Faster than Meg Ryan

We were able to adopt him legally and are finished with the paperwork in the province. Apparently our guide did the services for the adoption of Meg Ryan's daughter. Her adoption took 3 days. Ours took 2 days. Apparently he was just amazed that we could beat her. I really have no idea why we were so expediated suddenly. We just acted like of course, things always should be like this, we're not anything special. Although secretly we were freaking out because Nothing in the Adoption process has gone smoothly or quickly and we have no idea why there is this sudden change of events. The guide told us about his experience as Meg Ryan's guide.

stamp of approval

We got to meet his teachers and Foster family. I was pretty impressed with the orphanage. It was better than Shenyang and Harbin. Still an orphanage, not the happiest place in the world. We had passed it almost everyday we rode the bus last week and we didn't even know it. I know what bus lines go by there so in my mind I have any idea of where his 1st family might have come from. Lots of buses go by there and so I think for someone to drop off someone and get on the next bus, it wouldn't have been too complicated. The Shenyang and Harbin orphanages aren't as centrally located. They are building a new complex of orphanages and old folks homes on the outskirts of town.
His Foster mom was good. It was very interesting because at first they were just saying what they thought we wanted to hear. Is he a good eater, oh yes, of course. Does he dislake anything, no he likes everything. The we started asking some real specific questions, he doesn't seem to like hard boiled eggs. Well, the Foster mom laughed and said she forced him to eat one every morning and it came out that he is quite a picky eater. The sweetest thing was that he just loved his Foster Sisters.

lovin' the sisters

We went to the Temple near our hotel and discovered that Little Guy is quite spiritual. He must have been there before. He only bowed at certain statues and lit incence. He was very serious. All the kids banged the big bell, but we couldn't tell if if heard it our not.

Lighting up

He was so happy in the temple. He signed american "more" for money to put in the offering boxes. It seems that he is catching on to American sign pretty quick.
After the temple, we tried PizzaHut. We've lived in China for 2 1/2 years and never ate there because we heard it was over priced (for China) and not that great. So curiousity killed the cat and we tried eating there. The other expats were right, it was overpriced and not american enough. But the tragic thing was the service was slow. People were staring at us and the experience was just too overwhelming for little guy. He just broke down and I don't think it was anything other than realizing his life had changed and thats so scary for a little guy.

Pizza hut Hefei style

Faster than Meg Ryan

Hefei, China