China: Days 5-7 ... I think ... I've lost count

It’s funny how some things can make you stupidly giddy. Our first few days of parenthood have done that to us.

Like when Kaitlyn drank milk – a lot of milk – for the first time yesterday. She’s had some liquids over the last couple of days but it’s all been water or that gross looking stuff in the congee. When she started sucking on the bottle for the first time – after we made a few lame attempts – I laughed for no apparent reason other than the fact that she was enjoying her first bottle. (By the way … never eat congee. It looks like maggots in water. But hey, it’s China. Anything goes!)

Yesterday, I was walking through the buffet line at breakfast in our hotel. There was an assortment of hot dishes along with breads and cereals. Everything is marked with a sign in English that tells you what that food is, which is a good thing because without the dental records for some of this stuff, nobody would ever identify what it is. As I walked past the cereal line, I looked down to notice the sign beneath the All Bran cereal. Apparently, something was lost in the translation because the sign read, “All Brain.” Even though I’ve never actually seen brain cereal before, I was pretty sure this was All Bran. It made me laugh in a stupidly giddy way. I’m sure the other people I was standing in line with thought I was just stupid, as if Bran could make a person laugh. Either way, I passed on the cereal. It’s China. Anything goes.

Our flight from Nanchang went very well yesterday. Our flight was delayed one hour in taking off which meant we had a lot of extra time at the airport. Nine families with nine babies, none of whom slept because there was too much action to take in around us. A big thanks to all of you who prayed for us – and especially for Kaitlyn – on the flight. She is a little girl who doesn’t require a lot to stay occupied so she handled the take off quite well. Within a few minutes of taking off for Beijing, she fell asleep and was out for more than an hour. The rest of the trip was a breeze. She appeared to adjust to the cabin pressure exceptionally well considering the pressure on her ears from teething.

We had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for early this morning that also went well. Kaitlyn has been given a clean bill of health from the doctor here, but will also see our family doctor when we arrive home. She is certainly on track with most babies who are born a little prematurely and are coming out of an orphanage but looks quite a bit smaller in comparison to the rest of our group. The doctor seems to think the other babies in our group are quite a bit bigger than most that come from similar circumstances. We were definitely encouraged to hear his positive report.

Nothing totally bizarre to report. Well, maybe a couple of things.

Stacey and Carol Anne went to use the facilities at the airport after we arrived in Beijing last night. If you plan to use public restrooms in most places in China you need to bring your own toilet paper. Otherwise, you need to pick up some of the t-p on your way in that sits on the counter. Also, there are no actual “dumpers.” There’s a hole in the ground over which you hover and while “preparing for take-off,” you better hope you have good aim! Nice and sanitary. Anyway, while Stacey and Carol Anne were waiting their turn, a Chinese lady hustled into the bathroom, whips down the unmentionables, takes care of business (with precision skill and aim) – doesn’t bother to wipe!!! – hikes up the previously mentioned unmentionables, and hustles back out of the bathroom. Oh … and she didn’t bother to wash her hands!!! Welcome to Puke City … meet the mayor! Hopefully she doesn’t show up as our waitress sometime this week. Again, anything goes in China!

While we were still in Nanchang a few days ago, Stacey took Kaitlyn for a walk just outside our hotel. We dressed Kaitlyn in one of her many outfits provided by friends or grandparents but didn’t put on any socks or shoes. China has developed a culture that finds great importance in making sure their baby’s feet are well covered and protected. Not sure why. I understand that China is also a culture that shows great respect for their elders, thereby creating an environment that allows the older folks to lay down the law and freely speak their mind.

No matter where we go in China – both in Nanchang and in Beijing – Chinese people will stare at us, smiling and sometimes pointing, because they notice a little Chinese girl with two Canadian white folks. Normally, these folks are very friendly. Beijing, in particular, is internationally noted for its hospitality and friendliness. While Stacey was out with Kaitlyn the other day, two older Chinese ladies noticed them but also noticed Kaitlyn’s exposed appendages. Stacey promptly received a stern Chinese lecture from one of the ladies followed by a slap across the arm from both of them. I’m pretty sure Stacey could have taken them out – with Kaitlyn strapped on in the Snuggly, one arm tied behind her back, and blindfolded! – but since the international laws and Chinese prison time would probably mess up our flight plans, Stacey turned the other cheek and walked away. Kind of crazy. But anything goes in China.

That’s it for today. We’re off to see the Great Wall and Tiennamen Square tomorrow. It’ll be a long day but it sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun. Good picture taking opportunities. I’ll check in again in a couple of days, hopefully with a lot more pictures.

Until then …