Back to Guangzhou

On Saturday, having received Jessica’s Chinese Passport under the name of Yue Mengjie, we flew back to Guangzhou. In China’s eyes, Yue Mengjie is officially our daughter. Now, in Guangzhou, our task will be to do what it takes to make the US recognize Jessica Brooke as our daughter so that we can fly her home.

So, of course, the first order of business as soon as we dropped our bags off at The China Hotel was to make a visit to the eating establishment next door named McDonalds. You might have heard of it. Surprisingly, the order takers understood English very well, even better than some of the order takers we experience in some parts of California. That may be because of the number of foreign travelers staying at The China Hotel.

We went back Sunday as well. We also went today (Monday). We didn’t want to break the streak.

On one of our visits, they forgot to give Jonathan his Happy Meal toy. When I brought it to their attention, they were soooo apologetic. The order taker apologized. The one next to her did as well. And the order taker apologized again. It was like a messed up order had never happen there before. Come to think of it, other than that, in the three times we’ve been there, they have always remembered every detail, including the sauce for the Chicken Nuggets.

Sunday was a visit to a Buddhist temple to have our babies blessed. We passed on that exciting opportunity.

Today, we started some of the work we needed to do for the US consulate – got pictures taken of Jessica, got a medical checkup, did some shopping at a tourist trap. That last task was "optional", but we did it for extra credit.

It’s amazing how many businesses are funded through international adoption. There are so many stores around key hotels that cater to the needs (and emotional impulses) of the international adoptive parents. This slowdown in international adoptions in China must have a big affect on them.

For the record, Jessica’s measurements at just past 8 months are:

Head circumference, 16.5 inches
Weight, 17.5 lbs.
Height, 27 inches

All pretty normal.

Jonathan is a bit homesick and we all look forward to being back in the US (though I am somewhat dreading the flight back).

Dan