature and may have been malnourished, but they seemed to be adjusting to their new family very well.  These twins were in foster care.  The foster mother came to the hotel lobby for 3 days in a row after the adoption hoping to catch a glimpse of them.  She finally did at breakfast one day and started yelling at the family and talking to the girls.  She had to be escorted out, and the twins did not react to her at all.  I'm sure they were still in shock. It just seemed so horrible for all involved.  I know separation is hard for the foster family as well, and I am thankful that we had such a peaceful transition and that Keira's foster family left us with the ability to contact them on our terms.  

Our guide took us today to the countryside, because we wanted a glimpse of what typical Chinese life is like.  The cities here are much like home, but we know Keira is from the country, so I wanted to have an idea of what life is like there.  The contrast is remarkable. 

Keira is up - i'll type more later....

aaaaannnnnd, I'm back.  The difference in the lifestyles in the city and country (suburbs, really) is striking -- it's more cost-effective to live out of the city, but you have no city perks like public transportation, or running water.  Chickens, ducks and dogs roam free in garbage -strewn streets, and among that, brand new 3 story homes.  It's hard to describe or even wrap my brain around it, really. 

We visited a porcelain shop.  Jiangxi Province is known for their porcelain, so I got both girls tea sets and bracelets to have when they are much older.  And Connor got a porcelain Panda simply because he is cute and was sweet to his sisters in the store.  He was thrilled!

Tomorrow we leave Nanchang.  I admit that I'm ready for a change of scenery, but I'm sad to leave this part of China - Keira's birthplace.  Her new life is so far removed from this place, but we have good memories of it, and will treasure the experience for a lifetime.