Anaia was not impressed with the whole thing and made it quite clear she did not want to be there… :0)

Even though we were told we could not eat lunch until 2:00 because THAT was the proper lunch time, we miraculously managed to coax a Pizza Hut lunch out of our guide by 1:30.  She was NOT at all happy about it, but everyone in the group was persistent.  We didn’t win the entire battle however.  She absolutely refused to allow us to choose which kind of pizza we wanted.   She told us that if we wanted to choose, we had to pay.  Our agency creates a package deal that includes lunch and dinner while you are “in province”.  It is quite expensive, so we weren’t happy to find out that we have entirely no voice whatsoever in what we are served.  All our group wanted to do was choose what toppings we were going to eat.  We were trying to explain ahead of time that the pizzas we wanted were the cheapest on the menu- we don’t want to be difficult (she said we couldn’t be involved because she needed to control the price) but she wouldn’t budge.  In the end, the more exotic pizzas she chose were indeed more expensive than the ones we wanted…but we just scraped off what we didn’t want to eat and savored the cheese in the crust!  (Minced meat and raisins on a pizza?  Yes, it can be done…) The cost? 80 yuan for our family of 8…a little more than $10 USD.  Yes, more expensive than Chinese food…but not unreasonable.    It got much worse at dinner when I told her that my kids couldn’t have Sprite again to drink.  We don’t normally drink soda and it is being served at every meal. We have to beg for water when we want it.  Tonight when I told her that our kids would not be drinking Sprite and Coke again, she responded, “Yes, I think they can have Sprite.”  This did not sit well with me.  I told her that no one in our family was having Sprite, we would all be having water and that was final.  The older 2 were sitting at the another table and she actually went over and poured them glasses of Sprite anyway!  When I got upset she first told me that we could only have one glass each and then told me that if we wanted water, we would have to pay for it!!!  At this, the other dads got involved.  One went and bought the water- even though we shouldn’t have to…it is only 4 kuai a bottle (a little more than .50 each) and we should be able to choose our beverage, and the other scooped up the Sprites and firmly said that they need to be removed from the table.

I could go on and on here…but I won’t... I have vented enough for one post and I do want to point out that the issues are not with our agency or the travel company.  We are well taken care of, just in a Nazi tour guide sort of way…  I think you get the picture.  This 23 year old girl has A LOT to learn if she is going to be a successful facilitator of family adoptions.  I hope she learns quickly! ;0)

Before the infamous dinner, we went to an acrobatic show.  Anaia was flatly NOT IMPRESSED.  I am thankful I was not sitting next to her as I was informed afterward that she complained the entire time. :0)  She was very proud to reaffirm that with me outside of the theater.   This girl is used to every minute of every day being regimented with everyone doing exactly the same thing at the same time.  The last 2 days have been her first “field trips” and she fails to see the meaning in any of it.  It is entertaining to watch her scrunched up faces as we make her endure it all…

She’s not sharing anything about life inside the walls yet, but another child is.  It is pretty similar to Nina’s stories, not fun to hear at all.  So much hurt to heal in these older kiddos.  Thankfully, I know the God I serve has the power to heal.

Everything continues to go very well; she is trying to figure out how this whole family thing works.  She is taking turns spending time with each sister…sometimes picking on them…sometimes enjoying them.  She is always holding someone’s hand.  She is much more social with Dave than Nina was at first, but is not ready to hold his hand yet.  She did initiate him carrying her into bed tonight.  She continues to be squirrely- a big ball of constant motion, but I think that will settle down as she gets more acclimated at home.    She does have some obvious non-identified special needs, one involving her spine that will need to be looked at when we return, so please pray over that for her.  Also continue to pray over her heart, that it would open to the love of her creator.  We are so blessed.  Another light has joined our lives, just waiting to shine.  I again stand in awe of what God has entrusted us with.

Tomorrow we will go to the Summer Palace and to the Olympic Park.  Time will tell if that will impress Anaia or not…what do you think?