Day 4 - Hanging out at the Airport

Today was not a very fun day, but it was necessary to keep moving forward in our journey.  We woke up at 4:00 to leave for the airport.  We got there around 6:00 and were ready for our flight, which was scheduled to leave at 9:00.  Unfortunately, when we got to the airport we discovered our flight had been delayed due to weather down south, which had impacted our plane.  We ended up not flying out until just after 1:00.  While we waited it was a very interesting experience.  We just kind of stuck to ourselves.  There was some English in directions so we were able to figure out which terminal to go to, but when our schedule changed and we knew we were going to be staying so long it was a little more complicated finding a place to eat, waiting for our luggage, etc.  All's well that ends well though, so thankfully we were able to order food, go to the bathroom, and get on the plane.

The craziest moment with this was trying to actually get to the plane.  When people get to go on the planes in China they are not called by group number.  Instead, by some instinct, people just start lining up.  What might appear as a line though is a deception.  People stand in line, but as soon as the doors open up all hell breaks loose and people start shoving and pushing to get to through the doors.  We waited towards the back and when we got outside we understood better our loss for waiting.  Now we were some of the last to shove into a bus that was going to take us to the plane.  Being towards the end we had to hang onto whatever handles were still available and contort our bodies so we and our luggage were completely inside the doors.  As soon as the bus stopped by the plane everyone rushed out the doors towards the plane.  People pushed and shoved and Adam did well being about the twentieth person on the plane, but I was about third to last.  I am guessing the rush onto the plane was to ensure the carry-on items having storage, but it seemed so silly to me.  People were pushing the elderly and all.  The plane ride was about two hours, and when we landed before the unfasten seatbelt sign was turned off, people were rushing to unbuckle, stand up, and grab their luggage.  They stood standing about five minutes, maybe ten, before they were even able to move while Adam and I sat and chuckled to ourselves.


By the time we got inside, got our luggage, and met our representative through CCAI it was about 4:30.  Vivian is our guide for the week, and since we are the only CCAI family this week, we get her all to ourselves.  She is a doll!  We rushed to the bank to exchange our local fees to Yuan and checked in at our hotel.  We then took a taxi cab ride to Walmart, which is only about a mile away, but kind of dangerous to get to.  We took a taxi there and the bus home.  We went to Walmart to buy any final supplies we needed before meeting our sweet son the next day.  We bought a stroller (I had one all set to take with us that we got at our baby shower, but were told by the airlines they were going to charge us an extra $100 as an extra carry-on), some diapers (we had some good quality ones for long plane rides, but needed some to get us through the week, and some snacks, juice, and yogurt for Christian (we are calling him Peng Peng here, sounds like “Pung Pung”).  It was strange walking up and down the streets and on the bus with a stroller and baby items yet no baby.  I can only imagine what the locals think!

We were hungry and tired, so it made perfect sense to stop at a place called "Small Restraunt" just across the street.  Vivian came with us to help us order our first time there and for about $20 we got a HUGE spread of delicious food with beautiful presentation.  I was laughing so hard that I couldn't stop crying watching Adam try to eat with his chopsticks.  He was a great sport about it because I wasn't the only one laughing.  At one point he caved and asked a waiter if he had any forks.  The man looked confused so Adam and I were trying to use hand gestures to explain what a fork was.  Then, the man started laughing.  "Ha ha, we no have forks here" :)  Fair enough.  So, ate and enjoyed our final night of the calm before all the excitement the next day.  Once we got back the hotel Adam walked to the 7 eleven across the street on his own with a backpack to get some water.  Water at convenience shops is about forty cents a bottle, but at our hotel can run up to $10 a bottle.  Our room is beautiful here – both Adam and I think it might be the nicest place we have ever stayed.  We have a king size bed, the curtains to the bathroom and outside can be controlled by a switch, a lounge chair, desk, a CRIB, and they even gave us a baby toy for all their adoptive families.  There are people standing all around waiting to help meet your any need too.  We crashed by 9 but had a hard time sleeping knowing what the next day would bring.