Tuesday 4/6/2010 Consulate appt and shopping

So for consulate appointment,  we just had to be in our room by 9:30am this am while our guide/adoption coordinator submitted all our stuff--all went well.  Ai--Aunt B,  left this am,  after reading Moose book to AG once again--she had big crocodile tears when she left.  Now I have noone to ask--how do you say this in chinese? What is she saying?  But it went fine.  OUr guide took us off Shamian island (basically a sandbar--more genteel part of Guangzhou--city of 11 million.   Shamian was used in early 1900s to house foreigners--embassies were there--gates closed at 10pm and noone could go in or out.  All torn up now as they prepare for asian games in fall.  there are no disabilitiy laws,  and it is a bear to go anywhere on this island with a stroller).  So we walked off island --so many dizzying sights and people!!  Narrow streets with markets all selling spices of everything--dried roses,  dried snake,  dried lizard on a stick?  Then to wholesale jewelry row.  Not sure how so many businesses stay in business as there are so many selling all the same thing.  Walking by some of smaller jewelry places ,  you could see the artisans--young men in back,  leaning over ,  making jewelry.   Had lunch for $1 US each--bowl of wonton noodle soup--good.  AG had the jelly sandwich I made her at breakfast!!  Took taxi back--I was amazed how turned around I was --I was SURE our hotel was one direction, and it was complete opposite!  We ate at Thai restaurant on Shamian island for 2nd night in row.  Other than 1 night of pizza in hotel in HEnan,  have had asian food every non breakfast meal.  No tummy issues for any of us so far.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:  School back in session after Monday grave cleaning holiday,  so we discovered we have a school outside our hotel window--some kids still there till 8pm as parents worked!  They all seem so energetic and not as rigid as I imagined China schools to be--lots of talking,  happy working, etc.  Now we know why there are birds and peacocks on top of roof --belong to school--they make the loudest noises in middle of night.
Traffic is amazing--but I just read if taxi driver gets in accident he loses his job--but doesn't stop them from squeezes into tight places.  The traffic here with trucks,  bikes, electric bikes,  pedestrians,  cars, buses,   bike rickshaws,  is like some kindof choreographed dance.  Not sure how it all is working ,  but it does,  and all fit,  and when your  driver sticks his nose into middle of traffic, he makes his way in,  and noone is is accident.  I felt more scared in Taiwan in taxis.  Even in tight market streets,  filled with people,  they get out of way when car/truck comes by.
Squat potties--do NOT understand concept.  Usually in tourist areas,  one "wheelchair" potty with real seat--but that doesn't mean you'd want to use it!  Tight stalls with a toddler,  and dirty, wet floors is NOT fun.  You need a strong back holding her up.  My cousin,  who is living in China,  mistakenly thought they'd be able to avoid the luxury of squatty potties,  and had to give her girls a crash course when it was there only option one day!  It has been our only option many days!  Even in nice restaurants and public bathrooms of some hotels. 
People-- they are everywhere,  and supposedly you need to beware of stealing of you belongings,  but have felt so safe everywhere.  People are often very friendly,  especially if they find out you speak some chinese.  Think things are safer,  because if you commit many crimes,  you are executed!! Less pushing then I rememer in Taiwan--but maybe because that was my initiation to a new culture, and I'm used to it--we had to squeeze into some very full subways in Beijing,  and people were very courteous.  In Beijing,  after visiting our daughter,  and in the director of the home's van,  she was trying to navigate down a very narrow street--no sidewalks,  just maybe barely 2 lanes wide, but often parked cars--and up ahead someone had erected a tent in the street!  Blocking the street! So it was either navigate down a long street backwards--between parked cars , or do as she did and slowly work on a  3 point turn which took awhile. 
Cleanliness--or lack thereof--this is a dichotomy.  People dress very cleanly.  You see workers sweeping streets, bathrooms,  etc,  and yet you see so much garbage when driving on highways,  Paul witnessed an old man sweeping the top of an   expressway--pushing garbage OVER the expressway!  many apartment buildings,  at least on outside,  look so dilapadated--thing of pics you've seen of Russia. Xinxiang,  Henan, where our daughter is from,  seemed poorest of all cities we've been in. 
Pollution--We have yet to see a blue sky.  Yes,  there have been overcast days,  but a polluted haze dulls all on most days,  unless maybe a brisk wind is blowing. 
So, need to go to bed,  but thought I'd share some of our sights and sounds.  The last sound is courtesy of AG--while pushing her in stroller to dinner tonight,  she was singing something about America,  and family--all in Chinese of course--so good to hear her so happy.
Ma