The older girls did some more shopping with Zhang Mei; Mia really enjoyed spending time with her (the feeling was mutual).  That reminds me, I forgot to mention one of the most exciting parts of our day yesterday…The Guangzhou subway system!  Poor Mia and Anaia were totally perplexed by the turnstile system of entry and when we encouraged them to move quickly through the entry and with a light push the bar would move- they just stood frozen solid.  It took so much time trying to push/pull them through that the time limit expired and poor Zhang Mei had to go redo their tickets.  We were more prepared the consequent times; I would scan the chip while Michela or Lexie would pull the bar down as they walked through.  Neither one of them felt comfortable enough to use their bodies to push it- they looked at us like it was the strangest thing they had ever seen.  Anaia was completely unaware of the word “di tie” (subway) or what it meant.  She kept pointing to buses and asking if that was the one we were going to get on…I spent most of our walk to the subway station explaining that it was a train underground to no avail.  She just couldn’t wrap her mind around it until she boarded one for herself.  It was a reminder of just how different the last 2 weeks have been for her- like her eyes were opened to a whole new world that she never even imagined existed.  Terri got to enjoy the subway at rush hour for the first time, along with the wonderful aromas that waft from everyone raising their arms to hold onto the poles… J

I should have been more prepared for the subway confusion…I think I neglected to mention our little episode at the Beijing airport.  We were the lucky travelers sent to the line of the crabbiest security officer in the building.  She refused to allow me to go through with my children- wanting me to go though and then allow the kids to go on their own after me.  That means each child has to hold her passport, give it to her to check, stand on the line for the photograph, walk through the corridor, put her backpack and sweatshirt in the bin on the conveyor, walk through the metal detector slowly, and retrieve her belongings (including her passport) to rejoin her family.  While I was arguing about Sophia and Selah being too small to do this on their own, she sent Anaia through before I could tell her it was a bad idea.  Anaia just ducked under all of the ropes as quick as a rabbit completely skipping the whole system all together.  Part of me wanted to roll on the ground laughing- but I remained composed and just looked at the officer like, “See??????”  I retrieved Anaia and sent Dave though with her.  The officer begrudgingly allowed me to wait until Sophia and Selah had been cleared to walk though with them.  (Mind you, I was not asking to go through the metal detector with them, just help them follow the roped off waiting lines and put their back-packs in the conveyor, etc.)  Geesh!

OK- Back to today.  The weather cooled off here quite a bit so the girls only swam for about an hour or so before getting cold.  Today wasn’t raining (misting) like yesterday, but the sun was not out.  Being that we were on our own for dinner, we decided to go into Papa John’s on Shang Xia Jiu Lu and order pizzas to be delivered to the hotel later.  It was much more expensive than Pizza Hut in Beijing- but it was worth it!  Nothing like a meat lover’s pizza, Coke, and Pringles in the hallway of a Chinese hotel when you have been fed mediocre Chinese for over 2 weeks!

Anaia was very disappointed that we wouldn’t allow them to put on another fashion show tonight!  (Not a shy girl!- Watch out Wazi, you thought you got “decorated” before…Oh, that’s right, I never posted those pictures…I need to do that one of those sleepless nights after we get home…)  I explained that it was going to take me like 3 years to  pack everything, so I needed to get started right after dinner…She laughed and agreed wholeheartedly.

I am so proud of all the kids.  They are such troopers and have been handling all of this SO WELL.  Since the swimming restriction incident, Anaia has been doing GREAT.  I am so proud of how well she is adjusting.  That was a real turning point.  She really  needed to see how our “system” worked and that we follow through with our words.  I cannot emphasize how important this was for her.  She has such a great heart and it is starting to peek through.  What a blessing she is to us.   

Tonight, my heart broke a little.  We put all 4 younger ones to bed in one room while I continued to pack in the other.  Dave went in and carried Sophia and Anaia back into my room when I decided to call it quits.  When he went to pick her up, she was startled and terrified.  She started kicking and fighting him while beginning to cry.  We felt so bad for her.  I didn’t stop and think about the “high alert protective sleep mode” that she has had to sleep in for the last 10 years.  It took Dave a few minutes to calm her down and assure her no one was trying to hurt her.

I am 80% packed, so hopefully I can sit back and enjoy the day tomorrow.  It is the grand celebration day- 60 years of The People’s Republic, so the streets should be absolute chaos.  We are hoping to see the fireworks on the river tomorrow without leaving the hotel grounds.  We have way too many kids to try and fight the crowds in the streets!

Tonight at bedtime Anaia asked what the plan was for tomorrow.  I told her that we had a day of rest and then the following day we would travel to America.  She nearly jumped out of her skin with joy.  She said in Chinese, “I love my American home!  I love my American dog even though he is old and very sick right now!  This is my forever home!  I love my forever family!  Will I have many American friends?”  I am stunned by her enthusiasm and courage.  I am awed by her trust in us!  She is so excited to meet everyone. (Feel free to mosey on over to the airport at 5:30 ish on the 2^nd…) J  She will be thrilled to meet you!!!