Guangzhou Wednesday 11-2-11

Guangzhou Wednesday 11-2-11
　
When last we saw our hero he was fighting the villain while our poor heroine was tied to the railway tracks with a train coming towards her!
　
Well ok, maybe this just sometimes seems like I’m writing an serial adventure story with daily plots and crisis’s. The fact is our story is exciting and boring at the same time. Tuesday’s cliffhanger was left off with us waiting for the train to Guangzhou. And then nothing. Sorry. We have been super busy. Tuesday we stayed in our rooms until 2pm, thanks late checkout, then walked around town until Maggie picked us up at 4:30 for the 15 minute ride to the train station. They did have a regular waiting room and we found a VIP paid lounge also. With Jewel we were even more than usual the object of many bored people’s stares. I had Angela write me a note about why were are in China and that we are adopting 2 children from the orphanages and promise to love and care for them. I showed the note to the woman waiting on the next couch and she promptly shared the information with others in the VIP lounge. Then we were not only subject to stares but also thumbs ups and comments from English speakers about “good parents and thank you.” ADVICE If traveling to adopt, have your first guide write a note. It was very helpful more than once. We boarded the train early, again because of the VIP lounge passengers get to board early, and got our luggage settled. This train was an older model but we liked it better. 3 of the large suitcases fit in the above compartment where on the other only 2 fit. And little D’s bed didn’t squeak on this train. We made a bed at the end of the aisle for Jewel who was now past bedtime and very ready for bed. Our next compartment neighbors also had a baby. I shared our note with them and found all 4 adults were deaf. Interesting. Special needs are treated differently in China and I was surprised. These people were doing just fine and sleeping in the 1^st class section. Good for them.
　
The train had several stops and around midnight we unhitched and hitched up probably a dozen times. Clank, bump and jerk. I was the only one in our car who didn’t sleep through it. Including Jewel. She is just a great baby. Once she is in bed that’s it until morning. And her nap is the same. Although, like E, she does not like to be rocked to sleep but laid down in the crib and goes right to sleep no matter what is going on in the room around her.
　
Connie was scheduled to pick us up at the Guangzhou East train station at 6:29am. While our guide Maggie was working desperately to save her tip at the last minute she called Connie to verify our pickup. Connie asked to talk to me and said her mother was in the hospital and instead her friend Helen would be our guide and be picking us up. Our train was almost 1 hour late but there was Helen with a large sign in English with our names on it. Perfect. She grabbed one of the 5 large suitcases and wheeled out of the station no nonsense with her charges following closely behind. Once in the van we were given a hand written itinerary of our daily meetings and another list of the fees due to the different government offices. Directions on how to get to the bank from the hotel and do we have any questions? This was exactly what we needed after the last guide fiasco. The Holiday Inn Shifu did not have our adjoining rooms ready since check in is after 2pm and it was 8am I don’t blame them. The trade fair is a huge event that takes place twice a year in Guangzhou and most hotels are booked solid. I had booked us rooms on the executive floor where there is a lounge open 24 hours a day with breakfast until 10:30 am and happy hour snacks 5:30-7:30 nightly. I suggested we wait up there until the rooms were ready and the front desk thought that was a wonderful idea. It will later turn out to be one of the best decisions made at this hotel. Little D and I had to wander out into the pedestrian shopping street directly attached to the hotel exit to find the bank. Our fees need to be paid in Yuan and although the hotel does exchange money they cannot exchange the amount we need by 2pm TODAY! That’s right we will meet Joseph at 2pm! I think this is deserving of its own post.
　
Advice If you have your in province guide call the hotel a day or two in advance they will have all your money waiting for exchange to save hassle.