Roasted Cat, Anyone?

Ahhhh! Finally a good, wholesome meal that didn't include the words, "Take out..." We found a pretty fancy restaurant in the mall next door that offered steak, pork chops, etc. It was pretty good but we are concerned about food poisoning because though we said, "Medium well" we got held up to the sun for a minute or two. Bart's meat was red, red, red...In America that is one thing, in China maybe another. We will let you know later. I (Angie) personally ate better than I have the whole trip.

 

Today we went to our swearing in ceremony and applied for LM's visa. Finally, we saw all of the other American adoptive couples that we knew were here somewhere. It was really neat. There were twenty-one families total. LM found a boy from her orphanage to play with. She was pretty excited to see him. His parents gave us their names and address. We also met another family that adopted a little girl from the same orphanage as well. She was not a happy camper...she cried for a lot of the ceremony. Her dad laughed and said, "She realizes that it is real..." He was pretty funny.

 

All of the other families are staying at the White Swan. It is another hotel that is on the Shiamen Island. The other parents said that it was pretty expensive. We went and visited there. They had huge goldfish...Like large trout size in the indoor pond. Very nice...

 

Our room is very nice. It is amazing to me that the room is so fancy and they don't clean the carpets. I wonder if they don't have shampooers. Both of our floors need it pretty bad.

 

The area that we are in is very busy. Next to us is an animal market. There were lots of dogs and cats for sale...I later saw a roasted cat in a restaurant. Ummmm...no thanks. A lot of things for sale and they are always asking you if you will buy. I think that what is left of my pocketbook will have a big dent in it...

 

I got LM an authentic outfit (Not too authentic because it was sooo cheap) to put away for her when she is older...I think that she will enjoy having a piece of China to hold onto later. She told our guide that she was glad to go to America...we will see when she has to endure a 14 1/2 hour flight home.

 

She seems to be doing well. She slept for a long time this morning. She looks beat but has a relatively good attitude. This has to be a lot for an eight year old...especially one that was in an orphanage most of her life. We do a lot of walking.

 

I was talking to the doctor and his wife (from Texas) who were sitting in front of us at the ceremony and he said that her walking was really good considering the clubfeet on both sides and the paralyzed calves. He was shocked. He gave us some pointers...it was neat. There were only two kids with clubfeet there today, LM and a little girl with one clubfoot. She reminded me of LM though because she was moving all of the time and not willing to let it slow her. She had a cast on that foot (perhaps surgery?)

 

I suppose that I should go because I am paying for internet. Angie (with Bart looking over her shoulder.)