Today was orientation day in the hotel and more importantly a chance to get the updated info of Eli and finally some pictures of him (we haven't had an updated picture on him for 8 months)! The meeting was very informative about what to expect when we get Eli, but also about how adoption works in China and also some cultural tidbits. They save giving the info booklets out until the last item (about 2 and 1/2 hours later). It was fun watching the parents squirm for that long and just like students in the classroom, come up with fictional plots to distract the teacher/presenter and raid their files for the much anticipated red booklet! I will say it was an adrenaline rush to wait and then show all the waiting parents their child's picture in a game of "guess who's child this is" on the powerpoint presentation screen. The screams and cries of joy were fun to witness and makes the moment tomorrow when we finally get him seem so much more real and something of a surreal nature. Only 19 hours left (3:30 am Wisconsin time we get him).
We had a smoggy, yet hot 90 degree day this afternoon on our journey to the fabled Tiananmen Square and the famous Tao "Temple of Heaven" where emperors use to go to give sacrifice in return for a good harvest. 5,000 years ago they would sacrifice humans there, but then switched to animals and eventually ceased sacrifices around 1908. It is truly amazing how old this culture is and how the traditions still live on today even though the people know that the traditions are based upon past ideas that were not exactly scientifically correct...example: the homes of people are built in squares because the Earth is a square and the temples round since the heavens are round.
We just finished up with a romantic Saturday evening meal of pizza at pizza hut and ice cream for dessert. Yes, Mom I did have an authentic Chinese lunch today (again family style) and tried just about everything and ate with chopsticks. The food was good, but man do they ever give you huge amounts of it to eat. The meal consisted of about 6 appetizers and 8 main course dishes and finally out came the sweet bread and fruits.
On a final note I took part in a much needed massage as I writhed in pain all night due to a reaggravated muscle spasm in my back (due to my sleeping on it wrong 4 days ago due to a little girl crawling in bed at 3 am...thanks Ella!). So Captain Jack Sparrow helped distract me through the night as I whimpered away...thank goodness Kim was able to do the Dave Hanssen ice massage treatment and limit it until I could get the professional work done by a nice Chinese lady.
Otherwise, the night is about done here and off to Nanchang (2 hour plane ride south in the morning) for one of the most aniticipated days of our lives tomorrow. I will have the camcorder rolling to collect all the beautiful pictures of my tear-soaked wife and probably shell-shocked son!
Talk to you soon.
Todd (and Kim)
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